EXPLORACIÓN Y CARACTERIZACIÓN DE POBLACIONES SILVESTRES DE JITOMATE (SOLANACEAE) EN TRES REGIONES DE MICHOACÁN, MÉXICO

Abstract

In order to characterize populations of wild
tomato (“tinguaraque”) in the Mexican State
of Michoacan, field observations were made
from January to September of 2007. Three
regions were selected: “Valle de Apatzingan”, “Valle de Los Reyes” and “Cienega
de Chapala”. Through interviews to farmers and previous studies, more particular
samplings were made in each region. The
characterization included: environmental,
morphological, physiological and entomological aspects. In 45% of the visited sites, populations of the wild tomato were recorded.
They were located in altitudes from 314 to
1 550 m; precipitation of 751 to 1 014 mm
per year, maximum and minimum temperatures of 35.2 and 11.7ºC, and varied levels of
soil fertility. Registered populations correspond to the species Solanum lycopersicum
L. (var. cerasiforme), of which two groups
could be distinguished: big fruits (2.12 to
2.23 x 2.41 to 2.55 cm) and small fruits (1.05
to 1.22 x 1.10 to 1.25 cm). The germination
speed, expressed as the time that germinates
50% of seed was variable; ranged from 2.7
(2.5-3.0) days until 10.6 (8.6-15.6) days.
With exception of a morphospecies (Col:
Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae), associated phytophagous insects corresponded to
pest species of tomato; the principals were:
whitefly (Hem: Aleyrodidae) and aphids
complex (Hem: Aphididae), Lyriomiza
sativae Blanchard and L. trifoli Burgués,
Epitrix sp. and Manduca sp. The psilid of the
solanaceae Bactericera cockerelli Sulc. was
only registered in the Cienega region, while
the bug Cyrtopeltis notata Distant, was the
most insidious in tinguaraque. The diversity
of environmental conditions in those that the
wild populations of S. lycopersicum develop
in Michoacan indicates a wide diversity
(ecotypes) of this species.