Diversity of Chalqueño maize [Diversidad Del Maíz Chalqueño]

Traditional farmers practice in situ conservation of the genetic diversity of maize (Zea mays L.) by planting criollo varieties. In order to improve such practices, it is necessary to know the diversity of the maize under traditional agriculture conditions, and to diagnose which material will be preserved. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of Chalqueño maize populations, which are cultivated in the eastern region of the State of México, based on morphological and agronomical characters. Evaluations were made of 104 populations in four environments, and 11 morphological characters were recorded to assess the diversity among regional maize populations. The results from principal components and cluster analyses indicate that the populations overlapped on characteristics among the taxonomic groups Palomero Toluqueño, Cúnico, Cúnico Norteño, Chalqueño-Cúnico, creamy Chalqueño, Elotes Chalqueños, Palomo, Chalqueño-Ancho, Cacahuacintle and Ancho, within the pyramidal ear complex. The populations of the Sierra Norte of Puebla, similar in ear to Chalqueño and Mushito in Oaxaca and Michoacán, were different from the rest. The diversity of maize is dynamic, for although Chalqueño is dominant, the Cacahuacintle is found with low frequency, the Ancho is distributed from an intermediate altitude to the High Plateau, and the yellow Chalqueño presents a strong reduction in frequency