Propagation methods for ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia) cultivation in San Carlos de Bariloche
FLORICULTURE | Tiscornia, V. - Sánchez, G. - Mateo, M. - Riat, M. - Arroyo, A.
Tags: Eucryphia, muermo, melliferous species, seed treatments, propagation
Eucryphia cordifolia (Ulmo), a woody species, endemic of southern Chilean Andes temperate forests, is present in Argentina between latitudes 38°S and 43°S, below 700 m above sea level. Its flowers contain an aromatic nectar, being a melliferous species. The objective of this work was to evaluate the response to agamic and sexual propagation using different pregerminative treatments. To evaluate the breaking of seed dormancy, a control (T) and 2 pregerminative treatments were carried out: cold-wet stratification for 60 days (EFH60) and soaking in gibberellic acid at a concentration of 250 ppm for 12 hours (AG₃), in a randomized block design trial. For each treatment, the germination power (PG) at tray peal date, survival percentages and growth variables: plant height and number of stems were evaluated. The germination percentages at 60 days (PG60) were 22.60% for (T), 38.90% for (EFH60), and 29.03% for (AG₃). For agamic propagation, suckers were collected and 20 cm long cuttings with 4 knots were prepared. The rooting percentage was 32% after 5 months, flowering in the second year of cultivation. It was concluded that for agamic propagation, the results are encouraging to advance in the definition of better rooting and cultivation conditions. It is also possible to propagate the species sexually, although it is necessary to evaluate other seed treatments to improve germination percentages.