1Reading 12-1READING 12-1Source: Jules Janick. 2001. Asian crops in North America (Workshop: Asian horticultural crops in North America) Hort Technology 11:510–513.Asian Crops in North AmericaAdditional index words, agronomic crops, food crops, germplasm, horticultural cropsSummaryMore than half of the world’s food crops have originated in Asia. Throughout the centuries there has been an exchange of crops between Asia and the rest of the world and as a result some of the most well known crops in North America, both food crops and ornamental species, are Asian species. The globaliza-tion of the world’s economy opens up the possibility of new exchanges.IntroductionThe distribution of plant species over the earth is not uniform (Vavilov, 1992). A few favored areas possess large numbers of species and are the likely incubators of most of our present-day crop plants. These “centers of diversity” were termed “centers of origins” by N.I. Vavilov, the great Russian biogeographer. Of the seven World Centers chosen by Vavilov for the origin of cultivated species (Fig. 1), three are found in Asia. These include: I, the tropical south Asiatic center (including India and southeastern Asia); II, the east Asiatic center; and III, the southwestern Asiatic center. Old World non-Asian centers include: IV, the Medi-terranean center and V, the Abyssinian center. The two New World centers include: VI, the Central American center and VII, the Andean center. Northern areas of the world such as Siberia, northern Europe, Canada, and the continental United States, undoubtedly as a result of glaciation in the Ice Age, contain relatively Fig. R 12-1. The Vavilovian centers of origin for crop plants. Adapted from Smith (1995).2 Reading 12-1few native species taking into consideration their large land mass. As a result these areas have contributed relatively few world crops with the exception of pasture grasses. The most notable crop contribution from the United States includes strawberry (Fragaria ´ananassa), blueberry and cranberry (Vaccinium spp.) and sunfl ower (Helianthus annuus).The continent we call Asia is often lumped with Europe as Eurasia, for there is no clear demarcation in this large land mass. For purposes of this discussion we will consider Asia distinct from Europe. While more than half of the world’s important crop species originate in Asia, a transfer of crop species has been underway since Antiquity via the spice and silk routes and was intensifi ed in the Age of Exploration begin-ning in the 15th century as major crops were exchanged. The ancient history of this transfer is suggested in the many misnomers that occur in our crop names, such as the binomial Prunus persica for peach suggesting that it came from Persia. It is now clear that Persia was just a byway as the peach originates in Eastern China (Faust and Timon, 1995). In a similar way, the early European name for maize (Zea mays), a native of the New World, was Turkish corn, and our native bird was named the turkey when its origin was misidentifi ed in Europe. We know of the ancient contacts between eastern Asia and the Middle East from the biblical mention of the spice trade. Many true Asian spices such as cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylancium) and cas-sia (C. cassia) were mentioned in the Hebrew Bible but never grown in the Middle East. This exchange over the years was not one way. A number of New World crops became extremely important in Asia and have become an essential part of their cuisine. The best example is hot peppers (Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens). A number of species such as hevea rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) native to the Amazon area of south America, now have their center of production in Asia. Grain amaranth (Amaranthus spp.), once an important grain of the Aztecs, had virtually disappeared as a crop in the Americas until recently, but estab-lished itself in India, Pakistan, and China.The major objective of this paper is to list the important food crops that originated in Asia and that are presently cultivated in North America with emphasis on the continental United States and Canada. Particular attention will be placed on fruits and vegetables. Much of the information has been gleaned from two recent references: The Evolution of Crop Plants, 2nd ed. (Smartt and Simmonds, 1995) and The New Oxford Book of Food Plants (Vaughan and Geissler, 1997). Grains, Sugar Crops, PseudograinsRice (Oryza sativa). Rice is the major grain of Asia where it is grown principally as a wetland but also as a dryland crop. In the US, rice is currently grown chiefl y in California and Arkansas.Wheat (Triticum spp,). The tetraploid Triticum species (AABB) are native to the Near East while the D genome of the hexaploid breadwheats (AABBDD), Triticum aestivum, derives from goatgrass (Aegilops squarrosa) which is Asiatic in origin.Barley (Hordeum vulgare). Barley was domesticated from wild races found today in southwestern Asia. Barley still remains an important grain in the United States and Canada where it is used for animal feed for brewing malts, and, in a minor way, for human food.Oats (Avena sativa). Oats originated in southwestern Asia and were once an important grain crop in the US for feed, especially for horses, and was widely used in rotations. Despite its use as a nutritious food for humans, oat production is declining in the United States.Cane Sugar (Saccharum offi cinalis). Modern sugarcane is principally S. offi cinarum, the thick-stemmed (noble) canes from the south Pacifi c, and S. sinense and S. barberi, thin-stemmed hardy canes from China and India, respectively. A number of other species such as S. robustrum are wild canes of southeast Asia, have also been important in breeding. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). Buckwheat, native to China, is a minor pseudograin in the United States where its best known use is for buckwheat pancakes. Buckwheat is a common food plant in Eastern Europe for cooked groats (kasha) and in Japan where it is the ingredient for soba noodles. The high nutritional value of buckwheat has encouraged consideration in the US as a nutriceutical.3Reading 12-1Pulse Crops, Grain Legumes, OilseedsThe soybean (Glycine max) native to China is grown throughout Asia for a number of uses including miso (soy paste), shoyu (soy sauce), tofu (soy curd), soy milk, and tempeh (a cultured product), while the immature green beans and sprouts are also
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