Principles of Plant Breeding (2+1)

Types of Centers of Diversity

Primary Centres of Diversity
Primary centres are regions of vast genetic diversity of crop plants. These are original homes of the crop plants which are generally uncultivated areas like, mountains, hills, river valleys, forests, etc.

Main features of Centres of diversity
1. They have wide genetic diversity.
2. Have large number of dominant genes.
3. Mostly have wild characters.
4. Exhibit less crossing over.
5. Natural selection operates.

Secondary Centres of Diversity
These are the areas where certain crop species show considerable diversity although they did not originate there.These are generally the cultivated areas and have following main features.
1. Have lesser genetic diversity than primary centres.
2. Have large number of recessive genes.
3. Exhibit more crossing over.
5. Both natural and artificial selections operate.