Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Folk taxonomy and evolutionary dynamics of cassava: A case study in Ubatuba, Brazil

Taxonomy popular e dinâmica evolucionária da mandioca: um estudo de caso em Ubatuba, Brasil

  • Research
  • Published:
Economic Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A survey was conducted of Caicara farmers from Ubatuba in the Brazilian coastland between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro States regarding the folk-taxonomy for cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) landraces they cultivate and cassava evolutionary dynamics in swidden cultivation. The accuracy of their folk taxonomy was assessed. Cluster analysis was used to make comparisons between names given by the farmers to sampled individuals and their isozyme phenotypes obtained with four isozyme systems. Interviews with farmers were done and ethnobiological data collected. These farmers possess a loose taxonomic system and tend to underestimate cassava genetic diversity in their gardens. However, classification skills vary considerably among them. The accuracy of their taxonomy along with the results of interviews with farmers and ethnobiological data are discussed in light of a proposed evolutionary dynamics model for cultivated cassava and its ecology in tropical swidden cultivation.

Resumen

A taxonomia local e a dinâmica evolutiva da mandioca foram estudadas na agricultura de corte, queima e abandono entre agricultores caigaras de Ubatuba-SP, Brazil. Avaliou-se, atraves de análise de agrupamentos, a acurácia da taxonomia local comparandose nomes dados pelos agricultores a indivíduos amostrados com seus fenótipos isoenzimáticos obtidos a partir de quatro sistemas. Entrevistas com os agricultores e coleta de dados etnobiologicos também foram realizadas. Estes agricultores possuem uma taxonomia pouco acurada e tendem a sub-estimar a diversidade genetica da mandioca em suas rocas. Entretanto, a habilidade de classificacão de etnovariedades varia consideravelmente de agricultor para agricultor. Este fato em conjunto com os dados etnobiologicos e o resultado das entrevistas são discutidos à luz de um modelo proposto para a dinâmica evolutiva e da ecologia da mandioca cultivada neste sistema de agricultura.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Arnold, S. J., and M. J. Wade. 1984. On the measurement of natural and sexual selection: theory. Evolution 38(4):709–719.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Begon, M., J. L. Harper, and C. R. Towsend. 1996. Ecology: individuals, populations and communities. 3rd Ed. Blackwell Science, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boster, J. S. 1984. Classification, cultivation, and selection of Araguaruna cultivars ofManihot esculenta (Euphorbiaceae). Advances in Economic Botany 1:34–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boster, J. S. 1985. Selection for perceptual distinctiveness: evidence from Aguaruna cultivarsManihot esculenta. Economic Botany 39(3):310–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clayton, J. W., and D. N. Tretiak. 1972. Aminecitrate buffers for PH control in starch gel eletrophoresis. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 29:1169–1172.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cury, R. 1993. Dinamica evolutiva e caracterizacão de germoplasma de mandioca(Manihot esculenta Crantz) na agriculture autóctone do sul do Estado de São Paulo. Piracicaba, 103 p. Dissertaço (Mestrado)-Escola Superior de Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz,” Universidade de São Paulo.

  • Dominguez, C. E., L. F. Ceballos,and C. Fuentes. 1984. Morfologia de la planta de yuca.In Dominguez, C.E.Yuca: investigacion, producion y utilization. Cali: CIAT. p. 29–49.

  • Elias, M., O. Panaud, and T. Robert. 2000. Assessment of genetic variability in a traditional cassava(Manihot esculenta Crantz) farming system, using AFLP markers. Heredity 85(3):219–230.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graner, E. A. 1942a. Notas sobre o florescimento e frutificaço da mandioca. Bragantia 2(1):1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —. 1942b. Genética deManihot. I Hereditariedade da forma da folha e da coloraço da película externa das raízes emManihot utilissimum Pohl. Bragantia 2(1):1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulick, P., C. Hershey,and J. E. Alcazar. 1983. Genetic resources of cassava and wild relatives. Rome: International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR). 56p.

