Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

New native crops for the arid Southwest

  • Published:
Economic Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Agricultural production in the arid Southwest is heavily dependent upon water for irrigation. If current trends of water use continue, the amount of water available to agriculture in the year 2000 will only meet approximately 50% of the needs of currently available irrigated crop land. Development of new crops with low irrigation needs is of highest priority. None of the major crop plants of the world is well adapted to arid lands. However, in the Sonoran Desert, more than 375 species of noncultivated food plants have been identified, and approximately 40 of these served as major local food resources for native people in the region. Research and development of new crops must address the issues of water use, productivity, chemical composition, and quality. Domestication of native species that have evolved and became adapted to arid conditions in the Southwest is considered to be a good strategy. Research and development programs on such native, new crops as guayule, jojoba, and buffalo gourd are well underway. New domestication programs involvingCuphea species for medium-chain fatty acids,Lesquerella species for hydroxy fatty acids,Grindelia camporum for resin production, and interspecific hybrids ofBaccharis for landscape plant materials are described. The role of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, state agricultural experiment stations, and industry in the development of new crops is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Anonymous. 1984. A brand-new variety may eliminate the problem ofBaccharis decline. Sunset Mag. 172(6): 237.

  2. Babayan, V. K. 1981. Medium chain length fatty acid esters and their medical and nutritional applications. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 58: 49A-51A.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bach, A. C., and V. K. Babayan. 1982. Medium-chain triglycerides: an update. Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 36: 950–962.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Barclay, A. S., H. S. Gentry, and Q. Jones. 1962. The search for new industrial crops II:Lesquerella (Cruciferae) as a source of new oilseeds. Econ. Bot. 16: 95–100.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Boyer, J. S. 1982. Plant productivity and environment. Science 218: 443–448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Buchanan, R. A., and F. H. Otey. 1979. Multi-use oil- and hydrocarbon-producing crops in adaptive systems for food, material, and energy production. Biosources Digest 1: 176–202.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. —, and J. A. Duke. 1981. Botanochemical crops.In T. A. McClure and E. S. Lipinsky, ed, CRC Handbook of Biosolar Resources. Vol. II. Resource Material, p. 157–179. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Daxenbichler, M. E., C. H. VanEtten, H. Zobel, and I. A. Wolff. 1962. Isothiocyanates from enzymatic hydrolysis ofLesquerella seed meals. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 39: 244–245.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Earle, F. R., C. A. Glass, G. C. Geisinger, I. A. Wolff, and Q. Jones. 1960. Search for new industrial oils. IV. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 37: 440–447.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Felger, R. S. 1979. Ancient crops for the twenty-first century.In G. A. Ritchie, ed, New Agricultural Crops, p. 5–20. AAAS Selected Symposia Series #38. Westview Press, Boulder, CO.

    Google Scholar 

  11. -Felger, R. S., L. Leigh, S. L. Buchmann, D. O. Cornejo, M. A. Dimmitt, D. J. Gordon, C. Nagel, L. Ratener, and C. A. Stigers. 1981. Inventorying the world's arid lands for new crops: a model for the Sonoran Desert.In Arid Land Resource Inventories: Developing Cost-Efficient Methods, p. 106–115. USDA Forest Service, General Tech. Report WO-28, Washington, DC.

  12. Foster, K. E., R. L. Rawles, and M. M. Karpiscak. 1980. Biomass potential in Arizona. Desert PI. 2: 197–200.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gentry, H. S., and A.S. Barclay. 1962. The search for new industrial crops III: Prospectus ofLesquerella fendleri. Econ. Bot. 16: 206–211.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Graham, S. A., F. Hirsinger, and G. Röbbelen. 1981. Fatty acids ofCuphea (Lythraceae) seed lipids and their systematic significance. Amer. J. Bot. 68: 908–917.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hinman, C. W. 1984. New crops for arid lands. Science 225: 1445–1448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hirsinger, F. 1980a.Cuphea, die erste annuelle Ölpflanze für die Erzengung von mittelkettigen Triglyceriden (MCT). (Cuphea— the first annual plant for production of medium chain triglycerides (MCT).) Fette Seifen Anstrichmittel 82: 385–389.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. —. 1980b. Untersuchungen zur Beurteilung der Anbauwürdigkeit einer neuen MCT ÖlpflanzeCuphea (Lythraceae). Teil I. Natürliche Variabilität in taxonomischen and pflanzenbaulichen Eigenschaften beiCuphea Arten. (Studies to estimate the performance of a new MCT oil cropCuphea (Lythraceae). Part 1: Natural variability in taxonomic and agronomic traits ofCuphea species.) Angew. Bot. 54: 157–177.

