(1) Selection Humble Beginnings Landrace Nature as selector

Humble origins

Lactuca scariola or L. serriola

Chiltepin

Teosinte/Corn

Traditional selection methods.

James L. Reid’s father planted an Indian flint and dent flour corn in Northern Illinois Best corn at the Illinois State Fair Gold medal at the World ’ s Fair. Reid ’ s dent corn became the most popular variety of field corn grown world-wide during much of the 20th Century. Reid ’ s Yellow Dent Corn

Dave Christensen “Painted Mountain is the hardiest, fastest-maturing grain corn in the world. “ Fedco Seeds, 2014 Catalog

“…it appears that natural selection may be more discerning than farmers (or plant breeders) in identifying and preserving adaptively superior types, …traits that are often difficult for breeders to identify and quantify.” Principles of Plant Breeding, Allard, 2nd Edition, Natural Selection