Which one of the following groups of plants were domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’?

1. A. Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
2. B. Tobacco, cotton and rubber
3. C. Cotton, coffee and sugarcane
4. D. Rubber, coffee and wheat

Answer: A

Explanation

Tobacco, cocoa, and rubber came to India through Europeans in the late medieval or early modern era and so these are the groups of plants that were domesticated in the ‘New World’ and introduced into the ‘Old World’. All of them originated in South America. This process is called a Columbian exchange (named for Christopher Columbus). It was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World during the 15th and 16th centuries. Sugar cane is also the oldest crop and is introduced to India by Austronesian traders. Rubber was native to Brazil. Cotton and wheat were cultivated in India since the ancient era. Even there was evidence of Cotton and wheat since the Harappan era. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.