BP Singh

Centres of Origin and Diversity of Crop Plants 23agriculture and ethnic diversity in the sub-continent have playeda major role in the diversification of crop resources in this region.In addition, there has been a continuous stream of introductionsof new crops and their cultivars by man since the ancient times.Crops like pear, grape, nuts, datepalm, garlic, opium,maize,potato, sweet potato, tomato, chillies, french bean etc. werebrought by the Mughals, Spaniards, Portuguese and the British.Thus, both indigenous and well adapted exotic set of materialsconstitute a well balanced matrix of crop diversity in Indian subcontinent.Eight regions where diversity in major crop plants isconcentrated are as under.1. Western HimalayasBarley, wheat, maize, buckwheat, amaranth, prosomillet,finger milletFrench bean, soybean, lentil, blackgram, peasPumpkin, cucumber, Allium spp., ginger, BrassicaePome, stone, soft and nut fruitsMedics2. Eastern HimalayasBarley, maize, buckwheat, amaranth, finger millet,foxtail millet.French bean, soybean, cowpea, blackgram, peas, scarletbeanPumpkin, cucumber, Allium spp., ginger, chayote, treetomato, BrassicaePome and stone fruits3. North-Eastern RegionRice, maize, sorghum, finger millet, foxtail millet, job'stearsFrench bean, soybean, pigeonpea(perennial),blackgram,rice bean, dolichos bean, winged beanPumpkin, chayote,· cucumber, okra, eggplant, chilli!Capsicum spp. pointed gourd, ash gourd