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We compared the demography of two populations of Mammillaria huitzilopochtli, an endemic and threatened rupicolous cacti species with a narrow distribution in the semiarid Tehuacán-Cuicatlán region of central Mexico. Censuses were conducted over a 5-year period in two populations: a disturbed site (S1) and a well-preserved site (S2). Five annual size-based matrices and a mean transition matrix of each population were constructed to estimate demographic trends. Prospective timeinvariant analyses were performed to calculate population growth rate and elasticities, whereas prospective stochastic analyses were performed to assess quasi-extinction probabilities and how simulated changes in recruitment, stasis and growth affected the population growth rate. Retrospective perturbation analyses (life table response experiments, LTREs) were used to explore the contributions of demographic processes, plant sizes, and temporal variability (years) to the observed variations in population growth rate. The species showed decreasing population growth rates for almost all years and sites, S1 showed lower population growth rates than S2. Quasi-extinction probabilities were 1 after 9 years for S1 and 17 years for S2. Elasticity values were highest for matrix entries corresponding to plants remaining in the same category (stasis) followed by growth and fecundity. LTREs showed that fecundity had negative contributions to population growth rates for all years in S1 population, while it had positive contributions in 4 out of 5 years in population S2. Prospective stochastic analyses showed that increasing recruitment by 50% could give population growth rates [1 in S2 while none of the simulations give this value in S1. Increasing survival also raises population growth rates but always below one. These results indicate that

Mexico is the center of origin and diversification of domesticated chile (Capsicum annuum L.). Chile is conceived and employed as both food and medicine in Mexico. In this context, the objective of this paper is to describe and analyze the cultural role of chile as food and as medicine for the body and soul in different cultures of Mexico. To write it, we relied on our own fieldwork and literature review. Our findings include a) the first matrix of uses of chile across 67 indigenous and Afrodescendants cultures within Mexican territory and b) the proposal of a new model of diversified uses of chile. Traditional knowledge, uses and management of chile as food and medicine form a continuum (i.e., are not separated into distinct categories). The intermingled uses of Capsicum are diversified, deeply rooted and far-reaching into the past. Most of the knowledge, uses and practices are shared throughout Mexico. On the other hand, there is knowledge and practices that only occur in local or regional cultural contexts. In order to fulfill food, medicinal or spiritual functions, native communities use wild/cultivated chile.

SUMMARYBackground.In Mexico, it is called quelites to certain edible vegetables (young plants, germ, shoots or flowers). Since pre-Hispanic times, quelites have been eaten as a source of vitamins, minerals and proteins. Now, its traditional and healthy consumption has decreased. We studied the quelites of two traditional markets in the Valles Centrales of Oaxaca state, Mexico using an ethnobotanical and nutritional approach.MethodsFrom July 2017 to July 2018, weekly ethnobotanical interviews were conducted with 26 collectors-sellers of the Zimatlán market and 36 in the Zaachila market. The vegetal supply was acquired, herborized and identified by through dichotomous keys. There were determined the proximal composition, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, antioxidant capacity and mineral content of the floral structures of two quelites’ types. The statistical analysis was performed through a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of Tukey HSD.ResultsIn two sampled markets, 23 species belonging to 11 botanical families were registered, from which leaves, branches, stems, flowers and fruits are eaten. The flowers of the species Diphysa americana (Q1) and Phaseolus coccineus (Q2) are the most used for human consumption of the communities involved in the sale of the sampled quelites. Both flowers had important amounts of proteins (2.66-3.29%) and fiber (1.66-2.43%). Q1 had higher content of phenols and flavonoids and therefore higher antioxidant capacity than Q2 (p <0.05). When we talk about Q2 minerals, it presented a greater amount of Zn, Ca and Mg in comparison to Q1 (p> 0.05).ConclusionsIn local markets of the state of Oaxaca, a wide variety of quelites are usually found, where their botanical structures, such as flowers, are widely eaten. The flowers of Q1 and Q2 proved to be a rich source of proteins and bioactive compounds, as well as minerals. Showing thus to be a food alternative to enrich the human diet.

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