Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants for potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher community

Background. There are several ethnobotanical indices to evaluate the importance of wild edible plants; however, they are biased and it is unclear their contribution for the selection of priority species for developing new crops. In Mexico, most of the ethnobotanical studies have been focused in ind...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Juan Fernando Pío-León, Francisco Delgado-Vargas, José Luis León-de la Luz, Alfredo Ortega-Rubio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedad Botánica de México, A. C. 2017-03-01
Series:Botan‪ical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/772
_version_ 1797984138726211584
author Juan Fernando Pío-León
Francisco Delgado-Vargas
José Luis León-de la Luz
Alfredo Ortega-Rubio
author_facet Juan Fernando Pío-León
Francisco Delgado-Vargas
José Luis León-de la Luz
Alfredo Ortega-Rubio
author_sort Juan Fernando Pío-León
collection DOAJ
description Background. There are several ethnobotanical indices to evaluate the importance of wild edible plants; however, they are biased and it is unclear their contribution for the selection of priority species for developing new crops. In Mexico, most of the ethnobotanical studies have been focused in indigenous people but few in non-indigenous people of rural communities; such is the case of the rancher. Hypotheses. Ranchers have accumulated their own knowledge in the use of wild edible plants; this knowledge combined with a proper ethnobotanical index would be the base for identifying potential new crops. Study site and dates. Fifty-three semi-structured interviews about the use of wild edible plants between the Sudcalifornian ranchers of Cape Region, Baja California, were conducted in 2015. Methods. Plant importance was determined by the Food Significance Index (FSI) and the Salience Index (SI); additionally, both indices were coupled to a selection system based on culinary diversity to reduce the bias and identify the priority species. Results. Fifty-one taxa of wild edible plants were recorded, mostly fruits and vegetables. Knowledge erosion was not observed between men population but in women. The FSI and SI showed differences in their assessments, but both identified almost the same priority species after coupling them to the selection system based on culinary diversity. Conclusions. For the selection of food priority species is recommended the coupling of FSI/ SI and the culinary selection system.  At regional level, we propose the species Cnidoscolus maculatus, Stenocereus thurberi, and Matelea cordifolia as the most promissory new crops.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T06:56:47Z
format Article
id doaj.art-76cbbbe3c11f49d8bafe1fe106a336fb
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2007-4298
2007-4476
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T06:56:47Z
publishDate 2017-03-01
publisher Sociedad Botánica de México, A. C.
record_format Article
series Botan‪ical Sciences
spelling doaj.art-76cbbbe3c11f49d8bafe1fe106a336fb2022-12-22T04:38:59ZengSociedad Botánica de México, A. C.Botan‪ical Sciences2007-42982007-44762017-03-0195110.17129/botsci.772Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants for potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher communityJuan Fernando Pío-León0Francisco Delgado-Vargas1José Luis León-de la Luz2Alfredo Ortega-Rubio3 Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S.C., La Paz, B.C.S., México. Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culia - cán, Sinaloa, MéxicoCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S.C., La Paz, B.C.S., MéxicoCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S.C., La Paz, B.C.S., México Background. There are several ethnobotanical indices to evaluate the importance of wild edible plants; however, they are biased and it is unclear their contribution for the selection of priority species for developing new crops. In Mexico, most of the ethnobotanical studies have been focused in indigenous people but few in non-indigenous people of rural communities; such is the case of the rancher. Hypotheses. Ranchers have accumulated their own knowledge in the use of wild edible plants; this knowledge combined with a proper ethnobotanical index would be the base for identifying potential new crops. Study site and dates. Fifty-three semi-structured interviews about the use of wild edible plants between the Sudcalifornian ranchers of Cape Region, Baja California, were conducted in 2015. Methods. Plant importance was determined by the Food Significance Index (FSI) and the Salience Index (SI); additionally, both indices were coupled to a selection system based on culinary diversity to reduce the bias and identify the priority species. Results. Fifty-one taxa of wild edible plants were recorded, mostly fruits and vegetables. Knowledge erosion was not observed between men population but in women. The FSI and SI showed differences in their assessments, but both identified almost the same priority species after coupling them to the selection system based on culinary diversity. Conclusions. For the selection of food priority species is recommended the coupling of FSI/ SI and the culinary selection system.  At regional level, we propose the species Cnidoscolus maculatus, Stenocereus thurberi, and Matelea cordifolia as the most promissory new crops. https://www.botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/772Wild edible plantsdeciduous forestdry forestethnobotanyethnobotanical indices
spellingShingle Juan Fernando Pío-León
Francisco Delgado-Vargas
José Luis León-de la Luz
Alfredo Ortega-Rubio
Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants for potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher community
Botan‪ical Sciences
Wild edible plants
deciduous forest
dry forest
ethnobotany
ethnobotanical indices
title Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants for potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher community
title_full Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants for potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher community
title_fullStr Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants for potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher community
title_full_unstemmed Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants for potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher community
title_short Prioritizing Wild Edible Plants for potential new crops based on Deciduous Forest traditional knowledge by a Rancher community
title_sort prioritizing wild edible plants for potential new crops based on deciduous forest traditional knowledge by a rancher community
topic Wild edible plants
deciduous forest
dry forest
ethnobotany
ethnobotanical indices
url https://www.botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/772
work_keys_str_mv AT juanfernandopioleon prioritizingwildedibleplantsforpotentialnewcropsbasedondeciduousforesttraditionalknowledgebyaranchercommunity
AT franciscodelgadovargas prioritizingwildedibleplantsforpotentialnewcropsbasedondeciduousforesttraditionalknowledgebyaranchercommunity
AT joseluisleondelaluz prioritizingwildedibleplantsforpotentialnewcropsbasedondeciduousforesttraditionalknowledgebyaranchercommunity
AT alfredoortegarubio prioritizingwildedibleplantsforpotentialnewcropsbasedondeciduousforesttraditionalknowledgebyaranchercommunity