The practice of seed saving has the potential to play a critical role
in enhancing the adaptive capacity of the U.S. agricultural system through
the protection the crop genetic resource base. It is therefore of value to
understand seed savers and the networks that connect them in order to assess
their contributions to such a system. In this thesis I take an
interdisciplinary approach at analyzing a network of corn (Zea mays) seed
savers. Through interviews I explore the characteristics of and relationships
among seed savers in the hopes of illuminating the strength of the network
and its place in the larger agricultural system. Testing seeds for various
seedborne fungal genes~ I explore the possibility of interaction between seed
savers' practices and the biology of their seeds. This study serves as a
foundation for future research in seed saving network analysis and the
interactions of social behavior on seed microbial communities.
