Germination and nursery plant production of Pitavia punctata Mol., a threatened endemic Rutaceae of Chile

Abstract

Pitao is a native Chilean tree with a natural distribution restricted to a narrow range in the Coastal Cordillera. It is extremely urgent to look after this species since it's habitat has been disturbed and it is now in risk of extinction. This paper shows the results obtained in a germination tests for three provenances of the species. Germination capacity reached an average of 70%, proving that a good means of reproducing the species is through seeds. It is advisable to have early sowings in order to avoid fruit dehydration. After five months the seedlings reached an average height of 16 cm with a basal diameter of 0.45 cm. A year later, seedling mortality was very variable for the different provenances, (27 to 95%). A program to protect the species should consider the possible genetic variability of isolated natural populations.