Centers of Origin of Crop Plants

Understanding where crop plants originated is essential for plant breeding. It helps scientists find wild relatives, new genes (especially for disease resistance), and related species. Knowing these origins also helps prevent genetic erosion—the loss of plant diversity due to habitat destruction, urbanization, and the disappearance of traditional crop varieties. To preserve crop diversity, scientists store seeds in gene banks and protect natural habitats, especially in these original regions.

Vavilov’s Centers of Diversity

Russian scientist N.I. Vavilov (1926, 1951) was a pioneer in recognizing the importance of genetic diversity for crop improvement. He identified eight main centers and three sub-centers of crop diversity worldwide.

Law of Parallel Variation

Vavilov also proposed the Law of Homologous Variation (1951), which states that genetic traits found in one crop species often appear in related species. This principle helped him predict useful traits in different plants, aiding in crop improvement.

The Eight Vavilovian Centers of Crop Diversity

The Eight Vavilovian Centers: Old World

I. Chinese Center: The largest independent center which includes the mountainous regions of central and western China, and adjacent lowlands. A total of 136 endemic plants are listed, among which are a few known to us as important crops.

Cereals and Legumes

1. Broomcorn millet, Panicum miliaceum 2. Italian millet, Panicum italicum, 3. Japanese barnyard millet, Panicum frumentaceum, 4. Kaoliang, Andropogon sorghum 5. Buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum 6. Hull-less barley, Hordeum hexastichum 7. Soybean, Glycine max 8. Adzuki bean, Phaseolus angularis 9. Velvet bean, Stizolobium hassjoo

Roots, Tubers, and Vegetables

1. Chinese yam, Dioscorea batatas 2. Radish, Raphanus sativus 3. Chinese cabbage, Brassica chinensis, B. pekinensis 4. Onion, Allium chinense, A. fistulosum, A. pekinense 5. Cucumber, Cucumis sativus

Fruits and Nuts 1. Pear, Pyrus serotina, P. ussuriensis 2. Chinese apple, Malus asiatica 3. Peach, Prunus persica 4. Apricot, Prunus armeniaca 5. Cherry, Prunus pseudocerasus 6. Walnut, Juglans sinensis 7. Litchi, Litchi chinensis

Sugar, Drug, and Fiber Plants

1. Sugarcane, Saccharum sinense 2. Opium poppy, Papaver somniferum 3. Ginseng, Panax ginseng 4. Camphor, Cinnamomum camphora 5. Hemp, Cannabis sativa

II. Indian Center: This area has two subcenters.

A. Main Center (Hindustan): Includes Assam and Burma, but not Northwest India, Punjab, nor Northwest Frontier Provinces. In this area, 117 plants were considered to be endemic.

Cereals and Legumes 1. Rice, Oryza sativa 2. Chickpea or gram, Cicer arietinum 3. Pigeon pea, Cajanus indicus 4. Urd bean, Phaseolus mungo 5. Mung bean, Phaseolus aureus 6. Rice bean, Phaseolus calcaratus 7. Cowpea, Vigna sinensis

Vegetables and Tubers 1. Eggplant, Solanum melongena 2. Cucumber, Cucumis sativus 3. Radish, Raphanus caudatus (pods eaten) 4. Taro, Colocasia antiquorum 5. Yam, Dioscorea alata

Fruits 1. Mango, Mangifera indica 2. Orange, Citrus sinensis 3. Tangerine, Citrus nobilis

4. Citron, Citrus medica 5. Tamarind, Tamarindus indica

Sugar, Oil, and Fiber Plants 1. Sugar cane, Saccharum officinarum 2. Coconut palm, Cocos nucifera 3. Sesame, Sesamum indicum 4. Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius 5. Tree cotton, Gossypium arboreum 6. Oriental cotton, Gossypium nanking 7. Jute, Corchorus capsularis 8. Crotalaria, Crotalaria juncea 9. Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus

Spices, Stimulants, Dyes, and Miscellaneous

1. Hemp, Cannabis indica 2. Black pepper, Piper nigrum 3. Gum arabic, Acacia arabica 4. Sandalwood, Santalum album 5. Indigo, Indigofera tinctoria 6. Cinnamon tree, Cinnamomum zeylanticum 7. Croton, Croton tiglium 8. Bamboo, Bambusa tulda

B. Indo-Malayan Center: Includes Indo-China and the Malay Archipelago. Fifty-five plants were listed, including:

Cereals and Legumes 1. Job’s tears, Coix lacryma 2. Velvet bean, Mucuna utilis Fruits 1. Pummelo, Citrus grandis 2. Banana, Musa cavendishii, M. paradisiaca, H. sapientum 3. Breadfruit, Artocarpus communis 4. Mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana

