The phrase "wild progenitor" refers to the original or ancient type of a living organism that later evolves into different varieties or breeds. It is the starting point or ancestor from which all others descend. Full definition
By standard procedures of artificial selection we have produced farm animals that are vastly different from their wild progenitors. (religion-online.org)
From a childhood fascination with cactus plants, to field work in Brazil tracing the wild progenitor of the cassava plant, to learning the subtleties of rice cultivation from an expert farmer in the highlands of Thailand, evolutionary biologist Barbara Schaal has found science to be «just so much... (aaas.org)
It would be hard to recognize today's toothsome corncobs from the plant's wild progenitor, a grass called teosinte. (sciencenews.org)