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Nikolai Vavilov’s Centers of Origin of Cultivated Plants With a View to Conserving Agricultural Biodiversity
Abstract and Figures
This article is based on Nikolai Vavilov’s studies on the centers of origin of cultivated plants and the beginnings of agriculture. Vavilov (1887-1943), a Soviet botanist and geographer, was the first scientist to conduct extensive research on plant varieties and cultivation. Not all of Vavilov’s ideas regarding the identification of the original centers of cultivated plants have been fully accepted, and one of his successors, North American Jack Harlan, suggested that the term “centers of origin” be replaced by “centers of diversity”. After having outlined Vavilov’s research and expeditions to different regions of the world, I shall focus on the origin and spread of major agricultural crops (cereals, rice, corn, potatoes), with some considerations on the present need to conserve agricultural biodiversity which, although at risk from industrial technologies, is better protected in areas of origin where farming methods are less intensive and based on the practices of local communities.
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... Nessas áreas, geograficamente delimitadas, é comum encontrar alta diversidade de variedades cultivadas e seus parentes selvagens, manejados em sistemas de agricultura tradicional. Tais áreas ficaram conhecidas como Centros de Origem ou de Diversidade das plantas cultivadas (CORINTO, 2014;HARLAN, 1971;NABHAN, 2009;VAVILOV, 1926). ...
... Além dos Centros de Origem, onde as espécies agrícolas foram domesticadas primariamente, existem também os Centros de Diversificação, ou seja, regiões onde as espécies se diversificaram após a disseminação para além de seu centro de origem, juntamente à dispersão dos povos pelos continentes, sofrendo novas pressões evolutivas, tanto ecológicas, quanto culturais (CORINTO, 2014;HARLAN, 1971). Tanto nos centros de origem quanto de diversificação, encontra-se componentes da agrobiodiversidade ainda pouco conhecidos pela ciência. ...
A agrobiodiversidade está diretamente associada à diversidade agrícola e aos conhecimentos tradicionais das populações rurais. Seu papel para a segurança e soberania alimentar desses povos e da sociedade em geral é amplamente reconhecido. A redução e mesmo a extinção de grande parte dessa diversidade está relacionada à expansão de atividades agroindustriais em larga escala, ao desenvolvimento de variedades geneticamente homogêneas e ao desrespeito aos modos de vida dos povos tradicionais e campesinos. Ações de conservação ex situ e on farm têm sido desenvolvidas como medidas paliativas à crescente ameaça sofrida pelas comunidades rurais e, consequentemente, à agrobiodiversidade manejada no campo. Esta revisão detalha algumas questões em torno da agrobiodiversidade e indica métodos interdisciplinares e participativos de pesquisa para fortalecer ações que visem seus usos, manejo e conservação.
Abstract: Agrobiodiversity is directly associated to agricultural diversity and traditional knowledge. Its role in food security and sovereignty is widely recognized. The reduction and even extinction of a large part of this diversity is related to the expansion of large-scale agro-industrial activities, the development of genetically homogeneous varieties and the disrespect for the ways of life of traditional and rural peoples. Ex situ and on farm conservation strategies have been developed as palliative measures to the growing threat suffered by rural communities and, consequently, to agrobiodiversity. This review details some issues around agrobiodiversity, and indicates interdisciplinary and participatory approaches to strengthen its uses, management and conservation.
... Crop species and the diversity between and within them have significant socioeconomic and heritage value [42]. Asia has four out of eight Vivilov centers of crop origin and diversity [43], with 379 crops and more than 40 anticancer crop species, leading to the lowest prevalence of cancer and the lowest mortality in the world [8]. Zeng et al. [44] suggested that the migration of early humans from Africa to Asia and then to Eurasia was related to the physiological activity of modern human chronic diseases. ...
Objective
To understand the geographic differences and variations in the functional components of brown rice cores collected from global rice germplasms.
Methods
Four functional components, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resistant starch (RS), total flavonoids, and alkaloids, in brown rice from 690 mini-core collections from 31 countries from five continents and the International Rice Research Institute, were analyzed using a spectrophotometry colorimetric method, and the results were statistically validated.
