Productive potential of cones and seeds of two species of the Pinus genus

Abstract

It is important to have forest seeds in sufficient quality and quantity in order to alleviate and reverse the processes of deforestation and land use change that occur at local, national and global levels; therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the productive potential of cones and seeds in two pine species of the El Salto region in Pueblo Nuevo, Durango, Mexico. A total of 63 specimens of Pinus cooperi and 53 of Pinus durangensis were sampled; an average of five cones were collected from each individual, and the total number of the remaining cones in the whole crown of each tree was counted; the length, diameter and biological potential of each cone was determined, and the seeds were classified as infested, aborted and viable, based on X-ray tests. The results showed that only 17 % of the P. cooperi and 21 % of P. durangensis seeds in the region are viable, 34 % and 27 %, respectively, are aborted, and 49 % and 52 % are infested with pests. No statistical differences were found for the variables of the cones and seeds in P. durangensis (α≤0.05 %); however, for P. cooperi, statistical differences were obtained in cone length, biological potential, and developed seeds.