Fruit morphometry and dasometry of Gevuina avellana affecting seed production under quality arboriculture

El avellano chileno (Gevuina avellana) produce madera y frutos comestibles, recolectándose la producción principalmente desde bosques nativos. Para determinar si el manejo mejora la productividad frutal, el presente trabajo evaluó la forma y tamaño de árboles, la producción de avellanas y su morfometría, y el rendimiento de semilla sin cáscara en una plantación de avellanos de 21 años provenientes de dos orígenes de la Araucanía, la cual es manejada con técnicas de arboricultura de calidad orientada a incrementar el valor de la madera. Se midieron variables dasométricas, producción y morfometría de frutos, y el rendimiento de pepa en relación al fruto con cáscara en 1.000 avellanas. Se encontraron diferencias entre orígenes para la altura de los árboles, pero no para la morfometría del fruto. Se obtuvieron en promedio 20 kg de fruto por árbol, con un rendimiento en semilla sin cáscara del 35 %, variando entre avellanas del 12 % al 74 %. Los árboles más productivos tenían diámetros sobre 18,2 cm y forma equilibrada (relación H / DAP menor a 0,413). Los mayores rendimientos se obtuvieron en frutos con cáscara de peso liviano (menores a 1,33 g) y con largos bajo 18,5 mm. El avellano chileno en plantaciones manejadas supera ampliamente la producción de avellanas recolectada en bosques, con rendimientos de semilla sin cáscara superiores en frutos de menor tamaño.The Chilean hazelnut (Gevuina avellana) produces valuable timber and edible fruit in high demand. However, the development of the crop is scarce in Chile, where the production is usually harvested from native forests. In plantations, quality arboriculture practices are mainly aimed at increasing the value of timber, though their impact on fruiting is unknown. The objective of this work was to evaluate the shape and size of trees in relation to fruit production, and fruit morphometry traits in relation to kernel yield in cultivated trees. A 21-year-old plantation was evaluated, established with plants from two origins in the Araucanía region, managed with quality arboriculture techniques. Dasometric variables, production and morphometry of fruits and kernel yield in relation to the in-shell seed were measured in 1,000 hazelnuts. Differences were found among origins for tree height though none for fruit morphometric variables. On average, 20 kg of seeds were harvested per tree, with a kernel yield of 35 %, varying among seeds from 12 to 74 %. The trees with the highest seed production had diameters over 18.2 cm and balanced shape (H / DBH ratio less than 0.413). The highest kernel yields were obtained in lightweight in-shell seeds (less than 1.33 g) and with lengths under 18.5 mm. Gevuina avellana in managed plantations far exceeds the seed production harvested in native forests, with higher kernel yield in smaller seeds.Fil: Muñoz, Verónica Loewe. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Chile. Instituto Forest Biblioteca; ChileFil: Claudia, Delard R.. Instituto Forest Biblioteca; ChileFil: Del Río, Rodrigo. Instituto Forest Biblioteca; Chile. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Balzarini, Monica Graciela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola; Argentin

Potential of southern Latin-American coastal areas for stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) cropping

Stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) was introduced to Argentina and Chile approximately a century ago for several uses, mainly for dune stabilization, but not for pine nut production. Many plantations were established along the Mediterranean coastal area of both countries, where some areas have unproductive soils. The comparison of growth and fruit quality on stone pine in exotic and native environments is useful to gain insights on the potential crop areas outside the species native habitat. Accordingly, we provided a comparison of growth performance (diameter at breast height and height) and pine nut chemical composition among stone pine populations cultivated along coastal areas in Argentina and Chile. Results showed similar growth rates between countries, with these values being higher than values reported for coastal areas of Italy and Spain (native habitat), where thermal oscillations are lower and average temperatures are higher. Pine nut composition analyses highlighted an elevated high-quality fat and protein content. We conclude that stone pine could be cultivated in coastal areas of the Southern hemisphere, where the species grows vigorously and its pine nuts maintain the worldwide reported beneficial properties. The study provides information for improving forestry management in the tested areas.Fil: Loewe-Muñoz, Verónica. Chilean Forest Institute; ChileFil: Balzarini, Monica Graciela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Fitopatología y Modelización Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Delard R., Claudia. Chilean Forest Institute; ChileFil: del Rio M., Rodrigo. Chilean Forest Institute; ChileFil: Álvarez C., Andrea. Chilean Forest Institute; Chil