Teosinte Distribution in Mexico - CIMMYT: Seeding innovation ...

J. Jesús Sánchez and José Ariel Ruiz Corral
from Durango at “Hacienda de Dolores-Puente
Dalila” and “Puente Gavilanes,” and in the northwest
near Francisco Villa (Hacienda Alcalde). A collection
was made at the latter site by Palmer in 1896
(Doebley 1983b), and the population was also
reported by Collins (1921). Figure 3 shows a point for
Cerro Prieto in the northwest of the state, the site
mentioned by Lumholtz (1902) and Collins et al. et al.
in 1937 (cited by Wilkes 1967).
Western Mexico
In this region (Fig. 4) there are major climatic
contrasts due to the varied topography and the
influence of the Pacific Ocean and various lakes.
Annual rainfall in teosinte areas ranges from 500 to
1900 mm and average temperatures from 16 to 27°C.
Teosinte is found in moderate climates (Cw) on the
northern slope of the Nevado de Colima, home of Zea
perennis, and in the Sierra de Manantlán, where Zea
diploperennis is found. Annual teosintes occur in
semihot climates (A)C as that of San Jerónimo, Jalisco;
in hot, semidry climates Awo such as
those of El Palmar, Jalisco, and
Amatlán de Cañas, Nayarit; and in
hot, subhumid climates (Aw2 ) such as
those of Jirosto and La Huertita,
Jalisco.
NAYARIT
Within this region, the most
important populations are:
(i) Southern Coast. Saucito, toward
the Pacific coast near Jilotlán de
los Dolores, Jalisco; at the eastern
end of the Sierra de Manantlán at
La Lima and El Rodeo, Jalisco,
and at San Antonio-El Sauz in
Colima; northeast of Autlán in El
Tepic
26 o
24 o
Palmar, Naranjo de Enmedio, El Coyotomate,
and Aguacaliente, Jalisco; west of Villa
Purificación in Jirosto, Los Cimientos, and El
Chino.
Durango
106 o 104 o
Figure 3. Teosinte distribution in the state of
Durango.
Autlán
Ameca
Colima
COLIMA
JALISCO
Guadalajara
Cojumatlán
Cd. Guzmán
Ixtlán
105 o 102 o
Figure 4. Teosinte distribution in western Mexico.
25
Information from
botanical gardens
and other sources;
no seed samples
available.
Durango
22 o
Information from
botanical gardens and
other sources; no seed
samples available.
Balsas
Mesa central
Zea perennis
Zea diploperennis
19 o