Conclusion
The highest average amounts of functional components were obtained in Asian germplasms, except for GABA, and total flavonoids were highest in brown rice from Europe and Oceania, followed by Asia. The highest coefficient of variation for GABA was observed in Asia; that for RS and total flavonoids was observed in Africa, followed by Asia; and that for alkaloids was observed in America, followed by Asia. Overall, Asian countries were the most prominent and representative zones with the highest genotypic potential for functional components of brown rice. Forty-one rice accessions with enriched functional components originated mostly from biodiversity-rich areas in China, followed by those in the Philippines. Late sowing favored the enrichment of these components in brown rice. The current study provides a reference for rice breeding with enriched functional constituents, and guidelines for screening functional rice that could be used for human chronic disease research.
... Γραφική σύγκριση περιορισμών στην υπολεκάνη GR1807 Γράφημα 21 Γραφική σύγκριση αποδόσεων στην υπολεκάνη GR1807 Γράφημα 22 Γραφική σύγκριση περιορισμών στην υπολεκάνη GR1814 Γράφημα 23 Γραφική σύγκριση αποδόσεων στην υπολεκάνη GR1814 Γράφημα 24 Γραφική σύγκριση περιορισμών στην υπολεκάνη GR1815 Γράφημα 25 Γραφική σύγκριση αποδόσεων για την υπολεκάνη GR1815 Γράφημα 26 Γραφική σύγκριση περιορισμών στην υπολεκάνη GR1818 Γράφημα 27 Γραφική σύγκριση απόδοσης καλλιεργειών στην υπολεκάνη GR1818 Γράφημα 28 Γραφική σύγκριση περιορισμών στην υπολεκάνη GR1820 Γράφημα 29 Γραφική σύγκριση αποδόσεων στην υπολεκάνη GR1820 Γράφημα 30 Γραφική σύγκριση περιορισμών στην υπολεκάνη GR1822 Γράφημα 31 ...
ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ
Η κατανομή/διαχείριση των καλλιεργειών ( crops distribution/management) αποτελεί σημαντικό πρόβλημα στον πρωτογενή τομέα, κάτι που οδηγεί στην αύξηση της παραγωγής και συνεπάγεται την αύξηση του κέρδους. Έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί αρκετοί τρόποι κατανομής, πολλοί από τους οποίους παρουσίασαν σημαντικά αποτελέσματα. Ο γραμμικός προγραμματισμός (linear programming) ή αλλιώς γραμμική βελτιστοποίηση, είναι μέθοδος για την επίτευξη του καλύτερου αποτελέσματος (πχ. μεγιστοποίηση κέρδους) σε ένα μαθηματικό υπόδειγμα, του οποίου οι προϋποθέσεις (περιορισμοί) είναι ένα σύνολο γραμμικών σχέσεων των μεταβλητών του. Στη παρούσα μελέτη γίνεται χρήση του γραμμικού προγραμματισμού για μεγιστοποίηση της απόδοσης των καλλιεργειών σε μία αγροτική περιοχή προς βελτιστοποίηση. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, χρησιμοποιείται το εργαλείο solver του excel που επιλύει γραμμικά προβλήματα, ώστε να πραγματοποιηθεί κατανομή των καλλιεργειών στην περιοχή μελέτης (ΛΑΠ π. Σπερχειού) κάτω από περιβαλλοντικούς περιορισμούς, με σκοπό τη βελτιστοποίηση της παραγωγής.
Πριν αναπτυχθεί η μεθοδολογία και προκύψουν τα αποτελέσματα, γίνεται εκτενής μελέτη για το πως μπορεί να συμβάλλει ο γραμμικός προγραμματισμός στην αγροτική ανάπτυξη. Διεξοδικότερα, αναφέρονται χαρακτηριστικά παραδείγματα που μας οδηγούν στο συμπέρασμα, ότι η επιλογή της συγκεκριμένης μεθοδολογίας είναι άκρως επιτυχής. Η βιβλιογραφία που αναφέρεται στο τέλος, περιέχει σημαντικά άρθρα που αξιοποιήθηκαν, ώστε το αντικείμενο μελέτης να γίνει πιο σαφές και κατανοητό.
