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Biodiversity of Food Species of the Solanaceae Family: A Preliminary Taxonomic Inventory of Subfamily Solanoideae

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  • John Samuels

    (Novel Solanaceae Crops Project, Penzance TR20 8XD, UK)

Abstract

Over the last fifty years there has been a continual reduction in horticultural and agricultural biodiversity of nutritionally important plants, including those of the Solanaceae family. To add to this, the broad range of traditional crops, previously grown on a sustainable scale in some parts of the world, has been replaced by a narrow range of major crops grown as large-scale monocultures. In order to counteract this trend, and to help maintain a broad wealth of genetic resources, conservation is essential. This, in turn, helps to safeguard food security. A taxonomic inventory, covering the diversity of species in a plant group, is an important first step in conservation. The Solanaceae is one of the major plant families providing food species. A survey of the biodiversity, ethnobotany and taxonomy of subfamily Solanoideae was undertaken and is presented here as an inventory of food species. Fifteen genera provide species that are utilised for food across the world. Of these, only four genera contain economically significant cultivated food cropspecies. The majority of these are in the genus Solanum , whilst Capsicum , Physalis and Lycium contribute the remainder of cultivated crop species. These genera and others also comprise species that are semi-cultivated, tolerated as useful weeds, or gathered from the wild.

Suggested Citation

  • John Samuels, 2015. "Biodiversity of Food Species of the Solanaceae Family: A Preliminary Taxonomic Inventory of Subfamily Solanoideae," Resources, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-46, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:4:y:2015:i:2:p:277-322:d:49469
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gunn, Charles R. & Gaffney, Frederick B., 1974. "Seed Characteristics of 42 Economically Important Species of Solanaceae in the United States," Technical Bulletins 160049, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Stefano Padulosi & Karen Amaya & Matthias Jäger & Elisabetta Gotor & Wilfredo Rojas & Roberto Valdivia, 2014. "A Holistic Approach to Enhance the Use of Neglected and Underutilized Species: The Case of Andean Grains in Bolivia and Peru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-30, March.
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