Question

This is not the crop of Indian Origin

• A. Rice
• B. Maize
• C. Mustard
• D. Cotton

Hint:

Remember that major New World crops introduced to India include Maize, Potato, Tomato, Chili, Tobacco, and Papaya.
Knowing this historical introduction helps instantly identify non-Indian crops.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Every cultivated crop has a specific geographical region where it first originated and was domesticated.
Identifying the center of origin is fundamental for understanding genetic diversity, finding wild relatives for crop breeding, and studying agricultural history.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the origin of each of the given crops:
Rice (Oryza sativa) has a primary center of origin in South-East Asia, specifically the Indo-Burma region, making it native to the Indian subcontinent.
Mustard (Brassica species) has multiple centers of origin, but the Indian subcontinent is a primary or secondary center for Indian mustard (Brassica juncea).
Cotton (Gossypium species) has old-world diploid species like Gossypium arboreum which originated and were domesticated in the Indus Valley of India.
Maize (Zea mays), on the other hand, originated in Mesoamerica, specifically in the Balsas River Valley of southern Mexico, where it was domesticated from the wild grass teosinte.
Therefore, Maize is clearly not of Indian origin.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The crop that is not of Indian origin is Maize.