Registro histórico de la problemática de la repoblación natural del linaloe Bursera linanoe (La Llave) Rzedowski, Calderón & Medina

Abstract

The linaloe it is a tree that produces a fine resin. Produces essential chemical, aromatic, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrialcompounds of high commercial value, only grows in Mexico, in the middle portions of the Papaloapan and Balsas River basins.The excessive use of its wood and its fruit to obtain essential oil, the destruction of the low forest where it lives, disorderly grazingand some environmental and biological constraints have generated an excessively low, discontinuous and sparse naturalrepopulation. The study of the causes of this threatening scenario is scarce and discouraging, insufficient to propose appropriatesolutions. This motivated the present analysis of silvicultural conditions, present regeneration and basic aspects of reproductivebiology in three natural populations from Oaxaca, Puebla and Guerrero. Very few trees ha-1 (36 to 45) were found, with fewfemales (35%). Diameters ranged from 5 to 35 cm, with maximum heights from 10 to 14 m. The regeneration in Chiautla was 21individuals ha⁻¹, while in Los Cués and Xalitla no regeneration was found. When reviewing the reproductive biological factors ofthe species, it was observed that the stages of flowering, fruiting and seed dispersal are seriously limited by low rainfall and theoccurrence of these in short, rare and irregular pulses. The flowering potential is high and increases with the diameter of the femaletrees, but the conversion of flowers to full and viable fruits produced is limited by the rainfall regime. Germination is notablydecimated by the frugivorous activity of birds and mammals. The new plants are trampled and browsed by livestock and wildmammals. The simultaneous occurrence of some or all of the limitations dangerously endangers populations. Assisted propagationis suggested to guarantee the permanence of the species.