Variabilidad en poblaciones de maíz nativo de la Mixteca Baja Oaxaque？a, México

genetic diversity of the maize populations in mexico is very dynamic and depends on biological, agroecological, and socio-economic factors and familiar needs. in this study, the morphological variability of a collection of 60 population samples of maize were described and classified, such samples were collected in 44 communities from low mixtec-oaxaca region (846 masl to 1842 masl). the samples were sown and cultivated during crop cycle sprig-summer 2010 at santo domingo tonala, oaxaca, under a randomized complete design with four replications. nineteen morphological traits of plant, ear, kernel and tassel were evaluated and significant differences among maize populations were determined in these characters. the traits height plant and ear, number of kernels per row were determinants to describe the total morphological variability. morphological and phenological variation of the maize populations was associated with patterns of altitudinal and geographic variation of the sample origin. six phenotypic groups with significant differences among them but with similar ear, kernel and plant traits to describes for races celaya, bolita, pepitilla, ancho and some racial complexes among ancho, mixteco, celaya and bolita.