Evaluation of Adaptive Responses of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels Progenies Based on Dasometric Traits
(1) Background: <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels, native to the Andes, is highly valued for its quality wood, medicinal uses, edible fruits, and natural dyes. However, its population has been greatly reduced due to overexploitation, becoming threatened and resulting in genetic stochastici...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Plant Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2037-0164/16/1/26 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | (1) Background: <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels, native to the Andes, is highly valued for its quality wood, medicinal uses, edible fruits, and natural dyes. However, its population has been greatly reduced due to overexploitation, becoming threatened and resulting in genetic stochasticity. Therefore, a prompt ex situ and in situ conservation effort is needed for its conservation and restoration. (2) Methods: A total of 439 trees of <i>J. neotropica</i> Diels were sampled from selected individuals across the northern and central regions of Ecuador. These trees were planted in a randomized complete block design to assess their growth and genetic variability. (3) Results: Annual average tree growth varied significantly among progenies. Based on their dasometric traits, two distinct groups were identified as superior and surveillance. Five trees demonstrated promising traits (TJ182, ChL2314, ChL142, TJ1310, and BSM14), suggesting potential for inclusion in forest genetic improvement programs. (4) Conclusions: Fifteen percent of individuals from the five studied provenances exhibited desirable dasometric characteristics and high-quality wood. In addition, several individuals within the progenies exhibit resistance to biotic agents, indicating a genetic potential for disease. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2037-0164 |