Sementes crioulas de milho da agricultura familiar do sudoeste paulista: qualidade e feira de troca

Abstract

Creole seeds have a substantial in biodiversity, family farming and in traditional communities. Specifically in the Southwest of São Paulo state, its use has a direct relation with the subsistence of family farmers as well as crafts and animal feeding. To know the quality of the seeds and which were the relations and fluxes occurred in the first exchange fair of seeds in the region are the focuses of this study, as the quality of the seeds has as much importance as the trades to promote the maintenance and to revalue the prevailing creole seeds. In this sense, the first chapter refers to field of study of phytotechnics on the survey of the characteristics of the fields of production of creole corn seeds and of the evaluation as to the physical, physiological and sanitary quality of seeds in the southwest of São Paulo state, Brazil. The results obtained showed that for the physical and physiological tests the 2019 and 2020 harvests, although having obtained values with variations, the 2020 crop presented higher values of vigor and germination. The fungi Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. were identified as having a high incidence in the sanity test in both harvests, but the 2019 harvest results were highlighted. However, post-harvest strategies, especially those related to storage processes, are essential for maintaining the quality of corn creole seeds. The second chapter refers to an article from the field of rural sociological study that aimed to locate some of the family properties that maintain corn creole seeds and to verify how seed exchanges are organized to maintain this genetic heritage in the Southwest of São Paulo. From the results obtained, four nuclei of seed exchange were observed, three individuals who do not make changes and the presence of exchange relations through reciprocity. The realization of the first seed exchange fair provided an alternative communication between the custodians of creole seeds in the territory, allowing the exchange of other creole cultures such as beans, pumpkin and rice, which increases the diversity of varieties in the region. In addition, it was possible to observe that there is difficulty in organizing communication between family farmers to exchange seeds.