Centre of Origin Flashcards
Centre of origin
founder N.I Vavilov(1924)
The concept is that crop plants evolved from wild species in the area showing great diversity and that place is termed as primary center of origin.
Later on from the primary centre the crops moved to other places due to human activities
There are certain areas where some crops exhibit maximum diversity of forms but this may not be the centre of origin for that particular crop.
Such centres are known as Secondary centres of origin. E.g. The primary centre of origin of sorghum is Africa but India exhibits maximum diversity for this crop.
Name the 8 centres of origin?
China India South America Central America Abyssinya Asia minor Central Asia
The China Centre
mountainous regions of central and western China and the neighboring low lands.
It is the largest and oldest independent centre
Primary centre of origin are: Radish, Soybeans, Common millet, Opium, Brassica, Onion.
Secondary centre of origin are: Maize, Cowpea, Turnip, sesame.
The India Centre
Burma, Assam, Malaya, Java Borneo, Sumatra and Philippines, but excludes North West India, Punjab and North Western Frontier Provinces
Primary centre of origin are: Rice, Cucumber, Red gram, Radish, Chickpea, Cowpea, Cotton, Green gram, Hemp, Turmeric, Coconut.
The Central Asia Centre
It includes North West India, Afghanistan, the Soviet Republics of Tadjikistan and Tian Shan
It is also known as the Afghanistan centre of origin
The crops that originated in this centre are:
Primary centre of origin are: Wheat, Rye, Pea, Broad bean, Sesame, Safflower, Cotton, Onion, Garlic
Secondary centre of origin are: rye
The Asia Minor Centre
This is also known as the Near East or the Persian Centre of Origin
It includes the interior of Asia Minor, the whole of Transcaucasia, Iran and Highlands of Turkmenistan
The crops originated in this centre are:
Primary centre of origin are: Triticum, rye, alfalfa, carrot, cabbage, oat
Secondary centre of origin are: rape, black mustard and leaf mustard, turnip and apricot
The Mediterranean Centre
The crops originated in this centre are:
Primary centre of origin are: Many valuable cereals and legumes such as Durum Wheat, Emmer Wheat, Beets, Barley, Peppermint, Lentil, Pea, Broad bean.
The Abyssinian Centre
It includes Ethiopia and hill country of Eritrea
The crops originated in this centre are:
Primary centre of origin : Barley, Broad bean, Sorghum, Pearl millet, Lentil, Sunflower, Castor, Coffee, Okra.
Central American Centre:
This includes South Mexico and Central America
It is also referred to as the Mexican Centre of Origin
The crops originated in this centre are:
Primary centre of origin are: Maize, Lima bean, Melons, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Arrowroot.
The South American Centre:
This centre includes the high mountainous regions of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, parts of Chile, and Brazil and whole of Peraguay
The crops originated in this centre are:
Primary centre of origin are: Potato, Maize, Peanut, Egyptian cotton, Tobacco, Tapioca
Later in, 1935, Vavilov divided the India Centre of Origin into two centres:
The South American Centre was divided into three centres
At the same time he introduced a new centre of origin, the U.S.A. Centre of origin
Two plant species, Sunflower and Jerusalem Artichoke originated in this centre.
Indo Burma and Siam- Malaya- Java Centre of Origin
Peru, Chile and Brazil-Peraguay Centres of Origin
Importance of the concept:
The origin of crop plants is basic to plant breeding in order to locate wild relatives, related species, and new genes (especially dominant genes, sources of disease resistance)
Knowledge of the origins of crop plants is vitally important in order to avoid genetic erosion, the loss of germplasm due to the loss of ecotypes and landraces, loss of habitat (such as rainforests), and increased urbanization
Germplasm preservation is accomplished through gene banks and preservation of natural habitats (especially in centers of origin).
