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Domestication process of two Solanum section lasiocarpa species among Amerindians in the upper orinoco, venezuela, with special focus on Piaroa Indians

El Proceso de Domesticación de Dos Especies de Solanum Sección Lasiocarpa entre los Pueblos Indígenas del Alto Orinoco, Venezuela, con Particolar Atención a los Indígenas Piaroa

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Abstract

Two semi-cultivated Solanum species (S. Sessilifloram Dunal and S. stramonifolium Jacq.) are utilized by the Amazonian Indians of the Upper Orinoco Basin in Venezuela. The manner in which they have become partially domesticated by the Piaroas and other native tribes of this rain forest region is elucidated in the following text. Both species have two varieties, with and without prickles, the latter being the result of human selection. Patterns of indigenous utilization of these species brought to the selection of morphologic forms and to the differentiation of karyotypes of varieties, and exploitation of the species also reflects in the perception of them among users. S. sessiliflorum is cultivated in swiddens and has an economic role, whereas S. stramonifolium is grown in dooryards. This difference is detectable to the Piaroas, as they recognize in their folk taxonomy three different varieties ofS. Sessiliflorum and one ofS. Stramonifolium, according to the stage of domestication of the species and the way in which they are utilized.

Resumen

Este documento examina el proceso de domesticación de dos especies de Solanum (secciónLasiocarpa: Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal;Solanum stramonifolium Jacq.) semi-cultivadas y utilizadas por muchos pueblos indígenas de la Amazonia venezuelana, evidenciando estos aspectos entre los indígenas Piaroa del Alto Orinoco. Ambas especies presentan dos variedades, con y sin espinas, siendo aparentemente la última el resultado de la selección del ser humano respecto a la forma silvestre. Los modelos de utilizatión de estas especies por los pueblos indígenas causaron la selección de formas morfológicas y la differentiación de los cariotipos de las variedades, y la explotación de las mismas tiene reflexo en sus perceptión entre los que las utilizan. S. sessiliflorum es cultivado en huertos en la foresta, tenendo un valor económico, mientras queS. Stramonifolium es prevalentemente dejado crecer en los corrales. Esta diferencia se puede apreciar en la importancia que las especies tienen en la cultura Piaroa, ya que ellos reconocen tres variedades de la primera especie y solamente una de la segunda, desarrollando la taxonomía local en función de la diferencia de utilizatión y del estadio de domesticatión de las plantas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Padua, 325100 Laboratorio di Agroecologia ed Etnobiologia, Italy

    Gabriele Volpato, Rossella Marcucci, Noemi Tornadore & Maurizio G. Paoletti

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia, Universitá di Padova, via U. Bassi, 58/b, 35121, Padova, Italy

    Gabriele Volpato, Rossella Marcucci, Noemi Tornadore & Maurizio G. Paoletti

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  1. Gabriele Volpato
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  2. Rossella Marcucci
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  3. Noemi Tornadore
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  4. Maurizio G. Paoletti
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Volpato, G., Marcucci, R., Tornadore, N. et al. Domestication process of two Solanum section lasiocarpa species among Amerindians in the upper orinoco, venezuela, with special focus on Piaroa Indians. Econ Bot 58, 184–194 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2004)058[0184:DPOTSS]2.0.CO;2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1663/0013-0001(2004)058[0184:DPOTSS]2.0.CO;2

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