A cultigen is a plant that has been deliberately altered by humans and generally does not have a direct, uncultivated counterpart in the wild. It encompasses cultivated varieties, engineered hybrids, and domesticated crops that rely on human intervention to survive and reproduce. Taxonomists and breeders use the term to distinguish domesticated lines from wild ecotypes.
Heard on the job
We're working with a maize cultigen that completely lost its ability to disperse seeds on its own.
Insider tip
The term combines cultivated and indigen, highlighting its human-made origins.