A Bright Future for the Peach Palm?

This study examines the domestication and dispersal patterns of the peach palm (Bactris gasipaes). Using a combination of genetic analysis and distribution models based on GBIF-mediated occurrences, researchers provides new insights into the history of this important native staple.

Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) by CIFOR licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) by CIFOR licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

This study examines the domestication and dispersal patterns of the peach palm (Bactris gasipaes). Using a combination of genetic analysis and distribution models based on GBIF-mediated occurrences, researchers provides new insights into the history of this important native staple. Their results suggest that the peach palm evolved from a wild species, with domestication taking place in southwestern Amazonia. Though models do predict an increase in suitable habitat for peach palm with very few losses, the authors do single out a number of priority areas for conservation of genetic and phenotypic diversity.

Galluzzi, G., Dufour, D., Thomas, E., van Zonneveld, M., Escobar Salamanca, A. F., Giraldo Toro, A., … Gonzalez Mejia, A. (2015). An Integrated Hypothesis on the Domestication of Bactris gasipaes. PloS One, 10(12), e0144644. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0144644