    Google Scholar 

  18. —. 1980c. Untersuchungen zur Beurteilung der Anbauwürdigkeit einer neuen MCT ÖlpflanzeCuphea (Lythraceae). 2. Chemische Mutagenese beiCuphea aperta Koehne. (Studies to estimate the performance of a new MCT oil cropCuphea (Lythraceae). (2) Chemical mutagenesis inCuphea aperta Koehne. Z. Pflanzenzücht. 85: 157–169.

    Google Scholar 

  19. —, and G. Röbbelen. 1980. Studies on the agronomical value of a new MCT oil crop,Cuphea (Lythraceae). 3. Chemical mutagenesis inC. lanceolata andC. procumbens, and general evaluation. Z. Pflanzenzücht. 85: 275–286.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. —, and P. F. Knowles. 1984. Morphological and agronomic description of selectedCuphea germplasm. Econ. Bot. 38: 439–451.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hoffmann, J. J. 1983. Arid lands plants as feedstocks for fuels and chemicals. Crit. Rev. Pl. Sci. 1: 95–116.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. —, B. E. Kingsolver, S. P. McLaughlin, and B. N. Timmermann. 1984. Production of resins by arid-adapted Astereae.In B. N. Timmermann, C. Stellink, and F. A. Loewus, ed, Phytochemical Adaptations to Stress, p. 251–271. Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Janick, J., and A. Whipkey. 1984.In vitro culture ofCuphea wrightii. HortScience 19: 589 (abstr).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Jones, Q., and F. R. Earle. 1966. Chemical analysis of seeds. II. Oil and protein content of 759 species. Econ. Bot. 20: 127–155.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kleiman, R., G. F. Spencer, F.R. Earle, H. J. Nieschlag, and A. S. Barclay. 1972. Tetra-acid triglycerides containing a new hydroxy eicosadienoyl moiety inLesquerella auriculata seed oil. Lipids 7: 660–665.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Knowles, P. F., K. J. Lessman, W. P. Bemis, M. G. Blase, E. E. Burns, W. C. Burrows, J. H. Copp, R. G. Creech, W. T. Fike, R. E. Garrett, L. D. Hill, S. B. Idso, G. D. Jolliff, Q. Jones, J. F. Miller, J. C. Purcell, R. G. Robinson, R. L. Sampson, D. R. Sumner, A. E. Thompson, R. D. Voss, W. F. Wedin, and I. A. Wolff. 1984. Development of new crops: needs, procedures, strategies, and options. Council for Agric. Sci. and Technol. Rept. No. 102, Ames, IA.

  27. Lee, C. W., A. E. Thompson, W. D. Jones, and L. Hogan. 1984. ‘Centennial’Baccharis interspecific hybrid. HortScience 19: 903.

    Google Scholar 

  28. McLaughlin, S. P., and J. J. Hoffmann. 1982. Survey of biocrude-producing plants from the South-west. Econ. Bot. 36: 323–339.

    Google Scholar 

  29. —, B. E. Kingsolver, and J. J. Hoffmann. 1983. Biocrude production in arid lands. Econ. Bot. 37: 150–158.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Mikolajczak, K. L., F. R. Earle, and I. A. Wolff. 1962. Search for new industrial oils. VI. Seed oils of the genus ofLesquerella. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 39: 78–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Miller, R. W., C. H. VanEtten, and I. A. Wolff. 1962. Amino acid composition ofLesquerella seed meals. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 39: 115–117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. —, F. R. Earle, I. A. Wolff, and Q. Jones. 1964. Search for new industrial oils. IX.Cuphea, a versatile source of fatty acids. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 41: 279–280.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. —, —, —, and—. 1965. Search for new industrial oils. XIII. Oils from 102 species of Cruciferae. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 42: 817–821.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Office of Technology Assessment. 1983. Technologies affecting water-use efficiency of plants and animals.In Water Related Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture in U.S. Arid/Semiarid Lands. Chapt. IX, p. 243–269. U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. OTA-F-212. Washington, DC.

