Selection of Alnus acuminata Kunth seed trees in the Northern Peruvian Andes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v17i95.1625Keywords:
seed trees, seed quality, morphological characteristics, selection criteria, genteic improvement, phenotypic variabilityAbstract
The restoration of high-Andean ecosystems requires adapted and traceable genetic material to ensure sustainable outcomes under climate change. The study aimed to identify and select Alnus acuminata seed trees based on phenotypic attributes in a region of the northern Peruvian Andes, using morphological, dendrometric, health and seed-quality criteria. A total of 204 trees were assessed across 18 locations, and 34 seed trees were selected using a scoring system; whose consistency was evaluated with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p<0.001). The seeds exhibited high physical and physiological quality, with an average purity of 81.51 %, a germination rate of 82.64 %, and an average emergence time of 11 days. K-means cluster analysis (K=3) and ANOVA (p<0.001) identified three phenotypically distinct groups based on size and volume, enabling the definition of productive classes applicable to restoration and genetic improvement programs. Correlations between germination and environmental variables were low, suggesting a limited influence of this factors. These findings confirm the reliability of the selection criteria and demonstrate the potential the selected seed trees to provide traceable forest reproductive material (FRM) of consistent quality, thereby contributing to the sustainability and resilience of Andean forests.
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