The wild relatives of major vegetables, needed for climate resilience, are in danger
(WorldNews Environment)

The wild relatives of chile peppers, pumpkins, carrots, and lettuce join a growing list of poorly conserved plant species. These ancient plants have genes that may help our food withstand the harsh climate of our future. If they don`t go extinct first Growing up in the wild makes plants tough. Wild plants evolve to survive the whims of nature and thrive in difficult conditions, including extreme climate conditions, poor soils, and pests and diseases. Their better-known descendants - the domesticated plants that are critical to a healthy diet - are often not nearly as hardy. The genes that make crop wild relatives robust have the potential to make their cultivated cousins - our food plants -...