Economic Botany Lab Exam 1

rip to my social life

-Type : drupe

-Origin : China

-Family : Rosaceae

Peaches

-Type : berry

-Origin : Southeast Asia

-Family : Musaceae

Bananas

-Type : berry

-Origin : South America

-Family : Solanaceae

Peppers

-Type : berry (pepo)

-Origin : Northeast Africa

-Family : Cucurbitaceae

Watermelons

-Type : berry

-Origin : Andes Mountians

-Family : Solanaceae

Tomatoes

-Type : berry (pepo)

-Origin : Mexico

-Family : Cucurbitaceae

Squash

-Type : berry

-Origin : South Caucasus region

-Family : Vitaceae

Grapes

-Type : Berry (hesperidium)

-Origin : Southeast Asia

-Family : Rutaceae

Oranges

-Type : drupe

-Origin : Near Black/Caspian Seas

-Family : Rosaceae

Cherries

-Type : bulb

-Origin : Central Asia

-Family : Amaryllidaceae

Onions

-Type : tuber

-Origin : Andes mountians

-Family : Solanaceae

Potatoes

-Type : Young shoots of a perennial flowering plant

-Origin : Middle East

-Family : Asparagaceae

Asparagus

-Type : Florets

-Origin : Southern Italy

-Family : Brassicaceae

Broccoli

-Type : tuber

-Origin : China

-Family : Brassicaceae

Daikon

-Type : drupe

-Origin : Western Asia

-Family : Anacardiaceae

Pistachios

-Type : Multiple of caryopsis

-Origin : Mesoamerica

-Family : Poaceae

Corn

-Type : legume

-Origin : Asia

-Family : Fabaceae

Snow peas

-Type : Pome

-Origin : Central Asia

-Family : Rosaceae

Apples

-Type : Multiple Fruit Of berries

-Origin : South America

-Family : Bromeliaceae

Pinneapple

-Type : Capsule

-Origin : Africa

-Family : Malvaceae

Okra

Why was corn-based ethanol chosen in the 1970s as an alternative fuel source and why is it still the leading alternative fuel source in the USA today?

reduce dependence on foreign oil imports, stabilize fuel supply; plants are already built, corn widely grown in US Midwest

How does using corn-based ethanol affect the economy and the corn farmers?

raises and stabilizes corn prices (giving farmers reliable income), jobs in ethanol plants, distillers grains provide livestock feed

Does corn-based ethanol actually harm modern engines?

current engines built for E10 & E15, flex-fuel vehicles can handle E85, ethanol has higher octane rating

How would changing farmland to switchgrass instead of corn affect the farmer?

lose stable & existing corn markets, switchgrass markets not developed, require new equipment and risk

Is corn-based ethanol an efficient fuel source?

produces 1.3 units of energy per 1 unit invested, lower miles per gallon

What is the impact of developing corn-based ethanol on the ecosystem and environment?

runoff from fertilizers and pesticides, Gulf of Mexico dead zone, requires fossil fuels, soil erosion

What are some of the top alternative fuels being researched and what advantages do they have over corn-based ethanol?

switchgrass: requires less fertilizer, grows on smaller pieces of land, produces 2-4x more ethanol per acre

sugarcane: far more efficient but only grows in warm climates

algae: huge potential yields, recycled water use, but expensive and experimental

Is corn-based ethanol seen as a long-term fuel source?

No, it is a bridge fuel to be used until more sustainable fuel source comes

What was the result of the corn-based ethanol debate?

Corn ethanol should continue in the short-term but be gradually phased down as better fuels become viable

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : Iowa, USA

-story : A chance seedling that became the most grown apple in the U.S. during the 20th century.

red delicious apple

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : Australia

-story : A chance seedling that won a prize for “best cooking apple” in 1890s

granny smith apple

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : Minnesota, USA

-story : once slated to be discarded, has rapidly become a prized commercial agricultural product, as its sweetness, firmness, and tartness make it an ideal apple for eating raw

honeycrisp apple

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : Minnesota

-story : an accidental pollination from a bee mixed an unknown variety with a honeycrisp

