Kin recognition, multilevel selection and altruism in crop sustainability

Summary Intraspecific competition among crop plants is undesirable. Less competitive crops are predicted to increase yield and decrease the need for added resources. Wild plants demonstrate the ability to recognize kin and potentially help their relatives by reducing their competitive behaviours, a form of altruism. Altruism can also evolve through multilevel selection. Are these processes relevant to sustainable agriculture? Crops do …