Plant Domestication and Traits Quiz

A trait that prevents seeds from dispersing widely, allowing farmers to easily gather them.

The fitness of a plant in the wild is linked to its ability to disperse seeds. Without seed dispersal, seeds are concentrated near the mother plant, increasing competition for resources.

A change in a plant that results in larger and more numerous seeds, providing more food for humans. This is a desirable trait for agriculture.

Wild plants often have dormant seeds that need specific environmental cues (e.g., cold temperatures) to germinate. Domesticated plants often lose this dormancy, allowing them to germinate more readily.

A shift in the plant's life cycle towards a shorter, annual pattern. This enables faster production and allows for multiple harvests within a year.

A mutation where seeds remain attached to the plant, preventing natural dispersal.

The process of a plant releasing its seeds, allowing them to spread and grow in new locations.

The natural location where early farmers cultivated crops.

A type of grass commonly cultivated for its grain, used to make bread and other food products.

The remains of plant parts, such as seeds or leaves, preserved within sedimentary layers.

The gradual change in the genetic makeup of a population over time, driven by natural selection.

The process by which organisms with traits that are beneficial to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

A type of selection where humans choose plants with desirable traits to breed and cultivate.

The natural process where mature grass spikelets detach from the plant and disperse seeds away from the parent plant.

A specialized layer at the base of the spikelet in grasses that weakens and breaks during seed dispersal.

The death of cells in a specific part of the plant, often leading to shedding or detachment of organs like leaves or seeds.

Early farmers selectively chose non-shattering plants for cultivation, as these plants kept their seeds on the stalk and made harvesting easier.

Seeds from non-shattering plants are more likely to be collected by farmers because they remain on the plant and are easily harvested.

The idea that early farmers collected seeds from plants with ripe seeds that contained more nutrients, unknowingly selecting for non-shattering plants as these plants had fewer seeds dispersed on the ground.

Seeds with larger reserves are more likely to sprout because they have more energy to start growing, unlike smaller seeds that may run out of food before photosynthesis begins.

Over time, larger seeds become more common in a gene pool, making them the dominant type. This happens because larger seeds are more likely to succeed and pass their traits down to offspring.

Plants have evolved to adapt to their environments. This includes changes like seed dispersal, seed size, life cycle, and growth habits.

Farmers choose plants with large seeds and altered growth habits to increase the amount of food they produce.

Dormancy is a state where a seed waits for favorable conditions before germinating. This usually happens when conditions are too harsh, like during frost or drought.

A crucial step in early agriculture, threshing separates seeds from the plant stalks. This was initially done by hand or with animals.

A key adaptation in domesticated plants. This trait prevents seeds from falling off the plant, making them easier to collect.

The process of separating seeds from the plant using tools or equipment.

When seeds fall off the plant on their own. This is a trait found in many wild plants.

Domesticated plants often have seeds that are larger and more abundant compared to their wild ancestors. This increases crop yield and provides more food.

Planting seeds in a prepared, tilled soil can help increase seed size, as it provides better access to nutrients and water.

Domesticated plants often have lost the ability to stay dormant for long periods. This allows them to germinate more readily, ensuring quicker plant growth and multiple harvests per year.

Domesticated plants are often bred to have a shorter lifecycle, often becoming annual plants with a more predictable growth cycle. This allows for faster production and multiple harvests within a year.

The change in plant size from many small parts to fewer, larger parts, often observed during domestication.

The process of selectively breeding plants with desirable traits, often leading to larger, more productive crops.

A trait where plants develop a more compact growth habit, becoming shorter and bushier.

The process of reducing or eliminating toxic compounds in plants, making them safer for consumption.

The reduction or elimination of toxic compounds in plants, a result of selective breeding.