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It may be a little bit confusing to point out if garlic was modified by humans or it evolved on its own. Well, here’s the concise answer you seek; garlic achieved its current form due to human intervention about 6,000 years ago.
The ancient Indians who were believed to have domesticated Allium longicuspis, are also poised to have influenced the taste and medicinal properties of garlic. Today, there are about 600 cultivated sub-varieties of garlic worldwide. There is currently no specific classification for the varieties of garlic; however, in the United States, garlic varieties are generally categorized into soft-necks and hard-necks.
Where Do Garlic Come From Originally?
Garlic has a history that spans over 5000 years – down to 3500–1200 BCE. This plant is believed to have originated from Central Asia, where its closest wide ancestor thrives. Garlic, with the scientific name Allium sativum, looks pretty much like Allium longicuspis, and although A. longicuspis is mostly sterile, it’s been doubted to be the true wild ancestor of modern-day garlic.
The cultivated garlic cultivars do not reproduce by themselves; they are sterile and can only reproduce through propagation by hand. The sterility of cultivated garlic can be linked with its domestication process. Domesticated garlic typically has the following traits, increased bulb weight, reduced leaf length, thinner coat layer, resistance to environmental stress, and shorter growing seasons.
Conclusion
So, is garlic man-made? Yes, it got to achieve its current form due to human intervention. More so, over the years, humans have proceeded to breed many varieties of this plant.
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