SPECIES RICHNESS OF WILD POTATOES (Solanum section Petota) AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN MEXICO

Abstract

México is a diversification center for wild potatoes. The plants are important because they produce edible tubers and are a source of resistance to plagues, diseases and environmental stress. On the other hand, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) evaluate the biological diversity of a territory, analyze the morphological characteristics within a geographic context, and show the geographic sites with the greatest wealth of plants with desirable characteristics. The wealth of wild potatoes in México was analyzed using GIS, divided by states, biogeographical provinces, and a 40X40 grid. In México, 28 species grow and 21 are located along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Eje Volcánico Transmexicano, EVT), in Jalisco, Michoacán, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Estado de México, Puebla and Distrito Federal. In Michoacán, two cells contain between 14 and 16 species each. Finally, the evolutionary history of Solanaceae and geological history of the EVT explain the distribution and wealth of wild potatoes in México.