Crecimiento, supervivencia y arquitectura de plantas de murta (ugni molinae turcz) derivadas de esquejes y semillas, en la comarca andina del paralelo 42° S.

Abstract

The murta (Ugni molinae Turcz.) Is a shrub species native to Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia that produces attractive reddish berries of intense aroma. Studies on its chemical composition have shown that both fruits and leaves contain phenolic compounds and anthocyanins with antioxidant and antibacterial activity. It is researched for productive and domestication purposes in different countries, and the domestication of local ecotypes could mean an alternative of agroecological diversification to take advantage of this resource of great productive potential. The objective of the following study is to analyze the survival, growth and architecture of plants derived from cuttings (PDE) and plants derived from seed (PDS), from of native populations of Lago Puelo National Park (Argentina), during the period comprised between October 2015 and November 2016. One hundred PDE and 162 PDS of 6 months of age were placed in 1.5 l pots with a substrate formed by black earth, compost of vegetal residues and forest mulch. The PDS were developed in a greenhouse with an irradiance of 38% and the PDE were placed in the nursery under two irradiance conditions (E1 = 35% and E2 = 6%). Survival was 43.2% for PDS, while in PDE it was 65.8% for E1 and 89.5% for E2. The averages (± standard deviations) of stem length were: 120 ± 63 mm for PDS, 217 ± 115 mm for E2 and 371 ± 71 mm for E1. The averages (± standard deviations) of stem diameter were: 2.0 ± 0.5 mm for PDS, 2.4 ± 0.6 mm for E2 and 3.6 ± 0.7 mm E1. The growth expressed by the plants during the trial was satisfactory, in addition the murta presents high tolerance to cultural work of ringing and transplanting. The branching patterns obtained in this study show a clear shrub behavior. Based on the results obtained, multiplication is advised by stakes rather than by seeds. It highlights the sensitivity of the murta to frost, this could mean that its development in Argentina is restricted to protected cultivation or agroforestry systems