Multiplicacion por estacas, calidad de semillas y características de frutos de poblaciones de Ugni Molinae Turcz (Myrtaceae) del Parque Nacional Lago Puelo

Abstract

Ugni molinae Turcz. (Uñi, Family Myrtaceae) is an endemic shrub of Chile and Argentina with interesting properties in its leaves and fruits. In Chile its fruits are commercialized, but in Argentina this resource is unknown. This work intends to begin the study of the multiplication, the quality of the seeds and the characteristics of the Uñi fruits of the Lago Puelo National Park (PNLP) in order to evaluate their productive potential. A reproduction test was carried out by stakes and aerial development in semi-controlled conditions with or without commercial rooting (EC, indolebutyric acid). In addition, the following were evaluated: quality of seeds (in weight and germination); weight, polar and equatorial diameter, soluble solids (ºBrix), titratable acidity and pH of the fruits; number of fruits per plant and size of plants. 80% of rooting was obtained with EC and 66% without EC. The aerial development was greater in the stakes with EC. On average, 38.8% of the seeds germinated and the weight of 1000 seeds was 0.855g. The characteristics of the fruits were, on average: equatorial diameter = 7.1 mm, polar diameter = 6.0 mm, weight = 0.20 g, ºBrix = 19, pH = 3.6 and acidity = 5.25 g / l. The plants measured about 1.5 m in height, 13 mm in trunk diameter and 0.6 m in width, and had 57 fruits per plant. It is concluded that Uñi can be multiplied by stakes with or without EC, although the application of EC favors the aerial development. The quality of the seed is good but it varies between zones. In comparison with the results obtained for Uñi in Chile, the fruit production and the chemical characteristics of the fruits in the PNLP were good, but not their physical characteristics.