Επιπλέον, γίνεται πλήρης περιγραφή της περιοχής μελέτης με προσδιορισμό των καλλιεργειών που απαντώνται, καθώς και αναφορά στους υπόλοιπους τομείς οικονομίας. Τεκμηριώνονται πλήρως οι περιορισμοί που λαμβάνονται υπόψη και τα δεδομένα αξιολογούνται και διασταυρώνονται από αξιόπιστες πηγές (πχ. ΕΛΓΑ, ΟΠΕΚΕΠΕ, Περιφέρεια Στερεάς Ελλάδας, Corine Land Cover 2018 κτλ.).
Τα αποτελέσματα που προκύπτουν από την εφαρμογή του γραμμικού προγραμματισμού στην περιοχή μελέτης – εφαρμόστηκε 23 φορές η μεθοδολογία στη λεκάνη απορροής του π. Σπερχειού, καθώς και σε κάθε μια από τις 22 υπολεκάνες του – δείχνουν ότι οι περιορισμοί είναι αυτοί, που καθορίζουν τα αποτελέσματα της μεθοδολογίας. Είναι προτιμότερο για πιο ορθά αποτελέσματα, το μοντέλο γραμμικού προγραμματισμού (με τη χρήση του εργαλείου solver) να εφαρμόζεται σε μικρές γεωργικές εκτάσεις.
Έτσι, καταλήγουμε σε σημαντικά συμπεράσματα έπειτα από τη σύγκριση των αποτελεσμάτων που προκύπτουν για τη σωστή κατανομή των καλλιεργειών στη συγκεκριμένη περιοχή μελέτης. Αυτό καταλήγει στην αύξηση της παραγωγής κάτω από ορισμένους περιβαλλοντικούς περιορισμούς, τους οποίους θα δούμε εκτενέστερα.
ABSTRACT
In agriculture, the production structure of farms can be highly diversified to reduce risk and uncertainty related to unsealing the products. To determine the optimal structure of crops, different methods which take into account the income and expenditure of crops per acre are used.As a result, the area of each crop is identified, so that, in combining them to derive maximum profit level. In this study, linear programming method is used for optimizing profit, investigating whether, after applying the econometric model, the profit increased or not.
This study investigates the economical activity of Sperchios river basin and to optimize its profit using linear programming method. The research question is whether after applying the econometric model the returns of the economical activity is higher or not.
Excel's solver tool was used to overcome the research question as it solves linear problems. The limitations that have been taken into account have helped to make the crops' distribution environmentally conscious.
Cross-data was used to give the best possible results. The study area has been fully developed with its crops as well as the other sectors of the economy.
... La caficultura también presenta una profunda relevancia ecológica, pues provee importantes manejado por comunidades indígenas. Como ejemplo, se ubican allí más de 3.6 millones de hectáreas relacionadas con 7 de 218 áreas globales de aves endémicas (Bird International, 2013), y uno de los ocho centros globales donde se han originado los principales cultivos alimentarios del mundo (Corinto, 2014). ...
Se presenta un análisis cartográfico de los paisajes cafetaleros en el estado de Puebla, se emplea un modelo socio-ecosistémico para describir el territorio y se generan reflexiones sobre la relación del entorno y la producción.
... depredadores, causantes de enfermedades, etc. Conservar la diversidad, bajo el supuesto de que ésta puede mantenerse mejor en su ámbito de origen, en donde tiene el soporte de prácticas y conocimientos tradicionales sobre uso y manejo sostenible. Identificar los recursos genéticos con las mejores características para enfrentar situaciones específicas de producción y frente al cambio climático (Sangay y Duponnois, 2018;Corinto, 2014;Casas y Parra, 2016;Guerra y Piñero, 2017). ...
La “tara” o “taya” (Tara spinosa) es una planta económicamente importante para el Perú y otros países andinos, aprovechada en su estado silvestre, principalmente. Sin embargo, no se conoce sobre su origen y dispersión y, el estado de domesticación, como base para entender los cambios que surgirán debido a su cultivo intensivo con tecnología mejorada y para su conservación. En este artículo, sobre la base de fuentes biológicas, arqueológicas, lingüísticas e históricas y, observaciones de campo; se esclarece, por primera vez, sobre estos aspectos. También se expone sobre la dirección de las presiones de selección, el enfoque de las investigaciones al respecto y los estudios pendientes. Se concluye provisionalmente que su centro de domesticación se ubica en la costa peruana, en donde la relación hombre-”tara” data de 5100 años. Todavía no ha alcanzado el nivel de planta domesticada en alto grado y es posible encontrarla además del estado silvestre, en cuatro estados intermedios. Se sugieren los estudios para conocer mejor la variabilidad del germoplasma, con atención a las partes útiles, sus componentes y principios activos.
