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Currently, some species of Sapindaceae are important fruit crops worldwide. The Huaya India (Meliccocus oliviformis, Sapindaceae) is a neglected Neotropical fruit tree consumed locally in the Maya Lowlands of Mexico, where it exists in both wild and domesticated forms. Our objective was to evaluate the genetic diversity of the Huaya India in its possible domestication area and thus generate knowledge that serves as the basis for a commercial management. A total of 450 individuals collected from 15 natural vegetation sites and 15 Maya villages, were characterized using nine microsatellite loci and population genetics approaches were applied. STRUCTURE, Neighbor-Joining and PCoA analyses suggested the existence of three main groups: 1) one composed by 14 natural vegetation sites, 2) one integrated by 10 Maya villages plus one natural vegetation site, 3) one composed by five Maya villages. At the species level, genetic differentiation was high (FST = 0.562) and gene flow was low (Nm = 0.395); between genetic groups, differentiation was low and gene flow was high. Genetic diversity was low at the level species (HE = 0.19) and higher in the group composed for only natural vegetation sites. When we considered only two groups (natural vegetation sites vs Maya villages) to explore a possible bottleneck as a consequence of human management, the natural vegetation sites showed higher, and significant, genetic diversity (HE = 0.231) than the Maya villages (HE = 0.152). This study can serve as a basis to develop management strategies for Huaya India in the Maya Lowlands of Mexico, but without compromising its conservation.

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) enriched libraries for five groups of tropical perennial plants with edible fruits and shoots were prepared and sequenced in a GS-FLX Roche 454: sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen), lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn. and G. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Choisy), rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), and bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex J.C. Wendl and Guadua angustifolia Kunth). For SSR development, these species were organized by their common names in five groups. A total of 3870 SSR primer sets were designed, using capillary electrophoresis 1872 nuclear SSRs were tested on 4 to 10 DNA samples within each plant group, that is 384 loci for each of the four groups of fruit trees and 336 loci for the bamboo group. Only 7.9% of the primers tested did not result in amplifi- cation. All 1872 SSRs are provided, we highlight 178 SSRs (between 26 and 47 per group) considered top-quality polymorphic SSRs that amplified all the samples, had strong fluorescence signal, presented no stutters and showed minimum non-specific amplification or background fluorescence. A total of 66,057 contig sequences were submitted to GenBank Database. Markers presented here will be useful not only for conservation efforts in banks of germplasm, but also for in-depth analysis of population genetics which usually requires evaluation of large number of loci.

Mexico is designated as the area where the cultivation of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews) began from wild populations, with the Totonaca region of northern Veracruz being the most likely area. Anthropological works, indicate that the Mayan groups located in the cultural region denominated Mayan Lowlands knew this orchid, naming it Sisbic. However, there are no studies on the knowledge, use and management of vanilla by the current Mayan peoples. The objective of this research was to collect the knowledge and current use of vanilla in 31localities of Yucatan and Quintana Roo belonging to the Maya Lowlands recognized in the extraction of chewing gum. A survey was applied to 130 midwives, 48% of them recognize vanilla with eleven vernacular names, among which the term Sisbic stands out and four main uses: medicinal, ritual, perfume and flavoring. Within the medicinal use, it was reported to treat ten conditions, among them; accelerate childbirth, infections, depression, headache, also reported use as a ritual plant to make a drink used by the H-men's and for ornaments., RESUMEN: México es señalado como el área donde se inició el cultivo de la vainilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews) a partir de poblaciones silvestres, siendo la región Totonaca del norte de Veracruz el área más probable. Trabajos antropológicos, señalan que los grupos mayas ubicados en la región cultural denominada Tierras Bajas Mayas conocían esta orquídea, nombrándola Sisbic. Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre el conocimiento, uso y manejo de la vainilla por los pueblos mayas actuales. El objetivo de esta investigación fue recopilar el conocimiento y uso actual de la vainilla en 31 localidades de Yucatán y Quintana Roo pertenecientes a las Tierras Bajas Mayas reconocidas por la extracción del chicle. Se aplicó una encuesta a 130 parteras, el 48% de ellas reconocen a la vainilla con 11 nombres vernáculos entre los que destacan el término Sisbic y cuatro usos principales: medicinal, ritual, perfume y saborizante. Dentro del uso medicinal, se reportó para atender 10 padecimientos, entre ellos, acelerar el parto, infecciones, depresión, dolor de cabeza, también se reportó el uso como planta ritual para elaborar una bebida usada por los H-menes y para adornos ceremoniales.

