Cultivation In Mexico Research Articles

Analysis on the development and current situation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farming in Mexico

AbstractThe rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), originally from North America, was introduced to Mexico in 1888 and gradually distributed to various areas of the country. Currently, rainbow trout are cultivated in Mexico under a number of production systems, but this sector has grown less than 1% annually for the last 10 years. The present review analysed the production status of rainbow trout in Mexico, describing the key situations and actors that have influenced the establishment and current level of aquaculture development. Since its beginnings, rainbow trout cultivation in Mexico has depended on egg import due to insufficient egg and fry production by national hatcheries. Moreover, the industry is deficient in regard to a number of aspects in the production and management processes, with a notable necessity for specialists in the areas of production, health and sanitary diagnosis to rapidly and efficiently respond to situations such as low productivity or the presence of diseases. With such specialists, appropriate control and prevention decisions could be taken and acted upon. Likewise, the Mexican rainbow trout industry has high development potential and market expectations, but sector growth will require the active participation and commitment of competent authorities, in compliance with established Mexican regulations and laws, which are oriented towards advancing and protecting the fish farming industry.

Illegal drug cultivation in Mexico: an examination of the environmental and human factors

Patterns of illicit narcotics cultivation are among the understudied topics. Some studies estimate the prevalence of illegal crops using imagery and remote sensing data. These studies rely heavily on the availability and quality of the related images, which is often an issue for many countries known as major drug producers. Using official drug crop eradication data, this study examines the patterns of illegal drug cultivation in Mexico at the municipality level. Species distribution models of ecology were used to guide the selection of environmental variables. A number of sociodemographic variables were incorporated into the model to describe human factors. Global and local models were compared to discern the determinants of marijuana and opium cultivation. Geographically weighted regression was proved overall more effective than global ordinary least square regression despite the spatial variation of its explanation power. The models explained the spatial patterns of opium poppy cultivation are better than those of marijuana cultivation, suggesting the possible presence of more complicated local factors for growing illicit marijuana crops. A number of human factors such as law enforcement, gang activities, and transportation accessibility were found significant for illicit cultivation.

The Agro-Industrial Sugarcane System in Mexico: Current Status, Challenges and Opportunities

Sugarcane cultivation in Mexico occurs under a wide range of socioeconomic, environmental and agricultural conditions, with the last three harvests (2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013) providing yields ranging from 36-125 t ha-1 (variation > 347%), with an average yield of 70.2 t ha-1, which is below the world average of 80 t ha-1. The total area allocated to sugarcane production in Mexico is close to 800 thousand hectares, and could rise to nearly 5 million hectares given adequate conditions for its cultivation. This activity generates approximately 1 million direct jobs, 2.2 million indirect jobs, and more than 2.5 billion dollars (0.4% of GDP) per year. Climate change and the rapid market penetration of high fructose corn syrup are among the greatest threats to this agribusiness, including severe disintegration of production processes in the field, industry, commerce, and consumption of cane sugar. Technology lags, low investment, high processing costs and shortcomings in production sales are issues the industry must address by leveraging their resources and coordinating processing links to be more efficient and competitive. Political influence has imposed a suboptimal policy framework to achieve the projected potential. To overcome current lags in the field and refineries within the country, significant innovations across the value-chain are underway, including a robust breeding program, digitalization of sugarcane fields and novel investments in research and development. The sugarcane value-chain has great potential for Mexico, and exploiting this potential is possible if technological, organizational and commercial management innovations currently in progress in fields and factories are applied.

An Ornamental Heliconias Crop as a Reservoir of the Native Myrmecofauna: A case of Tropical Horticulture in Central Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract. Currently there is an increase in tropical crops dedicated to ornamental horticulture. This study is the first assessment of the role of a Heliconia spp. ornamental plant cultivation in Mexico as habitat for insect biodiversity conservation, using ant assemblages as bioindicators. A total of 9,022 ant workers belonging to seven subfamilies, 14 tribes, 27 genera, and 55 species was captured. Conversion of native vegetation to tropical ornamental agriculture affects the richness, diversity and dominance of ants, but not assemblages’ composition. The importance of species composition as a predictor parameter of functional changes in the landscape is highlighted.