... We estimated the number and locations for hypothetical centers of diffusion by combining 657 current knowledge of regions that served as World Centers of Diversity (Corinto, 2014), cluster 658 analysis of our accessions' locations, and historical data for locations of ancient cities that were 659 prominent trading centers during ancient times (Ancient World Mapping Center, n.d.). 660 We applied ArcGIS clustering analysis and spatial statistics tools to group all accessions into six 661 clusters based on geographic locations and spatial constraints, and to calculate mean center 662 for each cluster. ...
According to archaeological records, chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ) was first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent 10 thousand years ago. Its subsequent diversification in South Asia, Ethiopia, and the Western Mediterranean, however, remains obscure and cannot be resolved using only archeological and historical evidence. In particular, chickpea has two market types: ‘desi’, which has a similar flower and seed coat color to chickpea’s wild relatives; and ‘kabuli’, which has light-colored seed, and is linguistically tied to Central Asia but has an unknown geographic origin.
Based on the genetic data from 421 chickpea landraces from six geographic regions, we tested complex historical hypotheses of chickpea migration and admixture on two levels: within and between major regions of cultivation. For the former, we developed popdisp, a Bayesian model of population dispersal from a regional center towards sample locations, and confirmed that chickpea spread within each region along trade routes rather than by simple diffusion.
For the latter, migration between regions, we developed another model, migadmi, that evaluates multiple and nested admixture events. Applying this model to desi populations, we found both Indian and Middle Eastern traces in Ethiopian chickpea, suggesting presence of a seaway from South Asia to Ethiopia — and the cultural legacy of the Queen of Sheba. As for the origin of kabuli chickpeas, we found significant evidence for an origin from Turkey rather than Central Asia.
... Da das Äthiopische Hoch land als Klimascheide fungiert, sind die ausgedehnten Tiefebenen des AfarDreiecks sowie des Ogadens auf der LeeSeite ausgesprochen niederschlagsarm und zeichnen sich durch ein warmes Steppen und Wüsten klima aus(Schönwiese 2020).Die hohe Geodiversität spiegelt sich auch in der bio logischen Vielfalt Äthiopiens wider, u.a. haben Kaffee (Coffea arabica), Sesam (Sesamum indicum), Gerste (Hordeum vulgare), Hirse (Sorghum, Eragrostis tef) und Lein (Linum) ihren Ursprung im Abessinischen Genzen trum(Corinto 2014). Darüber hinaus ist das gesamte Äthiopische Hochland Teil des »Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot« mit einer Vielzahl endemischer Arten und geht an seinen Rändern in den »Horn of Afri ca Biodiversity Hotspot« über. ...
Human-environment interactions in the Ethiopian Highlands: The Ethiopian Highlands are the largest continuous mountain range on the African continent and have always been the socio-economic backbone of the Ethiopian society due to their fertile soils, abundant resources and numerous ecosystem services. In contrast to many mountain regions of the Global North, the Ethiopian Highlands are not affected by gradual emigration, but rather suffer from the increasing socio-economic pressure of a steadily growing population using ineffective land use strategies with far-reaching negative consequences for the human sphere and the sensitive ecosystems of the country. In particular, the continuous reduction of the natural forest cover, caused by uncontrolled agricultural expansion, severe overgrazing and the increasing demand for building material and fuel, promotes soil degradation, threatens the traditional subsistence-based livelihood security of the rural population, has negative impacts on biodiversity and increases vulnerability to natural disasters, droughts and the multifaceted effects of climate change. With regard to these complex challenges, there is an urgent need for effective, sustainable and regionally tailored land management strategies with strong participation of the local population in order to reconcile social, economic and ecological development needs.
