The parable of the mustard seed as an example of unseparable interactions between spiritual and genetic potentials of grain crops

Mustards ( Brassica spp. и Sinapis spp.) are one of the primary domesticated crops in the Near East and one of the most ancient crops in the world. A remarkable proportion of oil in their grain is the main obstacle for long-term grain preservation. At the same time, the presence of mustards in both wild and agricultural floras in West Asia and North Africa is very rich and numerous. In the oldest Christian texts, the mustard seed is represented as one of the most impressive symbols. The Parable of the Mustard Seed, as told in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, considers mustard seed, with all its morphological and economic traits, an archetype of human body fulfilled with faith. Such multipurpose crop, with an essential genetic potential for high yields of oil and protein in both forage and grain, is a true model describing all the possibilities that Man has as a spiritual being. This short communication is just one of the many contributions to a multidisciplinary approach of casting more light onto the dawn of crops, with collaboration among archaeobotany, paleogeneticsa and historical linguistics.