Abstract

ARRIOLA PADILLA, Víctor Javier et al. True mistletoes of the trees of Mexico City. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.19, pp.34-45. ISSN 2007-1132.

In recent years, the green areas of Mexico City have shown problems of true mistletoes on the trees. Lack of knowledge about the species and distribution has limited research in this issue. The main objective of this study was to develop a methodology to determine the distribution of the species of mistletoe in urban areas of Distrito Federal. With the help of experts on mistletoe taxonomy all the species collected in the study area were identified. The infestation degree was assessed with a qualitative scale of five levels. The mistletoe species, Cladocolea loniceroides, Phoradendron velutinum and Struthanthus interruptus were found in seven of the 16 total delegations over 17 host species of 10 botanical families. From 2 653 host species sampled, 112 showed mistletoe (4.22%). Cuauhtémoc delegation had the highest level of infestation of trees or shrubs per cent (14.2%). With the levels that were set, results were distributed as follows: 95.77% belong to level I; 2.1% to level II; 1.6% to level III; 0.5% to level IV and 0% to level V. The information of this study will facilitate management programs and monitoring of mistletoe in the Mexico City green urban areas.

Keywords : Cladocolea loniceroides (Tiegh.) Kuijt; mistletoe; sampling; Phoradendron velutinum (DC.) Oliv.; parasitic plants; Struthanthus interruptus (Kunth) G. Don.

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