CULTIVATION OF WILD SPECIES OF GENUS Physalis AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SYNANTHROPY

Abstract

The synanthropic species (weed) have been the object of study where they emphasize their attributes of adaptation to anthropogenic environments. The genus Physalis, is an ideal taxon to study the adaptation of these wild species to areas of cultivation. The objective of the research was to measure the adaptation of eight genotypes of Physalis in two localities, measured through an index to identify according to their morphological and physiological characteristics which are favorable to introduce them as cultivated plants. The experimental design was of complete randomized blocks with factorial arrangement having two study factors: genotypes and localities. The 16 treatments resulted from the combinations of eight species of Physalis and two localities located in Morelos and the State of Mexico. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and the means of the treatments were compared with the (HSD) test (p<0.05). To determine the relationship between the synanthropic index and the morphological and physiological variables, the correlation coefficients were estimated and regression equations were estimated between the index and the variables leaf area and number of seeds to establish a cause - effect relationship. Wild species of species cultivated in Mexico such as Physalis philadelphica and P. angulata presented the highest averages in all variables under study. It was confirmed that P. philadelphica with greater synanthropic index (1.5) had vigorous growth and increased production of dry matter, fruits and seeds. The variables foliar area and number of seeds showed positive and highly significant correlation with the index synanthropic. The correlation coefficients in Texcoco and Tlalquiltenango respectively were 0.84 and 0.85 for leaf area and 0.85 and 0.83 for number of seeds. The regression equations estimated between the synanthropic index and the leaf area variables and number of seeds showed greater adaptation of Physalis to be introduced as cultivated plants.