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From selection to propagation: How did cultivated plants evolve into today's cultivar?
In the world of plants, the word cultivar has attracted more and more attention. This specific term is derived from "cultivated variety," which refers to cultivated plants that have been carefully selected to meet specific needs. Through human intervention and selection, cultivar acquired unique characteristics and was able to retain these characteristics during breeding. Through division, root and stem cuttings, grafting and tissue culture, these plants are allowed to thrive and continue to pass on their distinctive characteristics.
"cultivar is a direct product of human activities. It is not just a plant, but also the crystallization of culture and wisdom."
The naming of cultivar follows the International Code of Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), which helps the scientific community communicate information accurately. However, not all cultivated plants can be called cultivar. Horticulturists prefer to think of the term as synonymous with "cultivar". Take common ornamental plants such as roses, camellias, pine trees and rhododendrons as examples. These are cultivar that have been selected and bred to reflect people's needs in color, size and plant form.
In addition, almost all crops around the world are selected cultivar, especially for their outstanding performance in characteristics such as yield, taste and disease resistance. Few native plants are used as food sources. Especially in forestry, the trees selected are also favored for their high quality and structural properties.
"cultivar is the product of a combination of human selection and natural evolution."
As we all know, cultivar is not equivalent to the scientific name of the plant, and the use of scientific names strictly follows specific rules. The reason for this confusion is that the definition of cultivar comes from the broader term cultigen, which refers to plants that have been selected or modified by human intent. Simply put, all cultivar is cultigen, but not all cultigen is cultivar.
The evolution of cultivar
The delicious pork sausages, attractively colored peaches or pots of beautiful flowers that appear on the breakfast table are all examples of cultivar. Since ancient times, humans have been selecting and breeding plants. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus had noticed the changes that occurred after selecting and cultivating wild plants as early as 370 to 285 BC. He had a keen eye for these characteristics that were altered by cultivation.
"The formation of plant characteristics is inextricably linked to human selection."
After entering modern times, the naming and protection of cultivar have become increasingly important. In order to promote plant breeding and protect emerging varieties, countries have begun to promote the legal protection of plant breeding rights. The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) requires that newly developed cultivar must have obvious distinction and stability in characteristics. These regulations are intended to protect the interests of breeders while promoting the development of agriculture.
The naming and legal protection of cultivar
The naming of a cultivar usually includes the scientific Latin name covering its genus and species, followed by a cultivar epithet, usually in the local language. For example, the full name of the famous "King Edward" potato is Solanum tuberosum 'King Edward', a name that clearly points to a specific cultivar.
"Every unique cultivar should have its own unique name."
In addition, cultivar with plant breeding rights will often have a "commercial alias" to make it more attractive in the market. However, these aliases are not considered legal names. Therefore, it is important for consumers to understand exactly how the cultivar name differs from the commercial name.
Conclusion
Law, selection and breeding all play vital roles throughout the development of cultivar. While meeting human needs, continuous innovation and technological innovation have made cultivar the key to modern agriculture and horticulture. However, with the advancement of science and technology and the globalization of agriculture, how will cultivar evolve in the future?
