Participatory selection of Cuban maize (Zea mays, L.) germplasm in the local system of Batabano, Havana

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Rosa Acosta

Abstract

Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) was aimed at
strengthening local seed systems through introducing genetic
diversity and farmers�?? participation into varietal selection,
according to their biophysical and socioeconomic situation.
Therefore, it is essential to develop methodologies that allow
understanding the genetic diversity and handling
characteristics of the local systems of maize, farmers�?? selection
approaches, as well as the possible impact of local varieties on
other productive systems. The main objective of this work
was to estimate the impact of maize materials derived from
different seed systems on the participatory varietal selection
of a productive system located in Batabanó, Havana, which is
characterized by a homogeneous agriculture that depends on
the formal seed system. The evaluated Cuban maize germplasm
showed a high morphological diversity under the
homogeneous environmental conditions of Batabanó. At the
same time, a participatory seed selection made by those farmers
proved the great diversity of selection approaches, local
varieties coming from the seed systems of El Tejar-La Jocuma,
Pinar del Rio, standing out as the most selected ones. Starting
from the seed selection system of La Palma, as well as others
coming from the formal and informal seed systems of Cuban
germplasm, the significance of enabling the access to farmers�??
genetic diversity is confirmed, as a way for productive system
diversification.

Article Details

How to Cite
Acosta, R. (2012). Participatory selection of Cuban maize (Zea mays, L.) germplasm in the local system of Batabano, Havana. Cultivos Tropicales, 28(2), 63–70. Retrieved from https://ediciones.inca.edu.cu/index.php/ediciones/article/view/313
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Original Article

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