Oil, Sugar, Spice, and Fiber Plants 1. Candlenut, Aleurites moluccana 2. Coconut palm, Cocos nucifera 3. Sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum 4. Clove, Caryophyllus aromaticus 5. Nutmeg, Myristaca fragrans 6. Black pepper, Piper nigrum 7. Manila hemp or abaca, Musa textilis

III. Central Asiatic Center: Includes Northwest India (Punjab, Northwest Frontier Provinces and Kashmir), Afghanistan, Tadjikistan, Uzbekistan, and western Tian-Shan. Forty-three plants are listed for this center, including many wheats.

Grains and Legumes 1. Common wheat, Triticum vulgare 2. Club wheat, Triticum compactum 3. Shot wheat, Triticum sphaerocoecum 4. Pea, Pisum sativum 5. Lentil, Lens esculenta 6. Horse bean, Vicia faba 7. Chickpea, Cicer arientinum 8. Mung bean, Phaseolus aureus 9. Mustard, Brassica juncea 10. Flax, Linum usitatissimum (one of the centers) 11. Sesame, Sesamum indicum

Fiber Plants 1. Hemp, Cannabis indica 2. Cotton, Gossypium herbaceum

Vegetables 1. Onion, Allium cepa 2. Garlic, Allium sativum 3. Spinach, Spinacia oleracea 4. Carrot, Daucus carota Fruits 1. Pistacia, Pistacia vera 2. Pear, Pyrus communis 3. Almond, Amygdalus communis 4. Grape, Vitis vinifera 5. Apple, Malus pumila

IV. Near-Eastern Center: Includes interior of Asia Minor, all of Transcaucasia, Iran, and the highlands of Turkmenistan. Eighty-three species including nine species of wheat were located in this region.

Grains and Legumes 1. Einkorn wheat, Triticum monococcum (14 chromosomes) 2. Durum wheat, Triticum durum (28 chromosomes) 3. Poulard wheat, Triticum turgidum (28 chromosomes) 4. Common wheat, Triticum vulgare (42 chromosomes) 5. Oriental wheat, Triticum orientale 6. Persian wheat, Triticum persicum (28 chromosomes).

7. Triticum timopheevi (28 chromosomes) 8. Triticum macha (42 chromosomes) 9. Triticum vavilovianum, branched (42 chromosomes) 10. Two-row barleys, Hordeum distichum, H. nutans 11. Rye, Secale cereale 12. Mediterranean oats, Avena byzantina 13. Common oats, Avena sativa 14. Lentil, Lens esculenta 15. Lupine, Lupinus pilosus, L. albus Forage Plants 1. Alfalfa, Medicago sativa 2. Persian clover, Trifolium resupinatum 3. Fenugreek, Trigonella foenum graecum 4. Vetch, Vicia sativa 5. Hairy vetch, Vicia villosa Fruits 1. Fig, Ficus carica 2. Pomegranate, Punica granatum 3. Apple, Malus pumilo (one of the centers) 4. Pear, Pyrus communis and others 5. Quince, Cydonia oblonga 6. Cherry, Prunus cerasus 7. Hawthorn, Crataegus azarolus

V. Mediterranean Center: Includes the borders of the Mediterranean Sea. Eighty-four plants are listed for this region including olive and many cultivated vegetables and forages. Cereals and Legumes 1. Durum wheat, Triticum durum expansum 2. Emmer, Triticum dicoccum (one of the centers) 3. Polish wheat, Triticum polonicum 4. Spelt, Triticum spelta 5. Mediterranean oats, Avena byzantina 6. Sand oats, Avena brevis 7. Canarygrass, Phalaris canariensis 8. Grass pea, Lathyrus sativus 9. Pea, Pisum sativum (large seeded varieties) 10. Lupine, Lupinus albus, and others Forage Plants 1. Egyptian clover, Trifolium alexandrinum 2. White Clover, Trifolium repens 3. Crimson clover, Trifolium incarnatum

4. Serradella, Ornithopus sativus Oil and Fiber Plants 1. Flax, Linum usitatissimum, and wild L. angustifolium 2. Rape, Brassica napus 3. Black mustard, Brassica nigra 4. Olive, Olea europaea Vegetables 1. Garden beet, Beta vulgaris 2. Cabbage, Brassica oleracea 3. Turnip, Brassica campestris, B. napus 4. Lettuce, Lactuca sativa 5. Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis 6. Celery, Apium graveolens 7. Chicory, Cichorium intybus 8. Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa 9. Rhubarb, Rheum officinale Ethereal Oil and Spice Plants 1. Caraway, Carum carvi 2. Anise, Pimpinella anisum 3. Thyme, Thymus vulgaris 4. Peppermint, Mentha piperita 5. Sage, Salvia officinalis 6. Hop, Humulus lupulus

VI. Abyssinian Center: Includes Abyssinia, Eritrea, and part of Somaliland. In this center were listed 38 species. Rich in wheat and barley.

