Centers of Origin GP & PLANT BREEDING AGRICULTURE

Plant Breeding & Genetics of Agriculture describes centre of origin , Vavilov approaches
Classification and description

1. Centres of Origin Ravish Panchta Assistant Scientist

2. The Definition These are the geographical areas where crop species are suppose to have originated; based on the centre of diversity.

3. Centres of Origin Vs. Centres of Diversity These two labels have often been used interchangeably, both concepts are interrelated with some distinctions. A Centre of Diversity is the geographical area where the botanical species shows a higher degree of variation , which is manifest both at an individual and collective genetic level. It is the place where the highest number of cultivated plants live together with their original wild plant relatives, and where there are significant genetic variants represented by alleles. The Centre of origin of a plant is the place where it is thought to have appeared for the very first time .

4. The first criterion, therefore, for identifying a centre of origin is the presence of wild relative species . There may be strong correlations between the centre of origin and the centre of diversity, even though occasionally they differ. This occurs where there is high variation among cultivated plants, but there are no, or very few, wild relatives . The diversity of a plant can be increased by natural forces and human interventions also, even far away from its place of origin. Therefore, Plants can have more than one centre of origin or diversity.

5. N.I. Vavilov - Soviet botanist and geographer , was the first scientist to conduct extensive research on plant varieties and cultivation . -Director: Institute of Plant Industry , Leningrad . -The crop plants evolved from wild species in the area showing great diversity. N.I. Vavilov ( 1887-1943 )

6. Based on Mendel’s idea i.e. that the transmission of characteristics between generations of plants is determined by their genetic patrimony . Thus, for crop improvement, all the morpho -physiological variability w.r.t a plant’s characteristics, both original and those modifed by humankind must be used. Vavilov’s Approach:

7. Vavilov’s Intention To bring the germplasm of all the world’s major crops to Russia, and he gathered them all in his Institute of Plant Industry Here he bred several species of fodder, vegetables, cereals and fruit, in order to investigate the most suitable varieties for cultivation. During his lifetime, he organized and conducted more than one hundred expeditions to collect botanical samples from the world’s most important agricultural areas.

8. Classification Primary Centre of Origin Secondary Centre of Origin : in some areas, certain crop species shows considerable diversity although they did not originated there.

9. Centres of Origin In 1926, Nikolai Vavilov demonstrated eight different primary areas of origin and diversity in his book “ Origin of Cultivated Plants ”. The China Centre The Hindustan Centre The Central Asia Centre The Asia Minor Centre The Mediterranean Centre The Abyssinian Centre The Central American Centre The South American Centre

10. Centres of Origin

11. The China Centre Mountains of Central and Western China Primary: Soybean, Radish, Brinjal, Pear, Peach, Plum, Orange Secondary: Rajma , Cowpea, Maize, Seasame

12. The Hindustan Centre Burma, Assam, Malaya, Java, Sumetra and Philippines Primary: Rice, Pigeonpea, Chickpea, Mungbean , Saccharum officinarum , Gossypium arboreum , Mango, Saccharum officinarum , Black Pepper, Banana and Turmeric

13. The Central Asia Centre North-Western India, North Western Frontier region, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Primary: Triticum aestivum , Pea, G. herbaceum , Grapes, Apples, Carrot, Onion

14. The Asia Minor Centre Iran, Turkmenistan Primary: Rye, Alfalfa, Oat, Cabbage, Fig, Pomegranate Secondary: B. camprestris , B. nigra and B. rapa

15. The Mediterranean Centre Countries around Mediterranean Sea Primary: Barley, Lentil, Chickpea, Onion, Garlic, Trifolium spp., Species of Triticum , Avena and Brassica

16. The Abyssinian Centre Ethiopia and Eritrea Primary: Barley, Bajra , Jowar , Okra, Castor, Triticum durum, T. turgidum , T. dicoccum

17. The Central American Centre South Mexico and Central America Primary: Maize, Rajma , Melons, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Chillies , G. hirsutum , Guava, Papaya Secondary: Rye

18. The South American Centre Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Columbia, Chile and Brazil Primary: Potatoes, Maize, Lima beans, Peanut, Pine apple, G.barbadense , Rubber