Hydro-Environmental Criteria for Introducing an Edible Halophyte from a Rainy Region to an Arid Zone: A Study Case of <i>Suaeda</i> spp. as a New Crop in NW México
Francyelli Regina Costa-Becheleni,
Enrique Troyo-Diéguez,
Alejandra Nieto-Garibay,
Luis Alejandro Bustamante-Salazar,
Hugo Sergio García-Galindo,
Bernardo Murillo-Amador
Affiliations
Francyelli Regina Costa-Becheleni
Center for Biological Research of Northwest México SC (CIBNOR), Graduate Studies and Human Resources Program, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23096, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Enrique Troyo-Diéguez
Center for Biological Research of Northwest México SC (CIBNOR), Arid Zone Agriculture Program, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23096, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Alejandra Nieto-Garibay
Center for Biological Research of Northwest México SC (CIBNOR), Arid Zone Agriculture Program, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23096, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Luis Alejandro Bustamante-Salazar
Department of Instrumental Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción (UdeC), Av. Víctor Lamas No. 1290, Concepción 4070386, Región del Bío Bío, Chile
Hugo Sergio García-Galindo
National Technological Institute of México (TecNM–Campus Veracruz), Av. Miguel A. de Quevedo No. 2779, Colonia Formando Hogar 91897, Veracruz, Mexico
Bernardo Murillo-Amador
Center for Biological Research of Northwest México SC (CIBNOR), Arid Zone Agriculture Program, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, La Paz 23096, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Halophytes are capable of growing in saline environments. However, this attribute results from a wide genetic variability, making it difficult to approximate halophytes’ agroecological management. We examined the hydro-climatological attributes associated with the distribution of species of the genus Suaeda in NW Mexico and SW USA, and for S. edulis in central México. The analysis focused on the introduction of the semi-domesticated species Suaeda edulis as a new crop, from central regions of México, reaching an average yield of 8 Mg ha−1 of biomass, to arid NW México. The list of Suaeda species was elaborated from the eHALOPH and Calflora databases, and the NW México Herbarium Network. According to the Hydro-Environmental Availability Index (HEAI), the central regions of Mexico reflect a greater water availability, suitable for S. edulis. In such a humid region, HEAI varied from 6 to 18, indicating sufficient moisture for crops. In contrast, other Suaeda species, including S. nigra, S. esteroa, and S. californica, spread in NW Mexico and SW United States, where the water availability is null during the year, with HEAI scoring from 0 to 4. Under such dryness, S. edulis in NW Mexico will require water through optimized irrigation and plant breeding strategies to ensure its viability as a new crop.