First stages of growth of Brosimum alicastrum Sw. in Yucatán

Abstract

The present study shows the pattern of growth of the firsts years of Brosimum alicastrum (breadnut) developed in a commercial plantation in Yucatán, México. Trees were grown from seeds in nursery conditions and then transferred to the field. One year-old seedlings of 65 cm where transplanted in 2006, 2007 and 2009 to open-field conditions, each tree separated from the others by a 5 m distance. From 2010 to 2012, the trees were measured at the ages of 2, 4 and 5 years. Ten trees of each age were selected for the present study, and their height and stem diameter at 50cm from the ground level were measured once a month during 24 months. The growth rate of the seedlings during the first six months was found to be 65 cm year-1. Thereafter, they grew faster until the fifth year. At the sixth year, their endurance became apparent since the stem grew twice as much as during the previous years. A growth of 65 % in diameter and of 69 % in height was registered during the rainy season, compared to the growth during the dry season. This is a report on growth at the vegetative stage period, since at the beginning of the seventh year some of the trees began to bloom, signaling the end of their juvenile period.