Principles of Plant Breeding

Vavilovian Centers of Diversity

• N. I. Vavilov (1926, 1951), a Russian geneticist and plant breeder, was the pioneer man who realized the significance of genetic diversity for crop improvement. Vavilov and his colleagues visited several countries and collected cultivated plants and their wild relatives for use in the Russian breeding programme to develop varieties for various agro climatic conditions of USSR.
• Based on his studies of global exploration and collection, Vavilov proposed eight main centres of diversity and three subsidiary centres of diversity given as follows

1. Main centres-
Main centres of crop diversity as proposed by Vavilov are (1) China, (2) India (Hindustan), (3) Central Asia, (4) Asia Minor or Persia, (5) Mediterranean, (6) Abyssinia, (7) Central America or Mexico, and (8) South America.

2. Subsidiary Centers -

There are three subsidiary centres of diversity. These are: (1) Indo-Malaya, (2) Chile, and (3) Brazil and Paraguay.

All these centres are known as centres of origin or centres of diversity or Vavilovian centres of diversity.

Vavilovian centres of diversity of crop plants

Name of centres	Main crops for which genetic diversity is found
A)Main centres
I. China	Naked oat (SC), Soybean, Adzuki bean, Common bean (SC), Small Bamboo, Leaf Mustard (SC), Peach, Orai Sesame (SC), China tea, etc.
2. Hindustan	Rice, Chickpea, Moth Bean, Rice bean, Horsegram, Brinjal, Cucumber, Tree Cotton,Jute, Pepper, African Millet, Indigo, etc.
3. Central Asia	Bread wheat, Club wheat, Shot wheat, Rye (SC), Pea, Lentil, Chickpea, Sesame, Flax,Safflower, Carrot, Radish, Apple, Pear and Walnut.
4, Asia Minor or Persia	Einkorn wheat, Durum wheat, Poulard wheat, Bread wheat, Two Rowed barley, Rye, Red oat, Chickpea (SC) lentil, Pea (SC), Flax, Almond, Pomegranate, Pistachio, Apricot and Grape.
5. Mediterranean	Durum wheat, Husked oats, Olive, Broad bean and Lettuce
6. Abyssinia	Durum wheat, Poulard wheat. Emmer wheat, Barley, Chickpea, Lentil, Pea, Flax. Sesame, Castor bean, African Millet, and coffee.
7. Central America or Mexico	Maize, Common bean, Upland cotton, Pumpkin Gourd, Squash, Sisal hemp and Pepper.
8. South America	Potato Sweet potato, Lima bean, Tobacco and Sea Island cotton
B.Subsidiary entres
9. Indo-Malaysia	Banana, Coconut, Yam, and Pomelo
10. Chile	Potato
11. Brazil and Paraguay	Peanut, Rubber, Cocoa, Pineapple.