CULTIGEN Meaning and
Definition
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A cultigen refers to a plant species that has been altered and cultivated by humans for various purposes, such as agricultural, ornamental, medicinal, or industrial uses. This term is used to distinguish these cultivated types from their wild ancestors, known as wildlings or wild relatives. Cultigens are the result of human intervention and selection, which has led to desirable traits being preserved and enhanced over generations.
Typically, cultivation involves the deliberate planting, nurturing, and management of these plants to promote specific characteristics such as size, yield, taste, color, disease resistance, or drought tolerance. Humans have been cultivating plants since prehistoric times, and the advent of agriculture marked a significant shift in the relationship between humans and plants.
Cultigens can include a wide range of plants such as crops like wheat, rice, corn, or potatoes, as well as flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This term encompasses not only the plant itself but also the entire lineage and population of cultivated individuals derived from a common ancestor.
The term "cultigen" is essential in distinguishing these domesticated plants from their wild counterparts. It recognizes the human agency, time, and skill invested in the selection and breeding processes that transformed these plants into valuable resources for human societies. The study of cultigens, known as cultigenetics, allows researchers to explore the fascinating story of human-plant interactions throughout history.
Common Misspellings for CULTIGEN
- xultigen
- vultigen
- fultigen
- dultigen
- cyltigen
- chltigen
- cjltigen
- ciltigen
- c8ltigen
- c7ltigen
- cuktigen
- cuptigen
- cuotigen
- culrigen
- culfigen
- culgigen
- culyigen
- cul6igen
- cul5igen
- cultugen
Etymology of CULTIGEN
The word "cultigen" is a combination of two words: "cultivar" and "genic".
The term "cultivar" is derived from the combination of "cultivated" and "variety". "Cultivated" refers to the act of intentionally raising or tending to plants for agriculture or horticulture purposes, while "variety" denotes a distinct form or type of a plant species that has been cultivated for specific characteristics. The word "cultivar" was coined in the early 20th century by Liberty Hyde Bailey, an American horticulturist and botanist.
The word "genic" comes from the Greek word "genos", which means "kind" or "race". In scientific terminology, "genic" often pertains to genetics or genes.
