Why study the archeo-histories of dryland landraces now?

Guy Bar-Oz and Joshua Schmidt

From Trends in Plant Science Vol XX, No XX

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2025.01.004

Living landrace fruit trees are preserved in the margins of the Mediterranean countryside. Often found in drought-prone areas and historically selected and bred for resilience to aridity, landrace cultivars have distinctive genetic identities. The study of their longevity, endurance, and intergenerational traits reveals how historical farmers adapted to harsh environments through resource management and the use of prized cultivars. We propose a model to merge archeological and socio-historical methods to contextualize the biological narratives in landrace fruit tree cultivars within their historical origins. Insights from this manner of research can enhance sustainable horticulture practices by offering innovative recourses for reclaiming traditional landrace cultivars. Using ancient landrace varieties to increase plant diversity can have various financial, cultural, and ecological benefits for modern agriculture.

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Relic olive trees in the Wadi Zetan, Negev Highlands.