| dc.contributor | Louette, D., Instituto Manantl�n de Ecolog�a y Conservaci�n de la Biodiversidad IMECBIO, Universidad de Guadalajara, 151 Av. Independencia Nacional, Autl�nJalisco, 48900, Mexico; Charrier, A., Chaire de Phytotechnie, Ecole Nationale Sup�rieure Agronomique de Montpellier ENSAM, 9 Place Viala, Montpellier cedex, 34060, France; Berthaud, J., Unit� de Recherche Diversit� G�n�tique, et Am�lioration des Plantes, Institut Francais de la Recherche Scientifique pour le Developpement en Cooperation ORSTOM, 911 Av. Agropolis, Montpellier cedex, 34032, France | |
| dc.description.abstract | Results from a study of maize varieties and seed sources in a traditional community in Jalisco, Mexico, raise questions about the relationship between genetic erosion and the introduction of varieties. The relevance of models for in situ conservation of crop genetic resources based on geographical isolation of a community is discussed. The morphophenological diversity of local materials is shown to be enhanced by introductions of both improved cultivars and landraces from farmers in other communities. On the other hand, the geographical point of reference for defining "local" landrace is shown to be larger than the community itself. Farmers will classify seed obtained from other farmers in and outside the community as that of a local landrace if it resembles their own according to the phenotypic characteristics they use to distinguish varieties. Maize diversity in this community is then the result of a certain level of introduction of genetic material and not of geographical isolation. � 1997 The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458 U.S.A. | |
