From wild to cultivated crops: general shift in morphological and physiological traits for yield enhancement following domestication

Abstract

Crop species undergo artificial selection as a result of domestication under agricultural field conditions. However, there is limited information on the pattern of how domestication alters leaf photosynthesis, morphology, and biomass and its allocation. In this review, we firstly introduced the concept of crop domestication, provided clarity on crop domestication syndrome, and emphasized the significance in the conservation and re-utilization of wild crop resources. Next, we discussed the variation in crop biomass and yield using a compiled dataset comprised of 54 wild and cultivated species. We subsequently summarized the general shift in physiological traits including higher growth and photosynthetic rates, light use efficiency, leaf area, chlorophyll, and nitrogen content, which may be associated with greater biomass and yield during crop domestication. We ended by identifying what has been learned on how domestication optimized plant performance to produce today's crops, and by providing some examples of how this knowledge was being exploited and redirected to drive crop improvement in the near future. These general patterns following crop domestication present several implications for offering valuable insights into shaping future genetic engineering targets and improving agricultural management practices.