  35. Princen, L. H. 1977. Potential wealth in new crops: research and development.In D. S. Seigler, ed, Crop Resources, p. 1–15. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  36. —. 1979. New crop developments for industrial oils. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 56: 845–848.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. —. 1983. New oilseed crops on the horizon. Econ. Bot. 37: 478–492.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. —, and J. A. Rothfus. 1984. Development of new crops for industrial raw materials. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 61: 281–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Ritchie, G. A., ed. 1979. New Agricultural Crops. AAAS Selected Symposia Series #38. Westview Press, Boulder, CO.

  40. Röbbelen, G., and F. Hirsinger. 1982.Cuphea, the first annual oil crop for the production of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT).In Improvement of oil-seed and industrial crops by induced mutations. Panel Proc. Series, p. 161–170. Int. Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Rollins, R. C. 1957. Interspecific hybridization inLesquerella. Contrib. Gray Herb. 181: 1–40.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Roth, W. B., I. M. Cull, R. A. Buchanan, and M. O. Bagby. 1982. Whole plants as renewable energy resources: checklist of 508 species analyzed for hydrocarbon, oil, polyphenol, and protein. Trans. Illinois State Acad. Sci. 75: 217–231.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Smith, C. R., Jr., T. L. Wilson, T. K. Miwa, H. Zobel, R. L. Lohmar, and I. A. Wolff. 1961. Lesquerolic acid. A new hydroxy acid fromLesquerella seed oil. J. Org. Chem. 26: 2093–2095.

    Google Scholar 

  44. —,—, R. B. Bates, and C.R. Scholfield. 1962. Desipolic acid: a unique hydroxydienold acid fromLesquerella densipila seed oil. J. Org. Chem. 27: 3112–3117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. —. 1979. Unusual seed oils and their fatty acids.In E.H. Pryde, ed, Fatty Acids, Chapt. 2, p. 29–47. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. Monograph, Champaign, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Sperling, L. H., and J. A. Manson. 1983. Interpenetrating polymer networks from triglyceride oils containing special functional groups: a brief review. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 60: 1887–1892.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Tankersley, H. C, and E. R. Wheaton. 1983. Strategic and essential industrial materials from plants-thesis and uncertainties.In Plants: The Potential for Extracting Proteins, Medicines, and Other Useful Chemicals-Workshop Proceedings, p. 170–177. U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment, OTA-BP-F-23, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Thompson, A. E., W. D. Jones, and L. Hogan. 1976. Breeding and selection of native landscape plant materials for arid regions. HortScience 11: 330 (abstr).

    Google Scholar 

  49. —. 1984.Cuphea-A potential new crop. HortScience 19: 352–354.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Timmermann, B. N., D. J. Luzbetak, J. J. Hoffmann, S. D. Joland, K. H. Schram, R. B. Bates, and R. E. Klenck. 1983. Grindelane diterpenoids fromGrindelia camporum andChrysothamnus paniculatus. Phytochemistry 22: 523–525.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Webster, G. W., ed. 1981. Developing new crops. Prog. Agric. Arizona 31(4): 22–27.

  52. White, G. A. 1977. Plant introductions-a source of new crops.In D. S. Seigler, ed, Crop Resources, p. 17–24. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Wilson, T. L., T. K. Miwa, and C. R. Smith, Jr. 1960.Cuphea llavea seed oil, a good source of capric acid. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 37: 675–676.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Wolf, R. B., S. A. Graham, and R. Kleiman. 1983. Fatty acid composition of Cuphea seed oils. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc. 60: 27–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 85040, Phoenix, AZ

    Anson E. Thompson

Authors
  1. Anson E. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the USDA over other firms or similar products not mentioned.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thompson, A.E. New native crops for the arid Southwest. Econ Bot 39, 436–453 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858752

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858752

Keywords

Search

Navigation