Maíces nativos de Argentina : una mirada molecular a su diversidad genética

Abstract

Maize is a strategic crop for global food security. In Argentina, more than 60 native landraces persist as unique genetic reservoirs adapted to diverse environments. This review synthesizes the contributions of molecular markers, from isozymes and SSRs to high-density SNPs, in characterizing this diversity. Molecular evidence has shown that Argentine maize diversity is non-randomly structured, primarily influenced by altitude, geographic region, and kernel type. Northern Argentina is considered a microcenter of maize diversity, where diverse native landraces have evolved under contrasting environmental conditions. Furthermore, markers have revealed that specific groups, such as floury maize from the Northeast and highland maize from the Northwest, face imminent genetic erosion due to low effective population sizes and climate change. The integration of genomic tools, such as pool sequencing and landscape genomics, offers new perspectives for the strategic conservation and sustainable use of these resources, ensuring the preservation of landraces with high nutritional and adaptive value.