@article{0d912257b9e1447699e7d9d37abed20d,
title = "Crop genetic erosion: understanding and responding to loss of crop diversity",
abstract = "Crop diversity underpins the productivity, resilience and adaptive capacity of agriculture. Loss of this diversity, termed crop genetic erosion, is therefore concerning. While alarms regarding evident declines in crop diversity have been raised for over a century, the magnitude, trajectory, drivers and significance of these losses remain insufficiently understood. We outline the various definitions, measurements, scales and sources of information on crop genetic erosion. We then provide a synthesis of evidence regarding changes in the diversity of traditional crop landraces on farms, modern crop cultivars in agriculture, crop wild relatives in their natural habitats and crop genetic resources held in conservation repositories. This evidence indicates that marked losses, but also maintenance and increases in diversity, have occurred in all these contexts, the extent depending on species, taxonomic and geographic scale, and region, as well as analytical approach. We discuss steps needed to further advance knowledge around the agricultural and societal significance, as well as conservation implications, of crop genetic erosion. Finally, we propose actions to mitigate, stem and reverse further losses of crop diversity.",
keywords = "agrobiodiversity, biodiversity conservation, crop diversity, crop landraces, crop wild relatives, diachronic diversity, food security, plant genetic resources",
author = "Khoury, {Colin K.} and Stephen Brush and Costich, {Denise E.} and Curry, {Helen Anne} and {de Haan}, Stef and Engels, {Johannes M.M.} and Luigi Guarino and Sean Hoban and Mercer, {Kristin L.} and Miller, {Allison J.} and Nabhan, {Gary P.} and Perales, {Hugo R.} and Chris Richards and Chance Riggins and Imke Thormann",
note = "The authors express their gratitude to the myriad farmers, conservationists, researchers, and editors and publishers around the world who have contributed to a deeper understanding of the trajectories, reasons and implications of changes in crop diversity over time. CKK was supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship (grant no. 2019-67012-29733/project accession no. 1019405) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider. HAC was supported by the Wellcome Trust 217968/Z/19/Z. SH was supported by The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science and IMLS grant MA-30-18-0273-18. We thank Denisse McLean-Rodr{\'i}guez for maize images in Fig. 3 and Maisie Richards for illustrations in Fig. 4. The authors express their gratitude to the myriad farmers, conservationists, researchers, and editors and publishers around the world who have contributed to a deeper understanding of the trajectories, reasons and implications of changes in crop diversity over time. CKK was supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship (grant no. 2019‐67012‐29733/project accession no. 1019405) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider. HAC was supported by the Wellcome Trust 217968/Z/19/Z. SH was supported by The Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science and IMLS grant MA‐30‐18‐0273‐18. We thank Denisse McLean‐Rodr{\'i}guez for maize images in Fig. 3 and Maisie Richards for illustrations in Fig. 4 .",
year = "2022",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1111/nph.17733",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "233",
pages = "84--118",
journal = "New Phytologist",
issn = "0028-646X",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "1",
}