[In situ conservation of diverse vegetable species in 'conucos' (home gardens) in Carabobo and Trujillo States, Venezuela]
2004
Gutierrez Mulas, M. (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agricolas (INIA), Maracy (Venezuela). Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias) | Quiroz, C. | Perez S., D.M. | Rodriguez, D. | Perez, T. | Marques, A. | Pacheco, W.
In Venezuela there is a subsistence system called conuco, which is characterized by the use of numerous agricultural species grown near to the family housing with minimal use of inputs. This study was undertaken to determine the contribution of conucos to the in situ conservation of plant genetic resources. In the central zone of the country nine conucos were selected at between 600 and 1200 m asl in the Santa Rosa del Sur mountain region in Carabobo State. In the Andean zone of the Trujillo State 27 conucos were chosen at three different altitudinal levels. This research documented the ample diversity of agricultural species preserved in these production systems as well as gathering local knowledge about use, handling and conservation of native materials, of either commercial or local use. In the conucos from both zones 591 species belonging to 362 genera and 101 botanical families were found. Some species were edible and others had either medicinal, ornamental, combustible or magicalreligious use. The high diversity found was positively related to socieconomic factors such as age of the conuco, size of the orchard, difficulty in accessing the conuco, its use for subsistence, age of the owner, high participation of family labour in the activities of the gardens, and whether it is the only source of income for the family.
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