Question

Suppose a neolithic farmer is trying to decide which squash they want to grow again. From which squash is the farmer most likely to save seeds for the next planting season?

a) A small, bitter squash
b) A large, sweet squash
c) A yellow, round squash
d) A green, elongated squash

Answer 1

A neolithic farmer would likely save seeds from a large, sweet squash for the next planting season as it suggests better yield and taste, which are desirable traits for cultivation.

Step-by-step explanation:

A neolithic farmer is most likely to save seeds from the squash that exhibits the most desirable traits for cultivation, which would be survivability, productivity, and desirable taste for consumption. Therefore, between the options given, the farmer would likely choose to save seeds from option (b) A large, sweet squash. This choice is because larger fruits often suggest better yield and sweetness is generally a preferred taste, indicating health and lower levels of natural toxins compared to bitter variants. It is also worth noting that selective breeding over generations has been a practice since ancient times to develop crop species with more desirable traits, such as increased size, sweetness, and disease resistance, as seen with the development of yellow squash that were resistant to several viruses in the 1990s.

Answer 2

The Neolithic farmer would likely save seeds from 'b) A large, sweet squash' due to its desirable taste and larger yield potential. Selective breeding even during Neolithic times favored plants with traits beneficial for human consumption and cultivation success.

Step-by-step explanation:

A Neolithic farmer deciding which squash seeds to save for the next planting season would most likely choose seeds from a plant that produced not only a desirable fruit but also a successful harvest. In this case, the preferred choice would be 'b) A large, sweet squash' because these qualities would have been more favorable for consumption and nutrition, leading to a stronger preference for plants with these characteristics. Sweetness usually indicates a higher sugar content which would be a valuable source of energy, while the large size suggests that the squash provides more edible material and might be the result of successful cultivation practices.

Cultivation practices since the Neolithic era have often focused on selective breeding to enhance desirable traits, hence why seeds from larger, sweeter fruits would have been chosen over a smaller, bitter counterpart. Desirable traits would have been selected over generations, leading the domesticated varieties to differ from their wild ancestors. Literature suggests that yellow squash that is resistant to various viruses have been developed, highlighting the importance of disease resistance as well. However, in the Neolithic era, such advanced genetic manipulation was not possible, so the selection would have been based on the observable qualities of the squash.