Over the course of thousands of years, American indigenous peoples domesticated, bred and cultivated a large array of plant species. These species now constitute 50–60% of all crops in cultivation worldwide. In certain cases, the indigenous peoples developed entirely new species and strains through artificial selection, as was the case in the domestication and breeding of maize from wild teosinte grasses in the valleys of southern Mexico. Numerous such agricultural products retain their native names in the English and Spanish lexicons. COUNT 5
QSN1 What did the indigenous peoples of America cultivate over the course of thousands of years? ANS1 a large array of plant species QSN2 What percent of worldwide crops in cultivation derive from the efforts of the America's indigenous people? ANS2 50–60% QSN3 How were new species and strains of crops developed? ANS3 artificial selection QSN4 What was the origin of maize? ANS4 wild teosinte grasses QSN5 What products sometimes retain their native names in both English and Spanish? ANS5 agricultural