A recent study published in the Annals of Botany has uncovered unaltered agave plant species cultivated by early cultures, including the Hohokam people of the Southwest. Agave plants have been significant in the Americas for thousands of years and were a main source of carbohydrates before corn cultivation. The Hohokam people utilized agricultural practices like building terraces for agave dry farming, which increased their agricultural potential. The research conducted by the Desert Botanical Garden has resulted in the rediscovery and naming of several agave species that were once farmed by pre-contact peoples. These plants offer a unique opportunity to study unchanged plant species that have survived through the centuries. The researchers emphasize the importance of protecting these agave species, especially in the face of climate change and the need for drought-adapted crops.
https://phys.org/news/2023-10-pre-columbian-agave-persisting-arizona-landscapes.html