Evolution and variability of special cultivated crops in the highlands of West New Guinea (Irian Jaya) under present Neolithic condftions

摘要

Samples of all cultivated crops and some wild types utilized for specific purposes (e.g. edible fruits, fibre plants) were collected, described and investigated to assess their nutritional value in the central highlands of West New Guinea (Irian Jaya)in the area of the Mek population (at 4° S-, 140° E). Large variability was observed within all the different cultivated crops for morphological features such as shape and colour of leaves, stems and tubers of root crops, as well as for physiologicalcharacters such as protein content, cooking quality and taste. From two locations (Kosarek at 1500 m a.s.l., Eipomek at 1800 m a.s.l.) data were collected on all important food crops: sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) >90 clones, taro (Co/ocas/a esculenta) >60 clones, bananas (Musa spp.) >20 clones, sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) >30 clones and different kinds of vegetable crops such as Setaria palmifolia, Amaranthus spp., Rungia spp. and others. The highlands of New Guinea can be assumed to be a gene centre, especially for vegetative crops.