Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the 'New World' and introduced into the Old World?
A
Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
B
Tobacco, cotton and rubber
C
Cotton, coffee and sugarcane
D
Rubber, coffee and wheat
Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation
1. The 'New World' refers to the Americas, while the 'Old World' refers to Afro-Eurasia.
2. The question asks for a group of plants entirely domesticated in the New World and subsequently introduced to the Old World, primarily after the Columbian Exchange.
3. Analyzing option (A): Tobacco, cocoa (from which chocolate is made), and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) were all domesticated or originally utilized in the Americas (New World) and were later spread globally.
4. Analyzing option (B): While Tobacco and rubber are New World crops, cotton has origins in both the New World and Old World, with different species domesticated independently.
5. Analyzing option (C): Coffee and sugarcane are Old World crops (Africa and Southeast Asia, respectively).
6. Analyzing option (D): Coffee and wheat are Old World crops.
7. Therefore, the only group consisting entirely of plants domesticated in the New World and introduced to the Old World is Tobacco, cocoa and rubber.