Back to Search Start Over

Ecogeography of Dioscorea remotiflora Kunth: An Endemic Species from Mexico

Authors :
Jocelyn Maira Velázquez-Hernández
José Ariel Ruíz-Corral
Noé Durán-Puga
Miguel Ángel Macías
Diego Raymundo González-Eguiarte
Fernando Santacruz-Ruvalcaba
Giovanni Emmanuel García-Romero
Agustín Gallegos-Rodríguez
Source :
Plants, Vol 12, Iss 20, p 3654 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Dioscorea remotiflora, a perennial climbing herbaceous plant native to Mexico, produces tubers with great nutritional and ethnobotanical value. However, most ecological aspects of this plant remain unknown, which limits its cultivation and use. This is why the objective of this research was to characterize the ecogeography of D. remotiflora as a source to determine its edaphoclimatic adaptability and current and potential distribution. A comprehensive database encompassing 480 geo-referenced accessions was assembled from different data sources. Using the Agroclimatic Information System for México and Central America (SIAMEXCA), 42 environmental variables were formulated. The MaxEnt model within the Kuenm R package was employed to predict the species distribution. The findings reveal a greater presence of D. remotiflora in harsh environments, characterized by arid to semiarid conditions, poor soils, and hot climates with long dry periods. Niche modeling revealed that seven key variables determine the geographical distribution of D. remotiflora: precipitation of the warmest quarter, precipitation of the driest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, November–April solar radiation, annual mean relative humidity, annual moisture availability index, and May–October mean temperature. The current potential distribution of D. remotiflora is 428,747.68 km2. Favorable regions for D. remotiflora coincide with its current presence sites, while other suitable areas, such as the Yucatán Peninsula, northeast region, and Gulf of Mexico, offer potential expansion opportunities for the species distribution. The comprehensive characterization of Dioscorea remotiflora, encompassing aspects such as its soil habitats and climate adaptation, becomes essential not only for understanding its ecology but also for maximizing its economic potential. This will enable not only its sustainable use but also the exploration of commercial applications in sectors such as the pharmaceutical and food industries, thus providing a broader approach for its conservation and optimal utilization in the near future.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22237747
Volume :
12
Issue :
20
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Plants
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.fed95f2bf9a64c92ae4483c26749221d
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203654