root and callus development in cuttings of seven species of the genus bursera

Abstract

In spite of its importance and diversity, species of the genus Bursera are not propagated extensively in Mexican nurseries, and there are few available studies on its propagation. To develop methods of propagation of native tree species for ecological restoration of tropical dry forests, a preliminary study was conducted on callus and root production in cuttings of Bursera lancifolia, B. longipes, B. fagaroides, B. bicolor, B. glabrifolia, B. copallifera, and B. bipinnata in response to two treatments: application of indolebutyric acid (IBA) powder (1500 and 10 000 ppm) and a control, with 15-18 cuttings per treatment. The cuttings were kept four months in bags with a sand, black earth and compost substrate in a rural nursery of Huajintlan, SW of the State of Morelos. The bags were in the open with regular irrigation and no control of environmental humidity. The percentage of callus formation was high (27-85%) in six species. The species with higher root production were B. fagaroides (70%) and B. glabrifolia (51%). In these species, as in B. copallifera (18%), root production did not increase with the application of IBA. In B. lancifolia (27%) and B. bipinnata (29%) there was not significant response in roots production with IBA application. Root production was low in B. longipes and B. bicolor (9 and 11%).