Grains and Legumes 1. Abyssinian hard wheat, Triticum durum abyssinicum 2. Poulard wheat, Triticum turgidum abyssinicum 3. Emmer, Triticum dicoccum abyssinicum 4. Polish wheat, Triticum polonicum abyssinicum 5. Barley, Hordeum sativum (great diversity of forms) 6. Grain sorghum, Andropogon sorghum 7. Pearl millet, Pennisetum spicatum 8. African millet, Eleusine coracana 9. Cowpea, Vigna sinensis 10. Flax, Linum usitatissimum

Miscellaneous 1. Sesame, Sesamum indicum (basic center) 2. Castor bean, Ricinus communis (a center) 3. Garden cress, Lepidium sativum

4. Coffee, Coffea arabica 5. Okra, Hibiscus esculentus 6. Myrrh, Commiphora abyssinicia 7. Indigo, Indigofera argente

New World

VII. South Mexican and Central American Central: Includes southern sections of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica.

Grains and Legumes 1. Maize, Zea mays 2. Common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris 3. Lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus 4. Tepary bean, Phaseolus acutifolius 5. Jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis 6. Grain amaranth, Amaranthus paniculatus leucocarpus Melon Plants 1. Malabar gourd, Cucurbita ficifolia 2. Winter pumpkin, Cucurbita moshata 3. Chayote, Sechium edule

Fiber Plants 1. Upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum 2. Bourbon cotton, Gossypium purpurascens 3. Chayote, Sechium edule

Miscellaneous 1. Sweetpotato, Ipomea batatas 2. Arrowroot, Maranta arundinacea 3. Pepper, Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens 4. Papaya, Carica papaya 5. Guava, Psidium guayava 6. Cashew, Anacardium occidentale 7. Wild black cherry, Prunus serotina 8. Cochenial, Nopalea coccinellifera 9. Cherry tomato, Lycopersicum cerasiforme 10. Cacao, Theobroma cacao 11. Nicotiana rustica

VIII. South American Center: (62 plants listed) Three subcenters are found.

A. Peruvian, Ecuadorean, Bolivian Center: Comprised mainly of the high mountainous areas, formerly the center of the Megalithic or Pre-Inca civilization. Endemic plants of the Puna and Sierra high-elevation districts included:

Root Tubers

1. Andean potato, Solanum andigenum (96 chromosomes)

2. Other endemic cultivated potato species. Fourteen or more species with chromosome numbers varying from 24 to 60.

3. Edible nasturtium, Tropaeolum tuberosum. Coastal regions of Peru and non-irrigated subtropical and tropical regions of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia included:

Grains and Legumes 1. Starchy maize, Zea mays amylacea 2. Lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus (secondary center) 3. Common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris (secondary center)

Root Tubers 1. Edible canna, Canna edulis 2. Potato, Solanum phureja (24 chromosomes)

Vegetable Crops 1. Pepino, Solanum muricatum 2. Tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum 3. Ground cherry, Physalis peruviana 4. Pumpkin, Cucurbita maxima 5. Pepper, Capsicum frutescens

Fiber Plants 1. Egyptian cotton, Gossypium barbadense Fruit and Miscellaneous 1. Passionflower, Passiflora ligularis 2. Guava, Psidium guajava 3. Heilborn, Carica candamarcensis 4. Quinine tree, Cinchona calisaya 5. Tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum

B. Chiloe Center (Island near the coast of southern Chile) 1. Common potato, Solanum tubersum (48 chromosomes) 2. Wild strawberry, Fragaria chiloensis

C. Brazilian-Paraguayan Center 1. Manioc, Manihot utilissima 2. Peanut, Arachis hypogaea 3. Rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis 4. Pineapple, Ananas comosa 5. Brazil nut, Bertholletia excelsa 6. Cashew, Anacardium occidentale 7. Purple granadilla, Passiflora edulis

Microcentres: Small areas within the centers of diversity exhibit tremendous genetic diversity of some crop plants. These areas are referred to as micro-centres. Microcentres are important sources for collecting valuable plant forms and studying cultivated species' evolution.