Abstract

PINEDA-HERRERA, Elizandro; VALDEZ-HERNANDEZ, Juan Ignacio; PEREZ-OLVERA, Carmen de la Paz  and  DAVALOS-SOTELO, Raymundo. Phenology, diameter growth and periodicity of Hura polyandra in Costa Grande, Guerrero, Mexico. Bot. sci [online]. 2015, vol.93, n.4, pp.741-753. ISSN 2007-4476.  https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.221.

Phenology Hura polyandra Baill. was evaluated in a semideciduous tropical forest of Azueta Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, recording bimonthly for two years: falling leaves, flowering, fruiting and leaf sprout, correlating these variables with precipitation and temperature. Diameter trees were associated with phenology. Using dendrometer bands growth diameter was measured every two months for two years, establishing six diameter categories, three symmetries and three crown lighting, adjusting the growth increments to a mathematical model. Growth periodicity was determined by performing markings on the cambium of a tree at 1.30 m (DBH) every two months and obtaining the corresponding slice at the end of the experiment to determine whether annual rings were formed. Hura polyandra defoliates from March to May, flowers from March to July, bear fruits from March to September and sprouts the leaves from July to January. Significant correlations occurred between the development of leaves buds with precipitation (P ≤ 0.01) and flowering with temperature (P ≤ 0.01). The growth is higher and significant (P ≤ 0.001) in diameter categories 10, 15 and 20 cm. Crown lighting helps significantly (P < 0.01) greater increases in diameter. In the study area, this species forms an annual ring.

Keywords : Dendrometer bands; crown lighting; tropical semideciduos forest; crown symmety; Zihuatanejo de Azueta.