Genetic diversity of mitochondrial DNA from Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock used in northwestern Mexico

Shrimp cultivation in Mexico is based on the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, with a production of about 100,320 t in 2012. Postlarvae are produced in hatcheries, where the selection process is geared towards producing lineages with better productive parameters and resistance to some diseases; however, the crossing of related organisms may reduce genetic variability, resulting in inbreeding depression. In this study we analyzed the sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region of 425 shrimp from five hatcheries and of 29 wild whiteleg shrimp. The results suggest the presence of two dominant haplotypes in a monophyletic group of organisms used as broodstock and in wild whiteleg shrimp; this finding suggests a common origin. Low levels of genetic variability in some hatcheries highlight the importance of monitoring genetic diversity and supervising breeding programs to prevent loss of haplotypes.

Posibilidades para el desarrollo sostenible de la palmicultura en México: Experiencias y retos

As part of the research entitled, �Local innovations: Sustainable Development and social articulation technology diffusion with oil palm growers in Mexico�, addressed the issue of the sustainability of the production of palm oil and its relationship with local innovation, referred to this type of innovation, based on local knowledge, is environmentally friendly, subject to local resources and a socio-cultural context, thereby complying with the principles of social, economic and environmental. In parallel with the identification of innovations and the local innovation system, and to assess the current sustainability of palm production systems in the State of Veracruz (Mexico), a work of field was developed, using sustainability indicators: i) productivity; ii) patterns and frequency of crop rotation; iii) the use of plant protection products; iv) impact on biodiversity; v) household income; vi) the pattern of crop growth and social impacts expressed on food security; and vii) conflicts over land use and job security. The methodology proposed is applicable to the Mexican case, because of the recent inclusion of agribusiness activity, which is new and transformative of the rural reality in the humid tropics of Mexico. In this document is recorded the advances in the analysis of sustainable palm cultivation in Mexico and, taking as a case study the State of Veracruz, which initially shows the options for sustainable development of a activity relatively new (14 years implementation), and its impact on the generation of innovations and changes in the culture of the region under study.

Functional diversity changes during tropical forest succession

Abstract Functional diversity (FD) ‘those components of biodiversity that influence how an ecosystem operates or functions’ is a promising tool to assess the effect of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning. FD has received ample theoretical attention, but empirical studies are limited. We evaluate changes in species richness and FD during tropical secondary forest succession after shifting cultivation in Mexico. We also test whether species richness is a good predictor of FD. FD was calculated based on a combination of nine functional traits, and based on two individual traits important for primary production (specific leaf area) and carbon sequestration (wood density). Stand basal area was a good predictor of successional changes in diversity and FD, in contrast to fallow age. Incidence-based FD indices increased logarithmically with stand basal area, but FD weighted by species’ importance values lacked pattern with succession. Species richness and diversity are strong predictors of FD when all traits were considered; linear relationships indicate that all species are equally functionally complementary, suggesting there is little functional redundancy. In contrast, when FD was calculated for individual traits and weighted for abundances, species richness may underestimate FD. Selection of functional trait(s) critically determines FD, with large consequences for studies relating biodiversity to ecosystem functioning. Careful consideration of the traits required to capture the ecosystem process of interest is thus essential.

Characterization of four soybean varieties grown on Mexican land: a preliminary analysis for a proteomic study

Soybean is a source of high-quality proteins and fatty acids for animal and human nutrition. To satisfy the national demand of this crop it is necessary to increase the production of soybean by developing or selecting species that are resistant to adverse environmental conditions. Four soybean varieties customarily grown in Mexico were studied in a comparative manner. Each variety was characterized on the basis of impurities, grain integrity, water content, total and free fatty acids content, protein content, and germination capability following the methods and regulations indicated in NMX-FF-089-1994-SCFI, ISTA and AOAC. None of the soybean varieties presented impurities; Huasteca-100 soybean had a lower percentage of immature grains while the UFV-1 variety had the lowest number of grains damaged by microorganisms. Humidity contents were similar in all four soybean varieties (around 7%). The Huasteca-100 variety had some lower protein content while the UFV-1 variety had the maximum (39%). On the contrary, the lipid content was higher in Huasteca-100 and lower in the UFV-1 variety. Based on these results and on the fact that Huasteca 100 was a strong prospect for massive cultivation in Mexico, this variety was considered an adequate substrate to further study the effect of diverse stressing conditions.

