Cedrela (odorata)
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Kevyn Wightman Tropical Forester and Nursery Specialist Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Carr Sur, km 12.8 Managua, Nicaragua, Rhode Island 505-265-7303 kevyn@ibw.com.ni www.rsabg.org |
| Family Scientific Name: | Meliaceae | ||
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| Scientific Name: | Cedrela odorata | ||
| Common Name: | Spanish cedar; cedro | ||
| Ecotype: | tropical evergreen and deciduous forests | ||
| General Distribution: | Spanish cedar is a fast-growing, early- successional species generally distributed between 24 N and 27 S latitudes from 0-1500 m elevation in the neotropics. It is present in upland areas of both evergreen and semi-deciduous rain forests. Growth may be optimum in areas of strong seasonal drought (4-5 months) and about 1,500 mm of annual rainfall. It grows well on calcerous soils with good drainage, but not on acidic, excessively dry, or waterlogged soils. During the dry season, leaves are shed. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Time To Grow: | 3 Months | ||
| Target Specifications: | For bare root stock, 91-122 cm height is recommended with 13-19 mm root collar diam (rcd). For container grown stock, (polybag or rigid containers), minimum size is 40 cm height and 8 mm rcd. | ||
| Propagule Collection: |
C. odorata is monoceious with perfect flowers and are insect pollinated. Flowering period varies greatly by region. In Mexico, flowering begins in June. After fertilization, fruit requires 7-8 months to mature. Annual fluctuations in flower and fruit production are common. Trees begin producing seed at 10-15 age yrs, or 30 cm dbh, earlier in open areas. Each woody capsule contains 25 - 40 winged seeds that are wind dispersed. One kg may contain between 16,000 - 60,000 seeds with an average of 32,000-40,000. Due to the abundance of seeds per tree (several hundred thousand), nurseries often derive their entire production from one or two trees greatly reducing genetic diversity. Seeds should be collected while pods are still closed, but brown in color, when wings are brown not green, using extendable pruners, otherwise they are difficult to find and rot quickly on the ground. Seeds should be placed on plastic mats or screens to ripen in the sun, (avoiding rain) allowing them to break open naturally. An unfortunate, but common practice is to scale the trees and cut whole branches with a machete eliminating flowering 5 years or longer. |
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| Propagule Processing: | Germination is epigeal and rates are high with fresh seed, 90% on average, but drop greatly when stored under ambient conditions. Seed purity is 40-70%. Nonetheless, seeds are considered orthodox. By 3-4 months, less than 50% germinate, by 6 months almost none. Seeds have been successfully stored in airtight containers at 5 C with 7% humidity for up to 2 years with 50-60% germination. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | Seeds do not require pre-treatment due to their high germination rates. Sowing depth is shallow, 1 cm. Germination begins 1-2 weeks after sowing. An unfortunate, but common practice is to germinate seeds in beds then `prick out' or transfer seedlings to containers that result in j-rooting of the tap root. Direct sowing in containers is recommend to avoid this problem. Nonetheless, unfortunately, many nursery guides continue the standard recommendation of using germination beds and pricking out with the appearance of the first true leaves. | ||
| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
Spanish cedar is commonly grown in bareroot beds, but also transplanting naturally regenerated seedlings, or branch and stem cuttings are possible. Stems appear to store water (some look like upside down carrots), which probably facilitates use of cuttings and bare root plants. In many community nurseries, soil fertility is not maintained and natural shade trees compete for water, sun and nutrients. Seedling densities should be under 200 plants per m, but are often over-stocked. Root pruning is not done, and roots are not dipped in clay solutions or wrapped for transport all of which greatly improve seedling survival. Production in polybags with soil and no organic additions is common (see description under Swietenia macrophylla ). Substrates studies were conducted by Wightman and Cruz (in review) using different local soil and organic material mixtures, granular fertilizer and copper treated (Spinout) polybags (Negreros and Wightman, in prep). In both bare root beds, and in poly bags, seedling growth was significantly better with the addition of composted vegetation and manure. Granular fertilizer did not increase growth as well as composted substrates, probably because they did not improve soil physical or biological properties as well as the composts. After two years' field growth, trends continued. Root length and stem diameter were smaller in copper treated bags. A mixture of 50% compost and soil is recommended for polybags. |
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| Establishment Phase: | Seedlings should be shaded during germination, but shade can be removed gradually once cotyledons appear. Germination rates without shade are poor probably also due to higher evaporation of soil water. | ||
| Length of Establishment Phase: | 1 month | ||
| Active Growth Phase: | Seedling should be grown in full sun. The lethal leaf fungus Cereospora sp. was detected in nurseries in the Yucatan, and should be treated with Previcur (Propamocarb clorhidrato 64%), and (Carbendazim 2 Metatoxicarbonilamino). Given the positive response to compost, organic or inorganic fertilizers should be applied. Foliar micronutrient solutions are regularly applied (1 l per 200 l of water), but rates have not been tested. Seedlings are vulnerable to leaf cutter ants; nests should be destroyed (difficult). Occasionally Hypsipyla grandella is present in nurseries and can be easily controlled with systemic insecticides. | ||
| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 2-3 months, longer when not grown with compost | ||
| Hardening Phase: | Generally, seedling should receive less water one month before going to the field. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | 1 month | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: | Only the best plant should be taken to the field; 10% of the crop should be culled. Trees should not be stored from one nursery season to the next. Trees should be well-watered before transport. Trees should be planted at the beginning of the rainy season to maximize growth. However, in many areas, farmers traditionally plant crops during this time, and trees are planted near the end of the rains. | ||
| Length of Storage: | no more than one season | ||
| Other Comments: |
The name cedar is derived from its aromatic wood and reddish brown wood, used for cigar boxes and clothing chests because of it naturally repels insects. The flowers and seeds also have a strong bitter odor. The wood is slightly lighter than mahogany, but equally prized for its workability for furniture and cabinetry. Similar to big-leaf mahogany, the major pest is Hypsipyla grandella. During several generations a year, moths deposit their eggs nocturnally on non-lignified shoots where larvae tunnel downward causing dieback of new growth and subsequent forking. While the insects do not kill the tree, the economic loss due to lost growth and lack of straight bole development is great. Systemic insecticides, the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, the fungus, Beauveria bassiana have been used with some success, but they are generally too expensive or inaccessible to the many small farmers in the tropics. A combination of selected genotypes, frequent pruning, management of shade and lateral vegetation may be the best silvicultural recommendations. Few commercial plantations have been successfully established in Latin America. |
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| References: |
Burns R, Mosquera M, and J Whitmore. 1998. Useful trees of the Tropical Region of North America. North American Forestry Commission Publ. No. 3. Lamprecht H. 1989. Silviculture in the Tropics. GTZ, Germany. 296 pp. Monsalvo, VS, Estrada V. 1998. Microorganismso para controlar el barrenador de brotes del cedro rojo y caoba. INIFAP Veracruz, Mexico.Follecto Tecnico # 25. Patino-Valera F. 1997. Recursos geneticos de Swietenia y Cedrela en los Neotropicos: propuestas para acciones coordinadas. FAO, Rome. 58 pp. Salazar R. 2000. Manejo de semillas de 100 especies forestales de America Latina. Vol. 1. CATIE, Costa Rica. Wightman KEand B Santiago Cruz. (in review) Ensayos de substratos con cedro y caoba. |
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Citation:
Wightman, Kevyn Elizabeth. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Cedrela odorata plants Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Managua, Nicaragua, