Local diversity and agricultural practices associated with traditional culture of peaches, Prunus persica (Rosaceae), in northwestern Argentina

Abstract

This work is an ethnobotanical approach to the diversity of groups and local varieties of peaches and the criteria to delimit these ethnotaxa. It also describes management practices that accompanies the maintenance of this culture in a northwestern Argentinian community. A main classification was proposed, the cultivarieties group, defined as the set of varieties together under one common name whichis the result of the sum of attributes derived from various locally defined criteria. A subcategorization known as etnovarieties, defined by specific characteristics, was also established. This first approach demonstrates the transcendental value that the incorporation and ownership of a foreign resource acquiresas a representative element of the landscape and cultural context of the community, which is displayedon the deep knowledge of the inhabitants to shape a classification and incorporate the agriculturalpractices associated to this crop.