AGRONOMIC POTENTIAL OF CACAHUACINTLE MAIZE LANDRACES AT TOLUCA VALLEY

Abstract

The Cachuacintle maize (Zea mays L.) production in the Toluca Valley is marketed as “elote” (green and fresh ear) and as grain for “pozole”, at prices 75 to 300 % higher than common white grain. Cacahuacintle maize production in the region depends on native maize landraces. In this study we evaluated 42 Cacahuacintle maize landraces and the hybrids ‘H-33’, ‘H-44’ and ‘H-137’, in experiments established under rainfed conditions in Calimaya and Metepec, both in Toluca Valley, State of México. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) were detected between localities for plant height, ear height, ears per plant and grain yield. Among landraces there were differences (P ≤ 0.01) for days to silking, ears per plant, lodging percent and grain yield. Days to silking ranged from 99 to 106 d after sowing, and lodging from 12 to 24 %. These landraces were thus classified as late season varieties, with moderate to high lodging. Grain yield in the best performing landraces ranged from 7.5 to 8.9 t ha^-1, while varieties 7, 11 and 32 stood out for their high values of grain yield, hectolitric weight and weight of 100 seeds.