Segundo Lenin Prado Rodríguez, Digmar Alfredo Lajones Bone
In Ecuador there are limited efforts to establish seed sources for the production of reproductive genetic material of native forest species capable of generating quality production in a timely manner. The species of the study were selected from the remaining forest of the Mútile Tropical Botanical Garden, which due to its conservation status has species of commercial value. Currently, the use of reproductive material of proven genetic quality in native forest species is limited. The availability of qualified seed sources is the first step in genetic improvement for the production of quality reproductive material. The objective of this work is to contribute to the conservation of seed sources of native forest species of commercial value that meet the phenotypic, phytosanitary and dasometric conditions acceptable for the development of forest genetic improvement programs. Three seed sources of commercially valuable species were established: laurel (Cordia alliodora), guachapelí (Pseudosamanea guachapele) and Fernán Sánchez (Triplaris cumingiana), consisting of 114 trees on 20 hectares. Phenotypic, phytosanitary and dasometric characteristics of the trees were evaluated. The phenotypic evaluation showed that 73 trees achieved a rating of Excellent Trees and 41 trees have a rating of Good Trees. The laurel species has the highest number of trees evaluated (42 individuals), followed by guachapelí (38 trees) and Fernán Sánchez (34 individuals). The seed-producing source corresponds to the genetic category of Identified Seed Source.