Interest in the study of domesticated plants increased near the end of the 18th century, mainly because of their economic potential. In the 19th century, there was a new focus on the historical understanding of species, their origin, changes in their distribution, and their evolutionary history. Charles Darwin developed an extended interpretation of species domestication, considering variations, reproduction, inheritance, and modification as standard processes between wild and domesticated organisms. In this context, one relatively neglected aspect was the geographical distribution of domesticated species. Alphonse de Candolle addressed and developed in detail the question of the geographical origin of cultivated plants. Since 1836 Alphonse de Candolle had been studying the topic and obtained evidence that contributed to understanding aspects such as the center of origin, dispersion, competition, selection, and time of domestication. Although Darwin himself admitted that Géographie botanique raisonnée (de Candolle, Alphonse,de. Géographie botanique raisonnée; ou, exposition des faits principaux et des lois concernant la distribution géographique des plantes de l’epoque actuelle, 2ème tome. Paris: Masson.) was of great help to him in the development of his evolutionary theory, the importance of de Candolle’s contribution is seldom recognized. Our purpose is to detail the dialogue between Alphonse de Candolle and Darwin on the geography of domesticated plants, to understand some of the most critical discussions that contributed to the reinterpretation of domestication under the Darwinian proposal of modified descent.
Domestication is the sign of the beginning of agriculture and it is the outcome of a selection process that leads to increased adaptation of crop plants from wild relatives to mitigate the effect of food security problems. Plant breeding primarily based on domestication to facilitate the introgression of adaptive diversity, providing breeders with new tools for crop improvement through drought, insect, and disease-resistant varieties. In the domestication process, significant alteration in phenological, morphological and genetical leads to the increased adaptation and use of the plants under the strategic and modern plant breeding practices. The transformation of wild species into elite cultivars through domestication entails evolutionary responses in which plant populations adapt to selection. Selection and plant breeding has reduced genetic variation in all crop species because limited number of preferred crop plants selected for further improvements for different desirable traits. Therefore, novel variation can be introduced from wild relatives and variation will be useful in crop improvement by either traditional breeding methods or biotechnology. Domestication syndrome is a group of traits that can arise through human preferences for ease of harvest and growth under human management. Domestication focuses on genetic variation, as well as new genetic variation introduced via mutation or introgression. Domestication has been contributing in overcoming the global food challenges and addressing the problem of yield reduction and its links with pest management. Domestication leads to the development of modern cultivars, which have contributed to the dramatic improvement of yield of the crops for the world. It is now believed that plant domestication was much more complex in evolutionary terms and of wider geographical extent than previously believed. Crop plants have been domesticated over vast areas and not in more restricted geographical areas as the center of origin. Generally, the practice of improving crop production through bringing the wild plants to controlled management plays great roles to alleviate poverty and raise the living standards of the peoples.
Trustees to commemorate the unique contributions to plant science by Academician
Nikolai Vavilov and Sir Otto Frankel. The first two Fellowships were awarded in 1993 to
Igor Loskutov from Russia and Robin Pistorius from the Netherlands. The research of the
1993 Fellows focused on examining and recording the work of scientists in the plant
genetic resources community, including those after whom the Fellowships Fund is named.
This research has produced two books, the present one by Igor Loskutov and a
complementary one, published in 1997, by Robin Pistorius: Scientists, Plants and Politics A
History of the Plant Genetic Resources Movement. Together, these two volumes aim to
describe and analyze the historical background to today's efforts to conserve and use plant
genetic resources. They are a tribute to the early pioneers in this field and a record of the
actions and debates that have done so much to shape the way the scientific community
addresses conservation today, as well as the perspectives of the many other individuals
around the world who are equally concerned with the maintenance of this priceless genetic
heritage.
Igor Loskutov undertook meticulous research into records including the unique
archives of the Vavilov Institute and interviewed key scientific figures including Sir Otto
Frankel who knew Nikolai Vavilov and visited him in 1935. As the present book was
being finalized in late 1998, we learned sadly of the death of Sir Otto. We are grateful for
his contribution to both this book and to that of Robin Pistorius, and salute his readiness to
share memories, ideas and opinions with younger scientists.