Tropical fruit trees are an important component of the human diet; however, little is known about their genetic diversity levels. Zapote mamey (Pouteria sapota) is a tree native to southeastern Mexico and Central America, and Mexico is the leading producer in the world. Studies of the genetic diversity of Zapote mamey have been based on cultivated materials using morphological and biochemical characterization or dominant molecular markers. To gain a deeper understanding about the conservation status of Zapote mamey in its center of origin and domestication, we collected 188 individuals from eight wild and five cultivated populations in southeastern Mexico and characterized them using eight microsatellite loci. STRUCTURE, 3D-PCoA, and neighbor-joining analyses showed three groups in the wild gene pool and one group in the cultivated gene pool. FST values were significant between wild and cultivated gene pools, among the four groups observed and among the 13 populations collected (0.13, 0.25, and 0.36, respectively). Overall, we found low levels of genetic diversity (A = 2.77, HO = 0.29, HE = 0.39), permutation tests did not show significant differences between wild and cultivated gene pools. The Garza–Williamson index showed low values in both gene pools (wild = 0.16, cultivated = 0.11) and the Bottleneck program indicated a decrease in genetic diversity in both gene pools (wild, P = 0.027; cultivated, P = 0.054); both analyses suggest a potential genetic bottleneck within this species. This study can help to generate adequate sampling techniques and to develop effective management strategies for Zapote mamey of southeastern Mexico.

The Mesoamerican gene pool of wild lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L., Fabaceae) is an important source of genes for genetic improvement of the species. Is widely distributed from northern Mexico to northern Argentina. Reports in Mexico indicate that this gene pool is distributed from Sinaloa to Chiapas on the Pacific Coast and southern Tamaulipas to the Yucatan Peninsula on the Coast of Gulf of Mexico, as well as, in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. However, despite the knowledge we have about the distribution of this gene pool, in Mexico there are still collecting gaps and unexplored regions. The objective of this study was to collect wild populations of lima bean in Mexico to know its current distribution and establish management and conservation strategies. To do this, we collected within the natural distribution range of the Mesoamerican gene pool of lima bean in Mexico, with the passport data was designed a geographical distribution map and assessed the conservation status of populations. Results indicated that wild populations of lima bean have a wide geographical distribution localized mainly in tropical deciduous forest and semideciduous and elevations from zero to 2 292 meters. In most wild population collected a low conservation status was observed, in consequence was proposed the development of strategies for in situ and ex situ conservation for wild populations with higher degree of erosion., Resumen: El acervo genético mesoamericano del frijol lima silvestre (Phaseolus lunatus L., Fabaceae) representa una fuente importante de genes para el mejoramiento genético de la especie. Presenta una amplia distribución geográfica que abarca del norte de México al norte de Argentina. En México los reportes muestran que este acervo se distribuye de Sinaloa hasta la región de Chiapas, por la costa del Pacífico y del sur de Tamaulipas hasta la Península de Yucatán por la Costa del Golfo de México, así como también en la región del Istmo de Tehuantepec. Sin embargo, a pesar del conocimiento que se tiene sobre la distribución de este acervo, en México aún existen regiones con vacíos de colecta para P. lunatus. El objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en realizar colectas de poblaciones silvestres del frijol lima en México, para conocer su distribución actual y establecer estrategias de manejo y conservación. Para ello, se realizaron colectas dentro del área de distribución natural del acervo genético mesoamericano del frijol lima en México, se diseño un mapa de distribución geográfica con los datos de pasaporte y se analizó el estado de conservación de las poblaciones. Los resultados demostraron que las poblaciones silvestres del frijol lima, presentan una amplia distribución geográfica localizándose principalmente en zonas de selva tropical caducifolia y subcaducifolia con altitudes de cero a 2 292 metros. Se observó un bajo estado de conservación en la mayoría de las poblaciones silvestres colectadas, en consecuencia, se propuso el desarrollo de estrategias de conservación in situ y ex situ para las poblaciones silvestres con mayor grado de erosión.