Early maize ( Zea mays L.) cultivation in Mexico: Dating sedimentary pollen records and its implications

A sedimentary pollen sequence from the coastal plain of Veracruz, Mexico, demonstrates maize cultivation by 5,000 years ago, refining understanding of the geography of early maize cultivation. Methodological issues related to bioturbation involved in dating that record combine with its similarity to a pollen sequence from the coastal plain of Tabasco, Mexico, to suggest that the inception of maize cultivation in that record occurred as much as 1,000-2,000 years more recently than the previously accepted 7,000 years ago. Our analysis thereby has substantive, theoretical, and methodological implications for understanding the complex process of maize domestication. Substantively, it demonstrates that the earliest securely dated evidence of maize comes from macrofossils excavated near Oaxaca and Tehuacán, Mexico, and not from the coastal plain along the southern Gulf of Mexico. Theoretically, that evidence best supports the hypothesis that people in the Southern Highlands domesticated this important crop plant. Methodologically, sedimentary pollen and other microfossil sequences can make valuable contributions to reconstructing the geography of early maize cultivation, but we must acknowledge the limits to precision that bioturbation in coastal lagoons imposes on the dating of such records.

Absence of detectable transgenes in local landraces of maize in Oaxaca, Mexico (2003–2004)

In 2000, transgenes were detected in local maize varieties (landraces) in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico [Quist, D. & Chapela, I. H. (2001) Nature 414, 541-543]. This region is part of the Mesoamerican center of origin for maize (Zea mays L.), and the genetic diversity that is maintained in open-pollinated landraces is recognized as an important genetic resource of great cultural value. The presence of transgenes in landraces was significant because transgenic maize has never been approved for cultivation in Mexico. Here we provide a systematic survey of the frequency of transgenes in currently grown landraces. We sampled maize seeds from 870 plants in 125 fields and 18 localities in the state of Oaxaca during 2003 and 2004. We then screened 153,746 sampled seeds for the presence of two transgene elements from the 35S promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus and the nopaline synthase gene (nopaline synthase terminator) from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. One or both of these transgene elements are present in all transgenic commercial varieties of maize. No transgenic sequences were detected with highly sensitive PCR-based markers, appropriate positive and negative controls, and duplicate samples for DNA extraction. We conclude that transgenic maize seeds were absent or extremely rare in the sampled fields. This study provides a much-needed preliminary baseline for understanding the biological, socioeconomic, and ethical implications of the inadvertent dispersal of transgenes from the United States and elsewhere to local landraces of maize in Mexico.

Yield stability of peach germplasm differing in dormancy and blooming season in the Mexican subtropics

Peach cultivation in Mexico has recently extended to subtropical climates to reduce drought, but in many areas winter frosts are a strong limiting factor. Information about the behavior of a wide range of peach accessions during dormancy and bud-break was collected over a 4-year period in the most important peach growing region in the subtropical highlands of central Mexico where winter frosts are common. Observations were made on 33 peach accessions (local, introduced and hybrids between both groups). Differences in fruit set among peach genotypes which were related to sensitivity to enter rest (SER), time of blooming, duration of blooming, bud density (BD) and flower density (FD). The latter were generally related, however, bud to flower ratios and yields were low for materials that were very late blooming. Selections such as San Juan, Fred, 17-1, and 24-1, were based on mid to late-bloom, high and stable yielding. SER, BD and FD values and BD:FD ratios, should be included as important breeding goals to provide more stability of peach production in the subtropical highlands.

Yield stability of peach germplasm differing in dormancy and blooming season in the Mexican subtropics

Peach cultivation in Mexico has recently extended to subtropical climates to reduce drought, but in many areas winter frosts are a strong limiting factor. Information about the behavior of a wide range of peach accessions during dormancy and bud-break was collected over a 4-year period in the most important peach growing region in the subtropical highlands of central Mexico where winter frosts are common. Observations were made on 33 peach accessions (local, introduced and hybrids between both groups). Differences in fruit set among peach genotypes which were related to sensitivity to enter rest (SER), time of blooming, duration of blooming, bud density (BD) and flower density (FD). The latter were generally related, however, bud to flower ratios and yields were low for materials that were very late blooming. Selections such as San Juan, Fred, 17-1, and 24-1, were based on mid to late-bloom, high and stable yielding. SER, BD and FD values and BD:FD ratios, should be included as important breeding goals to provide more stability of peach production in the subtropical highlands.

