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The Domestication of the Seasons: The Exploitation of Variations in Crop Seasonality Responses by Later Prehistoric Farmers

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Jones, MK 
Lister, DL 

Abstract

jats:pDiscussions of domestication and its associated genetic traits has focused upon dispersal mechanisms, for example in the rachis structure of cereals. Here we consider another trait of importance to domesticated crops – their seasonality response. We particularly consider flowering response to changing daylength, and how that relates to domesticated species that are carried by farmers considerable distances from their regions of origin. We consider the implications of cultivating crops in regions whose seasonality patterns contrast with those of the crop’s region of origin, and consider the consequent genetic changes. Reference is made to the particular case of barley, and a discussion of archaeogenetic research into its photoperiod response mechanism is provided.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

photoperiod response, flowering time, archaeobotany, archaeogenetics, Bronze Age, irrigation, multicropping

Journal Title

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2296-701X
2296-701X

Volume Title

Publisher

Frontiers Media SA
Sponsorship
European Research Council (249642)