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Can the Introduction of Modern Crop Varieties in their Centre of Origin Affect Local Ecological Knowledge? A Case Study of Papaya in the Yucatan Peninsula

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Abstract

The effect on local ecological knowledge (LEK) of introducing modern crop varieties in their centre of origin has been generally overlooked. LEK of the reproductive ecology of cultivated and wild papaya was assessed in a Mayan community using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and participant observation. Although the Maya have managed the wild variety of papaya for several centuries, there was more LEK of the recently introduced maradol variety. Most informants were unable to differentiate male and female plants, likely because the most common variety (maradol) in contemporary home gardens is typically hermaphroditic. Informants also mentioned that, in the past, sexual expression was manipulated. We conclude that the introduction of the maradol variety has contributed to the erosion of LEK of the reproductive ecology of papaya.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the informants and L. Arias for help during fieldwork. The study was funded by Conacyt (Project CB-2012-177680).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Ecología Terrestre, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Cinvestav), Antigua Carretera a Progreso KM 6, 97310, Mérida, Yucatán, México

    Rommel David Moo-Aldana, Miguel Angel Munguía-Rosas, Laura Patricia Serralta, María Teresa Castillo-Burguete & Daniela Martínez-Natarén

  2. Unidad Académica de Agricultura, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Km. 9 Carretera Tepic-Compostela, 63780, Xalisco, Nayarit, México

    Rocío Vega-Frutis

Authors
  1. Rommel David Moo-Aldana
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  2. Miguel Angel Munguía-Rosas
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  3. Laura Patricia Serralta
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  4. María Teresa Castillo-Burguete
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  5. Rocío Vega-Frutis
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  6. Daniela Martínez-Natarén
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miguel Angel Munguía-Rosas.

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Informants were apprised of the study’s aims and gave their verbal consent for this information to be used for non-profit purposes. The identity of informants is kept confidential.

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Authors have declared that there is no conflict of interest.

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Moo-Aldana, R.D., Munguía-Rosas, M.A., Serralta, L.P. et al. Can the Introduction of Modern Crop Varieties in their Centre of Origin Affect Local Ecological Knowledge? A Case Study of Papaya in the Yucatan Peninsula. Hum Ecol 45, 367–375 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-017-9903-8

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