Abstract

DIAZ ARIAS, Daniela; TORRES, Yanina; ITHURRART, Leticia  and  CADILLO, Daniela. Reproductive possibilities of Schinus johnstonii (Anacardiaceae), a native species to the Argentine Monte. Lilloa [online]. 2020, vol.57, n.2, pp.125-143. ISSN 0075-9481.  http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30550/j.lil/2020.57.2/4.

Schinus johnstonii F. A. Barkley (Anacardiaceae) is a native shrub to the Monte Phytogeographic Province, where it represents an important component of rangelands. Its tolerance to drought and abundant flowering, render it a good option for landscaping and land restoration projects on degraded and deforested areas. For such purposes, information about its reproductive possibilities is needed. The objectives of this work were to determine the basic requirements for seed germination (sexual reproduction) under laboratory conditions, viability and to analyze the survival of cuttings (vegetative reproduction), under controlled conditions and different treatments. The collected seeds were subjected to six pre-germination treatments: intact exocarp (control), exocarp removal (bare), bare seeds with mechanical scarification, bare seeds with chemical scarification, bare seeds with soaking and bare seeds with exposure to smoke. Germination was only observed in seeds without exocarp. Bare seeds germinated after 10 days, with a maximum value of 38%, with no differences between treatments. In addition, a significant proportion of non-viable or empty seeds (30-40%) was observed. The vegetative reproductive study, with cuttings collected during the vegetative and reproductive phenological stages, with and without rooting hormone, resulted in a low percentage of regrowth (20%), with no differences between treatments. According to these results, seeds of S. johnstonii would present physical dormancy imposed by the seed coat (overcome by the removal of the exocarp). The reproduction of this shrub by cuttings is not recommended, although further studies are suggested.

Keywords : Dormancy; vegetative reproduction; pre-germination treatments; viability.

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