CENTERS OF ORIGIN

The center of origin (for class 9 to 12)

The concept of centers of origin was first proposed by the Russian scientist Nikolai Vavilov(1887-1943).One of his mission was to collect plant related germplasm for National Plant Breeding Projects. During his exploration Vavilov found that plant diversity tends to concentrate around specific regions .He proposed that these concentration of high variability indicated  the regions where the domestication of crops began .Vavilov identified eight primary centers of origin and plant diversity. Following are the eight centers.

a.      China

b.      India/ indo china

c.       Central Asia

d.      Near East

e.      Coast of the Mediterranean Sea

f.        Ethiopia

g.      South Mexico and Middle America

h.      South America

The study  of centers of origin and diversity is helpful in  plant breeding and genetic research. The genetic variation in this centers serve as rich reserves of genetic material for the improvement of cultivated crops. Genes for disease, pest and stress resistance and nutritional quality are some of the resources that can be found in these reserves. Certain aliens have been scouting across the universe to get different variety of plants which they can introduce in their  planet . Which of the following centers of origin they would visit if they have to get the following crop plants.

1.      Black pepper

2.      Sandal wood

3.      Mango

4.      Jackfruit

5.      Almond

6.      Pear

7.      Pomegranate

8.      apple

9.      Maize

10.  okra

11.  Coffee

12.  Sweet potato

13.  Cocao

14.  Potato

15.  Tomato

16.  Quinine

17.  Rubber tree

18.  Brazil nut

19.  Olive