  • Hawkes, J. G. 1991. Centres de diversidad genética vegetal en Latinoamérica. Diversity 7(l/2):7–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hershey, C,and A. Amaya. 1984. Genética, citogenética, estrutura floral y tecnica de hibridacion de la yuca.In Dominguez. C.E. Yuca: Investigacion, producion y utilizacion. Cali: CIAT, p. 113–125.

  • —,and N. Ocampo.1989. Yuca—Boletin informativo 13(1): 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Husband, B., and S. C. H. Barret. 1996. A metapopulation perspective in plant population biology. Journal of Ecology 84:461–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias, C. A., C. Hershey, F. Calle, and A. Bolaños. 1994. Propagating cassava(Manihot esculenta) by sexual seed. Experimental Agriculture 30:283–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings, D. L. 1979. Cassava. Pages 81–84in N. W. Simmonds, Evolution of crop plants. Longman, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, T., and S. L. Keen. 1986. Ongoing evolution of the potato on the altiplano of eastern Bolivia. Economic Botany 40(4):409–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, W. E., and C. R. Clement. 1980. Praticas agricolas de conseqüências genéticas que possibilitaram aos índios da Amazônia uma melhor adaptaço as condiçoes ecológicas da região. Acta Amazônica 10(2):251–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,and D. A. Posey. 1984. Informações adicionais sobre a agriculture dos Kayapó. Interciência. 9(6):392–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefevre, F., and A. Charrier. 1993. Heredity of seventeen isozyme loci in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Euphytica 66:171–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manly, B. F. J. 1994. Multivariate statistical methods: a primer. Chapman & Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martins, P. S. 1994. Biodiversity and agriculture: patterns of domestication of brazilian native plant species. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 66: 219–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nassar, N. M. A. 1989. Broadening the genetic base of cassava,Manihot esculenta Crantz, by interspecific hybridization. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 69(3):1071–1073.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nye, M. M. 1991. The mis-measure of manioc (Manihot esculenta, Euphorbiaceae). Economic Botany 45(l):47–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, K. M., and B. A. Schaal. 1999. Evidence on the origin of cassava: phylogeography ofManihot esculenta. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA, 96:5586–5591.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Papy, L. 1957. À margem do império do café: a fachada atlantica de Sao Paulo. Boletim Geográfico, 15:139–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quiros, C. F., S. B. Brush, D. S. Douches, K. S. Zimmerer, and G. Huestis. 1990. Biochemical and folk assessment of variability of Andean cultivated potatoes. Economic Botany 44(2):254–266.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, D. J. 1972. Some further considerations on the origin ofManihot esculenta Crantz. Tropical Root and Tuber Crops Newsletter 6:4–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salick, J. 1992. Crop domestication and evolutionary ecology of cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal). Pages 247–285in M. K. Hecht, et al. eds., Evolutionary biology. Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,N. Cellinese, and S. Knapp. 1997. Indigenous diversity of cassava: generation, maintenance, use and loss among Amuesha, Peruvian upper Amazon. Economic Botany 51(1):6–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauer, J. 1952. Agricultural origin and dispersal. American Geographic Society, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scandalios, J. G. 1969. Genetic control of multiple molecular forms of enzymes in plants: a review. Biochemical Genetics 3:37–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, C. B. 1958. A mandioca: contribuição para o conhecimento de sua origem. Boletim da Agriculture 25:73–128.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Hunt Hall, 95616, Davis, CA

    J. B. M. Sambatti

  2. Genetics and Plant Breeding Department of the ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba-Brazil

    P. S. Martins & A. Ando

Authors
  1. J. B. M. Sambatti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. S. Martins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Ando
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to J. B. M. Sambatti or A. Ando.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sambatti, J.B.M., Martins, P.S. & Ando, A. Folk taxonomy and evolutionary dynamics of cassava: A case study in Ubatuba, Brazil. Econ Bot 55, 93–105 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02864549

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02864549

Key Words

Search

Navigation