TRATAMIENTOS DE POSCOSECHA EN ÁRBOLES DE NAVIDAD DE Pinus ayacahuite Ehren Y Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco

Abstract

A major problem in postharvest-management of Christmas trees is leaf loss due to dehydration or water loss. Many studies have been carried out to determine the efficacy of antitranspirants in forest species, but they revealed inconsistent results. In Mexico, buds of Christmas-trees that have been cut down keep growing, thus postharvest management is more difficult in terms of water and leaf maintenance. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of postharvest treatments (two kinds of antitranspirants and immersion of trunk base in water), to improve postharvest conditions in two provenances of Pinus ayacahuite and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Terrenate, Tlaxcala and Huayacocotla, Veracruz). A completely randomized design was used with two replicates and the variables measured were initial and final weight, final weight of abscised leaves, total humidity, twig humidity, as well as leaf color. Analyses of variance and comparisons of means were performed. The best treatment was the immersion of the trunk base in water, which reduced the fall of leaves, maintaining total and twig humidity with a slight chromaticity and luminosity-changes of leaves. The best results were found in Pseudotsuga menziesii from Terrenate, Tlaxcala.