VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF ABOREAL SPECIES OF ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE IN THE TROPICAL DRY FOREST

The tropical dry forest is an important source of resources for the communities established in its surroundings. However, it is considered among the most threatened ecosystems due to anthropogenic activities. Because of the problems of deforestation and biodiversity loss, it is necessary to implement conservation systems and strategies that include the propagation of native species from cuttings. Since desired characteristics can be maintained, and long growth periods be avoided, thus permitting a greater number of plants in a short period of time. The objective was to establish a method of vegetative propagation for three tree species, Bursera copallifera, Bursera fagaroides and Ipomoea murucoides with different ecological characteristics. The cuttings were obtained from trees of the tropical dry forest of the state of Morelos, Mexico. In order to evaluate the survival of the cuttings, it was related to the diameter, height and presence of leaves for each tree species in a one-year greenhouse experiment. The survival of the cuttings was compared among species with the Cox proportional hazards model. After one year, 79 %, 39 %, and 9 % of the cuttings of B. fagaroides, B. copallifera, and I. pauciflora survived, respectively. The presence of leaves had a significant effect on the survival of the cuttings, but neither the diameter nor the length of the cuttings affected their survival in the greenhouse. This information may help with the conservation of the tropical dry forest and the sustainable management of tree species with ecological and commercial importance.