Genetic variability of Cedrela odorata Linnaeus: results of early performance of provenances and families from Mesoamerica grown in association with coffee

摘要

Cedrela odorata Linnaeus is a highly valued forest species, chiefly because of its high quality wood. It has been severely extracted in natural forest and is considered endangered in Mesoamerica. Plantations of the species are difficult to establish because of the severe attack of the shootborer Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller) Lep., Pyralidae. Due to the wide range of distribution of the species and its high morphological variability, there are possibilities of obtaining provenances/families of good growth, which are more resistant to the attack of the shootborer. We studied the early performance of 115 families of 21 Mesoamerican provenances of the endangered species C odorata when grown in association with coffee. The results present a new way to conserve genetic resources and their efficient use.