Skip to main content
Evolution of Crop Plants
Presented By:
Prof. Md.Mustafa
Dept. of Botany , Uni. College of Science ,
Kakatiya University-Warangal
The origin and domestication of crop plants is a fascinating subject that explores
the history and science of how humans have transformed wild plants into
cultivated crops over thousands of years
Crop plants have evolved through natural and artificial selection, as well as
genetic factors such as polyploidy, introgression, and mutation.
These factors have increased the genetic diversity and variability of crop plants,
which are essential for adaptation and improvement.
Cultivated plants are not distributed uniformly throughout the world.
Some of the of the crop species show greater variability and their wild relatives
in certain areas of the world
Why study of origin of crops is important?
 Search for resistance to diseases and pests.
 Helps in directing efforts towards
crop improvement
Eg:(*In sugarcane S. Barberi and S. Sinensis are the result of crosses between
S. officinarum x S. Sportaneum As a result, nobalization of canes in sugarcane
took place.
*In wheat A B D genomes have come from three different wild Sp. Namely
T. monococcum, T. speltoids & T. squarrosa to give rise to cultivated hexaploid.)
 Useful in development of new crops
 Uuseful in making collections
How to determine centres of origin ?
I. Based on presence of wild Spp (Decondelle):
in the areas of max. diversity.
Problems 1. Difficult to establish true wild Spp.
2. Some crops lack wild Sp. Ex. Vicia faba
II. a) Archeological : fragments of plants deposited
b) Historical : fagments of plants found
c) Linguistic: based on origin (Naming)
III. Evidences from Taxonomy
IV. Combination of I, II and III
Centres of Origin:
In 1926, N. I. Vavilov proposed 08 Centres of Origin :(present 11 centers of origin
Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov
(1922-1930) Russian Botanist,
Geneticist
(OLD WORLD)
I.CHINA CENTRE :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
1.Apricot
1. Peach
2. Soybean
3. Adzuki bean
4. Velvet bean
5. Chinese yam
6. Radish
7. Chinese cabbage
8. Onion
II. This area has two sub-centers.
A. Main Center (Hindustan): Includes Assam and Burma, but
not Northwest India, Punjab, Northwest Frontier Provinces
1. Rice
2. Chickpea
3. Pigeon pea
4. Urd bean
5. Mung bean
6. Cowpea
7. Eggplant
8. Mango
9. Tamarind
II B. Indo-Malayan Center: Includes Indo-China and the
Malaya .
Fifty five plants were listed, including:
1. Yam
2. Banana
3. Coconut palm
4. Sugarcane
5. Clove
6. Black pepper
7. Pamelo
III. Central Asian Centre:Includes Northwest India (Punjab,
Northwest Frontier Provinces and Kashmir), Afghanistan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and western Tian-Shan.
This center lists 43 plants including many wheat.
1. Common wheat, T. vulgare
2. Club wheat, T. compactum
3. Shot wheat, T. sphaerocoecum
4. Pea
5. Lentil
6. Horse bean
7.Onion
8.Garlic
9.Grape
10.Apple
IV. Near-Eastern Center/Asian minor:
Includes interior of Asia Minor (Anatolian peninsula in Asian
part of turkey), Iran and the highlands of Turkmenistan.
This region lists 83 species including 9 species of wheat.
1. Einkorn wheat, Triticum monococcum (2n = 14)
2. Durum wheat, Triticum durum (2n = 28)
3. Poulard wheat, Triticum turgidum (2n = 28)
4. Common wheat, Triticum vulgare (2n = 42)
5. Oriental wheat, Triticum orientale
6. Persian wheat, Triticum persicum (2n = 28)
7. Triticum timopheevi (2n = 28)
8. Triticum macha (2n = 42)
9. Triticum vavilovianum, branched (2n = 42)
V. Mediterranean Center:
Includes the borders of the Mediterranean Sea (Greece, Italy,
France). : This region lists 84 plants including olive and many

cultivated vegetables and forages.
1. Durum wheat, Triticum durum expansum
2. Emmer, Triticum dicoccum (one of the centers)
3. Pea, Pisum sativum (large seeded varieties)
4. Lupine
5. Black mustard
6. Olive
7. Cabbage
8. Lettuce
9. Asparagus
10. Celery
VI. Abyssinian Center:
Includes Abyssinia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and part of Somali. This

center lists 38 species; rich in wheat and barley.
1. Abyssinian hard wheat, Triticum durum abyssinicum
2. Grain sorghum, Andropogon sorghum
3. Pearl millet, Pennisetum spicatum
4. Cowpea, Vigna sinensis
5. Flax, Linum usitatissimum
6. Sesame, Sesamum indicum (basic center)
7. Castor bean, Ricinus communis (a center)
New World: Includes southern sections of Mexico, Guatemala,
Honduras and Costa Rica.
VII. South Mexican and Central American Centre:
1. Maize, Zea mays
2. Common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris
3. Lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus
4. Sweetpotato
5. Pepper, Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens
6. Papaya, Carica papaya
7. Guava, Psidium guayava
8. Cashew, Anacardium occidentale
VIII. South American Center:
Two sub-centers are found.
VIIIA. Peruvian, Ecuadorean, Bolivian Center: Comprised
mainly the high mountainous areas of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador
1. Andean potato
2. Pepper
3. Tomato
4. Pumpkin
5. Egyptian cotton
6. Guava
7. Tobacco
VIII B. Brazilian-Paraguayan Center
1. Cassava
2. Groundnut
3. Rubber
4. Pineapple
5. Cashew
Centres of Diversity:
A. Primary centres of Diversity: Maximum plant diversity with
large no. of relative wild species.
B. Secondary centres of Diversity: Only maximum plant
diversity but no wild relatives.
MICROCENTERS (Harlan 1951): are the small
areas within the centres of diversity exhibiting
tremendous genetic diversity of some crop plants.
1.Small areas within the pco/sco exhibiting
tremendous genetic diversity.
2.Crop evolution tends to proceed at a faster rate in
such areas
3. Important for plant collection & experimental
study of evolution of cultivated species.
CONCLUSION:
Evolution of crop plants is a process of genetic and phenotypic changes in plants
due to natural or artificial selection over many generations.
•Evolution of crop plants is influenced by three main genetic factors: polyploidy,
introgression, and mutation, which increase the genetic diversity and adaptability
of plants.
•Evolution of crop plants has resulted in the development of various crops with
desirable traits, such as higher yield, better quality, and increased resistance to
pests and diseases, from their wild ancestors.
•Evolution of crop plants has been shaped by the geographic, climatic, and
cultural factors of different regions of the world, where plants were domesticated
and diversified.
•Evolution of crop plants is an ongoing and dynamic process that continues to
respond to the changing needs and demands of human society and the
environment.