Evaluación del desempeño inicial de estacas y plántulas en una plantación de copales (<i>Bursera copallifera</i> y <i>B. bipinnata</i>)

Abstract

Background: Copal is a resin that is used in religious and cultural ceremonies; it is extracted from Bursera bipinnata and Bursera copallifera, and obtained both from natural populations and maintained trees. Questions: What propagation method (rooted cuttings or seeds) is more suitable for each species? How is field performance in terms of survival and growth of rooted cuttings and seedlings for each species? Study species: Bursera bipinnata and B. copallifera Study site and dates: Santiago Tepetlapa, Morelos 2016-1018 Methods: Plants were propagated in 2015-2016. In 2016, 133 plants were planted: 42 rooted cuttings and 27 seedlings of B. bipinnata, and 26 and 38, respectively, of B. copallifera. Growth was evaluated for one year and survival for two years. Relative growth rate (RGR) was measured, as well as biomass allocation to different organs. Results: In B. bipinnata propagation by rooted cuttings is more feasible, and by seeds in B. copallifera. During the first-year rooted cuttings showed higher survival than seedlings, but in the second year it was higher in cuttings of B. bipinnata (65 %), than in all other plants (&lt; 15 %). There were differences between species in final biomass allocation in rooted cuttings, but not in seedlings; there were no differences between species in RGR. Conclusions: Rooted cuttings showed a better performance than seedlings; especially those of B. bipinnata. These results can contribute to the establishment of plantations of these species in agroforestry systems and restoration.