PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 165: Agroecology: Diversity and Modeling
Friday, August 12, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Meeting Room 521 A, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Weeding strategies and the potential for adoption of glysophate-based technology in traditional maize production systems in Central Chiapas.
Tooke, Thalia*,1, Barrios, Luis Garcia 2, Rivera, Hugo Perales2, Benning, Tracy3, 1 University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA2 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, San Cristobal Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico3 University of San Francisco, San Francisco, Cailfornia, USA
ABSTRACT- Southern Mexico and Central America are the centers of origin for maize. These regions harbor a significant proportion of the world maize germplasm. Poor "campesions" farmers in this region preserve maize diversity by growing traditional landraces. Concerns have recently been raised regarding the risk of transgenic introgression into these landraces. In the past decade, transgenic maize varieties, which resist glyphosate herbicide, have been commercially released into US agriculture on a large scale and might soon, make their way into Mexico. Researchers in Mexico believe that this could pose a serious threat to maize biodiversity. The potential for introgression of resistant glyphosate transgene into Mexican landraces is a complex issue, but the current and potential weeding strategies could have a significant influence on it. In traditional landrace maize systems, herbicides were rarely used. Now, due to migration and economic pressures, more campesino farmers are adopting herbicides and glyphosate is increasingly being used. A questionnaire and map were developed to detail how herbicides are being used along an altitudinal/technological gradient in Central Chiapas (approx. 500-2300 masl). The weed control strategies practiced by peasants in landrace fields along this gradient were examined for where and why glyphosate is being used. Chi Square and multivariate analysis methods were used to examine the relationship between glyphosate use and environmental variables. A spatial analysis was performed to delineate areas, which may be susceptible to introgression based on these findings. This research may provide a better understanding for the potential introgression of glyphosate resistant transgene in Mexican landraces.
Key words: Glyphosate, Maize, Mexico, Transgenic