Resumen

MARTINEZ, Armando J.; SAINOS, Pilar; LEZAMA DELGADO, Ernesto  y  ANGELES-ALVAREZ, Guillermo. Size matters: the Juniperus deppeana Steud. (sabino) big fruits are more sensitive to insect depredation. Madera bosques [online]. 2007, vol.13, n.2, pp.65-81. ISSN 2448-7597.  https://doi.org/10.21829/myb.2007.1321229.

The relationship between fruit size of Juniperus deppeana and damage caused by seed predator insects, in a forest fragment of Juniperus deppeana (sabino), typical of the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico was analyzed. Female trees were selected to quantify fruit maturation. Their availability were classified into three categories: small (5 to 9 mm), medium (10-12 mm), and large (13 to 15 mm). At the same time, the amount and density of intact fruits and those presenting insect damage were quantified on five different samplings. Between 21-46 of the individuals presented fruits in 50 to 70% of the tree (by visual estimation). Also, categories of 5 to 30% of galbule abundance in the crowns were presented in 19 to 31 of the female individuals during the five different dates when the per cent quan- tifications were made. Female individuals produced fruits continuously from august 2004 to august 2005. Although there was always a wide availability of large, medium, and small fruits, the first ones were the most damaged, since up to 30% of the fruits in that category presented exit holes caused by seed- predator insects.

Palabras llave : Reproductive biology; fruit productivity; seed-predator insects; Juniperus deppeana; sabino.