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Origins and dispersal of the sweet potato and bottle gourd in Oceania : implications for prehistoric human mobility : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Biology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. EMBARGOED till 31 December 2011

Mr Clarke used molecular genetic techniques to determine the origins of the sweet potato (kumara) and the bottle gourd in Oceania. Both are thought to have been introduced into Oceania by Polynesian voyagers who collected them from South America about 1,000 years ago (the word kumara is used by indigenous South Americans). Using new and improved DNA techniques, Mr Clarke analysed several hundred varieties of sweet potato and about 40 varieties of bottle gourd. The results are consistent with a pre-European introduction of these crops into Polynesia from South America, and have revealed something about their dispersal patterns within Polynesia, including New Zealand.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/287583
CreatorsClarke, Andrew Christopher
Source SetsAustraliasian Digital Theses Program
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish

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