What fruits and vegetables looked like before man changed them through selection (11 photos)

Man is a stubborn and willful creature. We haven't tried in a long time conform to the laws of nature. Vice versa! People keep changing game rules for you. Here, take at least a selection. Most of the acquaintances us fruits and vegetables initially looked very different. And, for example, a banana was not at all a particularly edible thing and generally looked little like the banana everyone is used to. Let's see what other adjustments brought humanity into the properties and appearance of famous vegetables and fruits.

Cucumber





The early ancestor of the cucumber, thanks to its spines, looked more like the cactus was not particularly edible (even poisonous). But years of diligent selective breeding made the cucumber what we know it today - more long and tasty.

Tomato



The distant ancestor of the wild tomato was darker in color and, judging by its modest size, looked more like a berry.

Banana







The banana is the most impressive example of selective breeding. banana ancestors the Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana species are considered. They differ in how smaller and more pitted.

Carrot



Before human intervention, carrots were thinner. Habitual orange color is also a person's fault. The ancestor of the modern carrot was white or purple.

Lemon



The lemon known to us was born thanks to the crossing of citron with different varieties of bitter orange. Citron is non-hybrid citrus, characterized by bumpy skin.

Watermelon



Anyone who is interested in how the ancestor of the watermelon looked before, breeders refer to the painting by the artist Giovanni Stanchi, painted between 1645 and 1672. You can see that there was much pulp in it. less than today's watermelon.

Eggplant



The ancestors of the modern eggplant were most often white (but there were also light blue and yellow) and had a more round shape.

Corn



The teosinte plant is considered to be the ancestor of modern corn. Can just imagine how much work it took for breeders to ensure that from of this thin stalk come to the modern head of corn.

Cabbage



The wild and inedible yellow-flowered plant Brassica oleracea is the ancestor of modern cabbage.

Peach



Early wild peaches were more like berries in size and did not have a particularly sweet taste.