The world centers of primary diversity for domesticated plants are regions where a wide variety of plant species were first domesticated and continue to exhibit high genetic diversity. These centers were identified by Russian botanist Nikolai Vavilov in the early 20th century. Vavilov proposed that certain geographical regions were the origin points for many of the world’s major crops, where they were first cultivated by humans.
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| Domesticated plants |
World centre of primary diversity of domesticated plants
1. Mesoamerican (Mexico and Central America)
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: Mesoamerica is one of the most significant world centers of primary diversity of domesticated plants. It is the region where some of the most important food crops, such as maize (corn), common beans, and squash, were first domesticated and exhibit wide genetic diversity. These crops, along with chili peppers, avocados, and sweet potatoes, originated in this region, providing vital food resources for ancient civilizations like the Maya and Aztec.
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2. Andean (Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and parts of Chile and Colombia)
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: The Andean region is another crucial world center of primary diversity of domesticated plants. It is the origin of staple crops like potatoes and quinoa, which still show significant genetic variation in the region. Other important crops include amaranth, lima beans, and cassava. The rugged terrain and high-altitude climate of the Andes fostered the development of unique and highly diverse plant species.
3. Near Eastern (Fertile Crescent)
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: The Near East, particularly the Fertile Crescent, is considered one of the earliest and most important world centers of primary diversity of domesticated plants. This region is where the first cereals, such as wheat (emmer and einkorn) and barley, were domesticated. Pulses like lentils, chickpeas, and peas also have their origins here, contributing to the genetic diversity of many crops central to modern agriculture.
4. Chinese
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: China is a key world center of primary diversity for domesticated plants, particularly for rice, which was first cultivated in this region and remains a staple for much of the global population. Other crops with high genetic diversity originating from this region include soybeans, millet, Chinese cabbage, and peaches. The region’s long agricultural history contributed to the evolution of many varieties of these essential crops.
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5. Indian (Including parts of Southeast Asia)
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: India, along with parts of Southeast Asia, is another major world center of primary diversity for domesticated plants. This region is known for rice, which, like in China, has a deep genetic reservoir here. Sugarcane, eggplant, bananas, coconuts, and various spices (such as black pepper and turmeric) were domesticated in this region, making it a hotspot of plant diversity.
6. Mediterranean
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: The Mediterranean region is a world center of primary diversity of domesticated plants, particularly for fruits, nuts, and legumes. Crops like olives, grapes, figs, dates, and almonds originated here and are integral to the traditional Mediterranean diet. The region also produced highly diverse varieties of vegetables such as peas, carrots, and onions.
7. African (Ethiopian and West African regions)
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: Africa, particularly the Ethiopian highlands and West Africa, is a world center of primary diversity of domesticated plants. The Ethiopian highlands are known for crops such as coffee, teff, sorghum, and finger millet. West Africa contributed crops like yams, oil palm, African rice, and cowpeas. The diversity of plant species in these regions continues to be crucial for local food security and agriculture.
8. Southeast Asian
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: Southeast Asia is another world center of primary diversity of domesticated plants, especially for tropical and subtropical crops. Crops like taro, banana, coconut, breadfruit, and sugarcane originated in this region, where they developed a wide range of genetic diversity. Additionally, the region is known for spices like nutmeg and cloves, which have historically been of great economic importance.
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9. Central Asian
- World center of primary diversity of domesticated plants: Central Asia is a world center of primary diversity of domesticated plants, particularly for fruit crops. This region is the origin of many important fruit species, including apples, apricots, almonds, pistachios, pomegranates, grapes, and melons. The diverse climatic conditions in Central Asia contributed to the development of a wide variety of fruit-bearing plants, many of which continue to be vital in global agriculture today.
Each of these regions, as a world center of primary diversity of domesticated plants, is crucial for the understanding of agricultural origins, the conservation of genetic resources, and the ongoing improvement of crop varieties for future food security.
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