Descripción

The varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in Colombia are the product of continuous genetic introgression between native varieties and improved varieties or hybrids. Eight native varieties of corn were collected in the middle and lower Putumayo, seeking to assess morphological and agronomic characteristics. Eight descriptors corn proposed by the International Center for Improvement of Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT, as known in Spanish) and the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR), which were subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparison tests, were used. The results indicated significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) among varieties for seven variables. ZmPg02, ZmPg01 and ZmPl01 varieties had higher values of height (cm) (376.76; 378.00; 391.50) were statistically equal. ZmOr01 was the earliest (74.25 days), whereas ZmPg02 presented the best performance, with 1205.25 kg ha-1. To that extent it was concluded that there are great differences between varieties in the evaluated characteristics.