SugarBee apple

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : Australia

-story : gained popularity for its vibrant pink blush and sweet-tart flavor

pink lady apple

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : Japan

-story : The spread of these apples beyond Japan began in the 1980s and 1990s, driven by their increasing popularity and recognition for superior quality

fuji apple

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : Canada

-story : its versatility made it grow in popularity

McIntosh apple

-family : Rutaceae 

-type : hesperidium

-origin : Brazil

-story : A seedless mutation that is spread by grafting. 

navel orange

-family : Rutaceae

-type : hesperidium

-origin : China

-story : gifted around new year and seen as good luck

mandarin orange

-family : Roseaceae

-type : aggregates of drupes

-origin : many region (Asia, America, Europe)

-story : used for medicines and teas

blackberries

-family : Vitaceae 

-type : berry

-origin : California

-story : An IFG hybrid specifically bred to be seedless and have a candy-like sweetness.

cotton candy grapes

-family : Vitaceae 

-type : berry

-origin : Middle east

-story : Domesticated for making wine over 6,000 years ago. 

green grapes

-family : Vitaceae 

-type : berry

-origin : California

-story : exceptionally sweet flavor, reminiscent of candy or dessert

gumdrop grapes

-family : Actinidiaceae

-type : berry

-origin : China

-story : was originally called “Chinese gooseberry” but renamed to this after being taken to New Zealand for a better branding

kiwi

-family : Fabaceae

-type : legume

-origin : South America

-story : a stapple crop used for thousands of years

peanuts

-family : Rosaceae 

-type : pome

-origin : East Asia

-story : An ancient domesticated fruit, prized for its crisp texture. 

asian pear

In _____, the seed is encased in a hard fruit case. This trait may be favored during _____ selection because ______.

teosinte, natural, protection

In _____, the seed is exposed. This trait may be favored during _____ selection because________.

maize, artificial, easier to consume

In ________, the plant has one main stalk. This trait may be favored during _______ selection because _________.

maize, artificial, higher yeild

In _______, the plant has many branches. This trait may be favored during ________ selection because ________.

teosinte, natural, spreading seeds

In _______, the ear breaks apart to release individual kernels at maturity. This trait may be favored during _______ selection because __________.

teosinte, natural, spread of seeds

In ______, the ear remains intact at maturity. This trait may be favored during _______ selection because ________.

maize, artificial, easier comsumption

If both maize and teosinte are grown in the wild, which species is more likely to proliferate?

teosinte

The teosinte branched1 (tb1) gene. Its main job is to act as a repressor that suppresses branching. Meaning, the more tb1 is expressed

fewer branches it has

The key difference in maize is the insertion of a transposable element (a "jumping gene") called ______ into the control region upstream of the tb1 gene. 

hopscotch

The hopscotch insertion does what to the tb1 gene?

enhances the expression

Did domestication cause the expression of the branching gene to rise?

Early farmers did not create the mutation. They simply recognized this less-branched trait as useful and artificially selected for plants that already carried the Hopscotch element. By repeatedly saving and planting kernels from these plants, they made this trait the standard for their new crop.

In the botany of desires video what 4 plants became appealing to humans and why?

-Tulips = beauty  

-Apples = sweetness 

-Potatoes = food security  

-Cannabis = the feeling of being high 

Where is the origin of apples and how’d they spread?

Central Asia, Kaiktsian; silk road and mammal droppings

This man was a key figure who traveled through the Ohio River Valley planting and selling apple trees. He saw himself as being like a bee, helping the plants spread. He wasn't poor, he just really liked apples.

Johnny apple seed (John Chapman)

What was so different about how John Chapman planted his apples?

didn’t do it via grafting, which helped increase biodiversity

What was one of the biggest things apples were originally used for?

hard cider

Where were tulips originated?

Mountains Central Asia

Where did tulip mania first occur and then later spread out into?

Netherlands, Dutch

What is the name for the most expensive variety of tulip from the tulip mania? ($10,000) - “broken tulip”

Semper Augustus

Who/what was blamed for the economic destruction after the tulip market crashed?

tulip

What were the breaks in color in tulips discovered to be caused by?

virus

Where is the origin of cannabis?

