Since the beginning of agriculture, some 10,000 years ago,
humans have molded the diversity of crop plants around them to suit their
diverse needs for food and beverage, feed, clothing and other numerous uses.
Starting with the process of domestication, crop biodiversity results from
the fascinating interactions among humans, plants, and their environment.
My research and teaching program is focused on elucidating the evolutionary
processes that have shaped evolution of crop plants under cultivation. I focus
particularly on Phaseolus beans because they are such an important part of
the human diet, especially in developing countries, and provide many health
benefits. More...