Abstract

HERNANDEZ-GONZALEZ, Olivia; VERGARA-YOISURA, Silvia  and  LARQUE-SAAVEDRA, Alfonso. First stages of growth of Brosimum alicastrum Sw. in Yucatán. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.27, pp.38-49. ISSN 2007-1132.

The present study shows the pattern of growth of the firsts years of Brosimum alicastrum (breadnut) developed in a commercial plantation in Yucatán, México. Trees were grown from seeds in nursery conditions and then transferred to the field. One year-old seedlings of 65 cm where transplanted in 2006, 2007 and 2009 to open-field conditions, each tree separated from the others by a 5 m distance. From 2010 to 2012, the trees were measured at the ages of 2, 4 and 5 years. Ten trees of each age were selected for the present study, and their height and stem diameter at 50cm from the ground level were measured once a month during 24 months. The growth rate of the seedlings during the first six months was found to be 65 cm year^-1. Thereafter, they grew faster until the fifth year. At the sixth year, their endurance became apparent since the stem grew twice as much as during the previous years. A growth of 65 % in diameter and of 69 % in height was registered during the rainy season, compared to the growth during the dry season. This is a report on growth at the vegetative stage period, since at the beginning of the seventh year some of the trees began to bloom, signaling the end of their juvenile period.

Keywords : Brosimum alicastrum Sw.; growth; youthful stage; commercial plantation; ramón; nursery.