Seed production and biological potential of three Pinus species in Durango

Abstract

This comparative study reveals the biological potential and the production of seeds of superior trees. It allows to compare the behavior of three species in the years 2013 and 2015. The characterization of the cones was made by registering the dimensions of trees of each species in both years, comparing increases or decreases in diameter and length from 2013 to 2015. Pinus engelmannii showed an increase in length of 17 mm and an increase in diameter of 19 mm, Pinus durangensis decreased 20 mm in length and increased 23 mm in diameter, and Pinus cooperi grew 4 mm in length and 13 mm in diameter. The size of the cone is related to the biological potential and the production of seed (developed seeds, DS). The biological potential of Pinus engelmannii proved to be the highest in both years, the Pinus durangensis species registered an increase from 2013 to 2015 in the same sense as Pinus cooperi. In terms of the seed production variable (developed seeds, DS) the Pinus engelmannii species exhibited no significant difference from one year to the next; however, there were no significant differences in Pinus cooperi and P. durangensis between 2013 and 2015.