Effect of different concentrations of ethylmethanesulfonate (ems) on seeds and balsa seedlings (Ochroma pyramidale Cav. Ex Lam.), teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) and melina (Gmelina arborea Roxb.) in the nursery stage.

Abstract

The absence of genetic improvement in forest species of commercial interest such as balsa (Ochroma pyramidale Cav. Ex Lam.), teak (Tectona grandis L.f) and melina (Gmelina arborea Roxb.), widely cultivated in Ecuadorian territory, it can be attributed in large part to the scaza implementation of innovative techniques such as the induction of mutagenesis, which can lead to a series of changes morphological and physiological benefits to improve agronomic behavior. In the absence of mutagenic protocols of proven efficacy in these species, the present investigation sought to evaluate, through three independent trials, the effect of the application of different concentrations of the mutagen ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) on the growth of balsa, teak and melin seedlings in nursery stages, , which has been successfully tested in different plant species. The experimental part was carried out in the greenhouses of the company Plantabal S.A., located at km 4.5 of the Quevedo – Valencia Way, province of Los Rios. Each trial used a completely random design, with four treatments (T1: 0.0% EMS, T2: 0.3% EMS, T3: 0.6% EMS, T4: 1.0% EMS) and five repetitions.