Mexico

About how many Americans smoke cannabis every month, and how many are arrested for possession?

15 million, 750,000

What was cannabis historically used for?

pain reliever

When was the boom of the cannabis popularity?

1960s

The government's response included spraying cannabis fields with a herbicide called ______, which was intended to "poison" the plant and deter smokers.

Paraquat

What two cannabis plants were bred to create a hybrid that was short, strong, and suitable for indoor spaces and way more potent.

tall sativa varieties with short indica varieties

The hybrid cannabis indoor variety completes its lifecycle in how many days?

90

Where is the THC in cannabis located?

resin

Growers separate the female plants from the males in order to do what?

maximize resin production in females

What helped lead to the discovery of receptor proteins in the hippocampus?

THC

The receptor protein breakthrough ultimately led to the discovery of ________, a molecule the brain produces naturally, which is described as the brain's "natural marijuana".

anandamide

Where is the origin of the potato? (5000 different varieties)

Andes Mountains

Wild potatoes can be poisonous because it contains what compound?

solanine

How did the Incans plant their potatoes that helped fight against blights?

planted many varieties

What type of potato did the Irish monoculture?

lumper

Roughly how many people ended up dying from the Irish potato famine?

~1 million

What potato has the modern fast-food industry decided to monoculture, mostly for the use of French fries?

Russet Burbank

What pest is a major threat to the monoculture of the potato?

Colorado Potato Beetle

Monsanto developed what potato in attempts to combat pests?

New Leaf Potato

The New Leaf potato contains a gene from a bacterium called what?

Bacillus thuringiensis (BT)

What happens when a Colorado Potato beetle ends up eating a BT potato?

dies

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : Belgium or France

-story : became a symbol of elegance and quality

Bosc Pear

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : England

-story : two men both tried to sell the same variety of pears and this named pear stuck over the name Williams pears

Barlet Pear

-family : Ericaceae

-type : berry

-origin : North America

-story : originally used by Native Americans, then later used by pilgrims for their nutritious value and cooking abilities

cranberry

-family : Rosaceae

-type : Pome

-origin : New Zealand

-story : a cross between two other New Zealand cultivars: Royal Gala and Braeburn. It was developed by HortResearch.

Envy apple

-genus species : Solanum tuberosum

-family : Solanaceae

-origin : USA

-type of storage organ : tuber

-modified part of plant : stem

-starch lvls : 4

-sugar lvls :  2

red potato

-genus species : Daucus sativus

-family : Apiaceae

-origin : Persia (modern day Afghanistan and Iran)

-type of storage organ : taproot

-modified part of plant : stem

-starch lvls : 2

-sugar lvls :  1

carrot

-genus species : Raphanus sativus

-family : Brassicaceae

-origin : China

-type of storage organ : taproot

-modified part of plant : root

-starch lvls : 1

-sugar lvls :  1

daikon

-genus species : Solanum tuberosum

-family : Solanaceae

-origin : USA

-type of storage organ : tuber

-modified part of plant : stem

-starch lvls : 4

-sugar lvls :  2

russet potato

-genus species : Zingiber officinale

-family : Zingiberaceae

-origin : Southeast Asia

-type of storage organ : Rhizome

-modified part of plant : stem

-starch lvls : 4

-sugar lvls :  2

ginger

-genus species : Raphanus sativus

-family : Brassicaceae

-origin : Southeast Asia

-type of storage organ : taproot

-modified part of plant : root

-starch lvls : 1

-sugar lvls : 1

radish

-genus species : Pachyrhizus erosus

-family : Fabaceae

-origin : Central America

-type of storage organ : tuber

-modified part of plant : tuberous root

-starch lvls : 4

-sugar lvls :  4

jicama

-genus species : Allium cepa

-family : Amaryllidaceae

-origin : Central Asia

-type of storage organ : bulb

-modified part of plant : stem

-starch lvls : 1

-sugar lvls :  4

onion

-genus species : Ipomoea batatas

-family : Convolvulaceae

-origin : South America

-type of storage organ : tuberous root

-modified part of plant : root

-starch lvls : 4

-sugar lvls :  1

sweet potato