Abstract

RODRIGUEZ-LARRAMENDI, Luis et al. Growth and harvest index of local maize varieties (Zea mays L.) in communities of the Frailesca region of Chiapas, Mexico. cultrop [online]. 2016, vol.37, n.3, pp. 137-145. ISSN 1819-4087.  http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1404.6967.

In order to characterize the growth and harvest index of local maize varieties (Zea mays L.), field experiments through a randomized blocks were designed at the villages of "Agua Dulce Dos" and "24 de Febrero", in the Frailesca region of Chiapas, Mexico. All the varieties were selected following a Research-Action and Participatory Learning process (RAPL) and oriented to the Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) and Conservation Agriculture (CA). In both villages, a similar pattern of  plant growth was observed, excepting for plant height, being taller plants belonging to the Campeón  variety in "Agua Dulce Dos" (236 cm at 60 days) and Z-30 and Morado in "24 de Febrero" (120 cm at 60 days). Both, leaves number and stem diameter were similar in all varieties ranging between 11 and 12 leaves per plant and 1,7 and 2 cm of stem diameter respectively. The harvest index in "Agua Dulce Dos" was higher for the Macho variety and negatively correlated with plant height. The Campeón, Negro and Jarocho varieties accumulated higher plant biomass, while the Jarocho variety accumulated a higher stem biomass and negatively correlated with the harvest index. In "24 de Febrero" village, the harvest index ranged between 18 and 23 %; it was higher for the Morado and Parraleño varieties and negatively correlated with plant biomass. The leaves and stem biomass significantly varied among varieties, and a correlation with the harvest index was not observed

Keywords : biomass; plant growth; harvest index.

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