Geoffrey Hawtin, Director General, IPGRI
This publication became possible through the author's being awarded an lPGRI Vavilov
Frankel Fellowship named after the prominent researchers of this age in the sphere of
plant genetic resources. This book is the first attempt to give a comprehensive overview of
historic events of the past 100 years, regarding the efforts of the N.!. Vavilov Institute of
Plant Industry (VIR) in plant genetic resources collecting and its international activities in
this area. It is based on numerous materials: articles, memoirs, Vavilov's works, his
extensive correspondence and other publications (mainly in Russian) edited. for the most
part in recent years in commemoration of N.I. Vavilov's centennial and the lOOth
anniversary of the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry.
Work within this project in close cooperation with Robin Pistorius from the University
of Amsterdam enabled us to present a different, "westernized" angle to various scientific
and political problems associated with the Institute's activities. I am extremely grateful to
him for his useful counsel and priceless assistance as well as for his hospitality during our
meetings in Amsterdam and for the aid he provided during our joint trips to Rome (IPGRI)
and Canberra (CSIRO). [am also pleased to express my sincere gratitude to Lyndsey
Withers for the excellent organization of all the work within this project and to other
colleagues in [PGRI: E. Frison, D.H. van Sloten, j. Engels, j.A. Dearing and M. Nocca.
It was a pleasure and honour to meet the late Sir Otto Frankel in Canberra (CSIRO)
where he shared his memories about his meetings with Nikolai Vavilov and gave me
useful counsel, which I appreciate. I am deeply grateful to Professor j.G. Hawkes whom I
met in St. Petersburg for his permission to use his memories of his meeting with Vavilov in
this book. I am grateful to the responsible officers of the genebanks in the former
COMECON countries: S. Goral and W. Podyma (Poland); R. Koeva and !. Alekseev
(Bulgaria); L. Holly and L. Horvat as well as A.T. Szabo (Hungary); L. Dotlacil, !. Bares,
Z. Stehno and A. Kovachik (Czech Republic); K. Hammer, H. Knuepffer, P. Hanelt,
T. Gladis and K. Pistrick (Germany); G. Erdenejav (Mongolia).
I would like to express my gratitude and compliments to Dr Yury N. Vavilov, N.!.
Vavilov's son, for his assistance, for his advice and comments, for photographs and letters
from his private archive and for the documents he found in the National Archives of USA
(Washington, DC), which I used in the present publication. I also greatly appreciate the
valuable help of Ms R. Harvey, Archivist of john Innes Centre (UK) which I received in my
work with the archives of W. Bateson, A.D. Hall and CD. Darlington; Ms T.K. Lassan,
Archivist of VIR for her assistance in my work with documents and photos of Vavailov's
times, the workers of the Science and Technology Archives of St. Petersburg (Russia); and
Fay Warner for assistance with editing the manuscript.
I express my deep gratitude to Prof. V.A. Dragavtsev, Director of VIR, for his
confidence in me when he nominated me as a participant in this project and for his
assistance in my work. I am grateful indeed to Mr S.M. Alexanian, Head of the Foreign
Relations Department (VIR), for he helped me a lot in organizing my trips during the
project and made available materials related to the international cooperation of VIR. I also
appreciate his comments on the manuscript. Special thanks should be addressed here to
A. Kh. Bakhteev for his aid in selecting illustrations and rare publications for this work. I
wish to extend my thanks to the leading researchers of VIR who helped me in my efforts,
specifically to Prof. S.N. Bakhareva, Prof. VD. Kobylyansky, Dr O.P. Mitrofanova as well
as to the translators of VIR - Mr A.G. Krylov and Mr S.V. Shuvalov.
Igor G. Loskutov, St. Petersburg
Alphonse de Candolle (1806-93) was a French-Swiss botanist who was an important figure in the study of the origins of plants and the reasons for their geographic distribution. He also created the first Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Despite initially studying law, he took over both the chair of botany at the University of Geneva, and the directorship of Geneva's botanical gardens from his father Augustin de Candolle (1778-1841). He published numerous botanical books, and edited ten volumes of the Prodromus, a seventeen-volume reference text intended to cover the key properties of all known seed plants. This work, reissued in the second edition of the English translation of 1886, is his most famous and influential book, tracing the geographic origins of plants known to have been cultivated by humans. It is one of the earliest studies of the history of crop domestication, and an important contribution to phytogeography.