Crop wild relatives in Mexico: An overview of richness, importance, and conservation status

Abstract

Mexico is recognized as an important center of plant diversity, with a high proportion of this diversity being endemic to the country. It is also considered a center of origin, domestication, and diversification of many crops of national, regional, and global importance, and there is also a high diversity of crop wild relatives (CWR). CWR are important sources of genetic variation and can be used for the genetic improvement of crops. In this introductory chapter, an insight about the importance of Mexican CWR diversity and their conservation status is given. We cover the general outline of the national legislation on the conservation, utilization, and sharing of plant genetic resources, with a description of the main stakeholders responsible for the definition and implementation of conservation actions. An assessment of the ex situ and in situ CWR conservation strategies is also carried out, including germplasm banks, arboreta, botanic gardens, protected areas, and genetic reserves. We summarize the conservation status of CWR of some of the most important crops in Mexico and Mesoamerica, i.e., maize, beans, pepper, cotton, potato, tomato, and avocado. We also review the effects of climate change and other threats on the diversity of CWR in the region. We finalize with an analysis of challenges and opportunities for the conservation of CWR. The generation and dissemination of knowledge on the importance of the CWR diversity in the country is vital to achieve the long-term conservation and sustainable utilization of these valuable genetic resources.