Hidden Rice Diversity in the Guianas

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Ethnobotany
• Genetics

Background:

• Traditional rice landraces are crucial for crop adaptation and breeding.
• The history of rice cultivation in South America, particularly by Maroon communities, is understudied.
• Maroon communities in the Guianas have preserved unique rice varieties for centuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the rice diversity maintained by Maroon communities in the Guianas.
• To understand the ethnobotanical and genetic origins of these rice varieties.
• To assess the role of Maroons as custodians of rice genetic resources.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic interviews with subsistence farmers along the Maroni and Lawa rivers.
• Ethnobotanical and morphological analysis of rice varieties.
• Genetic analysis using the Angiosperms353 universal probe set.

Main Results:

• Approximately 50 rice varieties were identified, with 15 previously undocumented.
• Phenotypic and genetic diversity showed no geographic structure, indicating extensive seed exchange.
• Traditional landraces are valued for culinary, nutritional, and spiritual reasons, coexisting with introduced cultivars.

Conclusions:

• Maroon communities are significant custodians of diverse rice landraces in northern South America.
• The identified rice diversity represents a valuable, largely untapped resource for future crop improvement.
• Preservation efforts are crucial to protect this genetic heritage and ensure local food security against globalization threats.