Plant geneticists are seeking help to understand the history of the plants and they need the public's help. 

A biologist and a historian are looking for art to help them to trace fruit and vegetable evolution through paintings.  Without actual samples of fruits and vegetables from history, they are looking for the next best thing: art that contains realistic fruit or vegetables in it.

When scientists studied ancient Egyptian depictions of watermelons, they observed the familiar light and dark green stripes we see today. This, in combination with DNA extracted from a watermelon leaf found preserved in an Egyptian tomb, indicates the fruit was domesticated more than 4000 years ago and is not a modern invention.

To help grow this database of art, they're asking people from around the world to provide pictures of paintings they encounter that depict plant-based food and send it to [email protected]

Listen to Michelle Dickinson explain the study with Francesca Rudkin above