Características morfo-arquitecturales y fenológicas de Ugni molinae (Myrtaceae): una especie arbustiva andino-patagónica con frutos comestibles.

Abstract

Background and aims: Ugni molinae (Myrtaceae) is a shrub species native to southern Chile − where it is known as “murta” or “murtilla” − and Argentina. This study was aimed at providing morpho-architectural information about U. molinae so as to promote its cultivation and introduction in productive systems of Argentina. M&M: Observations of U. molinae were performed at different scales (plants, foliated axes and annual shoots) for plants developed in natural populations and plants derived from seeds and stem cuttings sampled at the Lago Puelo National Park and its surroundings (Chubut province, Argentina) and grown in nurseries for five years. Results: Short annual shoots of U. molinae complete their extension without branching, whereas long annual shoots may, as they extend, develop branches from intermediate and/or distal nodes. Flowering may start from the second or third year after seed germination or cut rooting. Most flowers develop at the end of spring from basal nodes of growing shoots. Plant structure changes from a clearly hierarchical to a non-hierarchical architecture in the first years of growth. Conclusions: Ugni molinae may be multiplied easily from stem cuttings and seed germination. A short internode and small green leaves associated with it are clear markers of a limit between two successive annual shoots. More detailed studies about the development and productivity of this species in Argentina are necessary in order to evaluate the factibility of its inclusion in productive systems.