Germinación de semillas y crecimiento inicial de cuatro especies forestales nativas del bosque de Nero, provincia del Azuay

Abstract

The scarce knowledge of silvicultural protocols in the germination and initial growth of seedlings at greenhouse level is one of the most influential barriers to achieve ecological restoration. The present study described the germination and initial growth of four native forest species (Myrcianthes rhopaloides, Oreocallis grandiflora, Ocotea heterochroma, Oreopanax andreanus) from the Nero forest. The biomass was also determined at the end of the experiment. The collection of seeds of Myrcianthes rhopaloides and Ocotea heterochroma was carried out in the forests of Mazán and Llaviuco because no seeds were found in Nero. Germination was evaluated under the following factors: physiological state (mature and immature seed), imbibition (0, 24, 48 hours) and substrate (black earth + sand or peat), in Myrcianthes rhopaloides the physiological status factor was changed by site (Mazán and Llaviuco). The growth was evaluated under the following factors: substrate (black earth + silt) and sheath volume (5 cm3 × 8 cm3; 6 cm3 × 9 cm3). The highest values of germination were recorded in: black earth + sand or peat, Llaviuco site and imbibition of 0 hours for M. rophaloides and black earth + peat or sand, mature seed and 24 hour imbibition for O. grandiflora and O. heterochroma , whereas O. andreanus did not register significant differences. The initial growth showed a better response in the substrate: black earth + silt and a cover of 6cm3 × 9 cm3. Biomass registered significant differences under the shell volume factor and not under the substrate factor.