Sobre la pastorela: a propósito de una canción navideña española en las Islas Marianas

The study about a Spanish Christmas Carol, preserved in Marianas, archipelago placed in North Pacific which were under Spanish administration till 1898, lead us to stablish a relationship between this text and a type of popular theatral composition, the pastorela , which had an important cultivation in Mexico and in some other areas of the two Americas. This kind of plays were introduced and spreaded by Spanish missionaries who used it as an instrument of evangelization. Except for the feature 'carol sung by shepherds' this pastorela has very little to do with the pastorela of provenzal origin and learned character from which derives the castilian serranillas . This one is the most common meaning in literary studies. The presence of this Christmas Carol in the Marianas and other similar texts in the Philippines as well as the custom of singing and performing these carols at Cristmas time reveals that yet in the furthest areas of Spanish influence had signs of this Spanish tradition which was spreaded and enriched with new elements in America. It becomes clear that all of this expressions make part of the same literary tradition.

Origin and environmental setting of ancient agriculture in the lowlands of Mesoamerica.

Archaeological research in the Gulf Coast of Tabasco reveals the earliest record of maize cultivation in Mexico. The first farmers settled along beach ridges and lagoons of the Grijalva River delta. Pollen from cultivated Zea appears with evidence of forest clearing about 5100 calendar years B.C. (yr B.C.) [6200 (14)C years before the present (yr B.P.)]. Large Zea sp. pollen, typical of domesticated maize (Zea mays), appears about 5000 calendar yr B.C. (6000 yr B.P.). A Manihot sp. pollen grain dated to 4600 calendar yr B.C. (5800 yr B.P.) may be from domesticated manioc. About 2500 calendar yr B.C. (4000 yr B.P.), domesticated sunflower seeds and cotton pollen appear as farming expanded.

Phaseolus (Fabaceae) in Archaeology: AMS

Beans of several species were domesticated in tropical America thousands of years ago, to be combined with maize and other crops in highly successful New World agricultural systems. Radiocarbon dates on charcoal associated with Phaseolus in archaeological sites, in Mexico and Peru indicated the presence of domesticated beans as early as 10 000 years ago. However, direct dates on the beans and pods themselves by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) do not provide evidence for the cultivation in Mexico of common beans, P. vulgaris, and teparies, P. acutifolius, before about 2500 B.P. in the Tehuacan Valley, and of common beans about 1300 years ago in Tamaulipas and 2100 years ago in the Valley of Oaxaca. AMS dates support the presence in the Peruvian Andes of domesticated common beans by about 4400 B.P. and lima beans by about 3500 B. P. and lima beans by about 5600 B.P. in the coastal valleys of Peru. The late appearance of common and lima beans in the Central Highlands of Mesoamerica supports the importance of missing evidence that may be obtained from prehistoric agricultural sites in western Mexico and in Central America which are located within the range of the wild populations of these species. Additionally, biochemical studies of subsamples of the dated specimens should be carried out in order to extend the molecular evidence for the independent domestication of North and South American common beans.

Evidence for the origin of chayote, sechium edule (Cucurbitaceae)

Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. (Cucurbitaceae), a one-seeded squash most popular in Latin America, is cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical climates. In the past, a Mexican center of origin for chayote has been inferred mainly from linguistic data, but to use this argument correctly, relevant indigenous terms should be interpreted. Evidence from historical documents indicates pre-Columbian Aztecs used chayote in Mexico, but the lack of documentation from other countries does not constitute proof that the plant was absent. Chayote’s center of genetic diversity suggests it was first domesticated in Mexico and Central America, but this variation could have been secondarily derived. However inconclusive these three lines of evidence are, they do converge on the same conclusion supported by new botanical evidence. Chayote’s closest wild relative,S. compositum, from Mexico and Guatemala, and two potentially ancestral forms of chayote recently discovered outside cultivation in Mexico, demarcate Mexico and Guatemala as the most likely center of origin for this ancient crop.

Karyological studies in the genus Phaseolus, Linn.

Karyotypes of somatic chromosomes of 15 species of Phaseolus, L. have been investigated. All the species have been found to have 11 and 22 as haploid and diploid chromosome numbers (except allotetraploid Phaseolus species 2n=44). Primary base number for the genus is eleven. The somatic chromosomes are small, their size range from 0.85μ to 3.0μ. The longest being 3.0μ in P. vulgaris and shortest 0.85μ is in P. ricciardianus and P. semierectus. TF % have been calculated for each species. On the basis of TF% karyotypes are classified as symmetrical 2A or 3A types. Three species showed asymmetrical karyotypes. Phaseolus ricciardianus have asymmetrical 2B type of karyotype.The karyotypic differences in the species have been brought about by diminution in chromatin length with advancing evolution and pericentric inversions resulting in the shift of position of the centromere and alteration in the size of chromosomes.Phaseolus vulgaris and P. aureus with large somatic chromosomes and longest total chromatin length have been considered primitive especially in climbing and erect habit series. Phaseolus bracteatus and P. ricciardianus with short chromosomes and shortest total chromatin length are considered as advanced. Thus, it is concluded that P. vulgaris which is under cultivation in Mexico for the past 7000 year is primitive and has given rise to other species including the erect ones.

Cytogenetical Studies in the Genus <i>Phaseolus</i> Linn

The detailed cytogenetical studies have been undertaken in fifteen species of genus Phaseolus, Linn. for the first time to determine the chromosomal basis of speciation and evolution.Cytogenetical investigations in 15 species of Phaseolus wild and cultivated so far studied revealed the somatic chromosome number to be 2n=22 (except wild allotetraploid Phaseolus species 2n=44). The somatic chromosomes are small, their size range from 0.85μ to 3.0μ. The longest being 3.0μ in P. vulgaris and shortest in 0.85μ in P. ricciardianus. Though the chromosome number of all the species is same they differ from each other in certain karyotypic details. This is of great significance in the origin of new taxonomic units.Inversion heterozygosity has been observed in five species. The number of such bridges are either one or two. The role of both pericentric and paracentric inversions in the evolution and origin of species has been quite significant.The univalent chromosomes occur in six species. The average of univalents per PMC range from 1.68 (P. bracteatus) to 0.96 (P. trilobus). The role of genetical factors, precocious separation, inversion heterozygosity, desynapsis and environmental factors such as change in temperature are to a great extent responsible for the appearance of univalents in different species of Phaseolus.Pollen sterility appears to be fairly low among various taxa of Phaseolus. The percentage of pollen sterility ranges from 18% (P. semierectus) to 3% (P. acutifolius and P. aconitifolius, etc.). Inversion heterozygosity and presence of univalents have been emphasized as the main causes of pollen sterility.Evolutionary trend in the genus Phaseolus has been studied. Polyploidy has not played any significant role in evolution. Structural chromosomal changes as pericentric and paracentric inversions, gene mutations, hybridization and weak development of isolation mechanism have dominated the evolutionary history in the genus phaseolus.. Diminution in the size of chromatin material with advancing evolution has been a special feature. Species with symmetrical karyotypes having large chromosomes with median primary constrictions are primitive while those with asymmetrical karyotypes having smaller chromosomes with subterminal primary constriction are regarded as advanced.Phaseolus vulgaris and P. aureus with large somatic chromosomes and longest total chromatin length has been considered primitive respectively in climbing and erect habit series of Phaseolus species. While P. bracteatus and P. ricciardianus with short chromosomes and shortest total chromatin length are considered as advanced in climbing and erect habit series respectively. Presumably climbing habit Phaseolus species are ancient and erect ones are modern.It is thus concluded that Phaseolus vulgaris which is under cultivation in Mexico for the past 7000 years is primitive and it has given rise to other Phaseolus species including erect ones.

Archeological evidence for selection of chupandilla and cosahuico under cultivation in Mexico

From four caves in the Tehuacan Valley, excavated by the Proyecto ArqueologicoBotanico Tehuacan, seeds of ehupandilla (Cyrtocarpa procera) and cosahuico (Sideroxylon) cf.tempisque) were recovered. Measurements of these show that a definite increase in size took place. Chupandilla seeds showed little increase in the lower levels (ea. 6500 to 2300 B. C.) but from ca. 900 B. C. to A. D. 1500 there was a constant increase in size. During this period, chupandilla showed no significant change in fruit proportions. Cosahuico, on the other hand, showed an increase in size beginning in levels whose earliest date is ca. 4800 B. C. and the increase continued to the top at ca. A. D. 1500. Furthermore, cosahuico seeds became proportionally more elongate from ca. 4800 to 200 B. C, less elongate from ca 200 B. C. to A. D. 700 and then again more elongate from ca. A. D. 700 to 1500. Especially notable size increases in the seeds of both fruits from Purron Cave (TC 272) can be associated with the building of a dam and extensive irrigation system near that cave. Undoubtedly, these changes in size and shape are attributable to cultivation of the trees and active selection of seeds from large fruit for the propagation of new trees. This datum further strengthens the premises previously established by a study of avocado cotyledons from the same area (6).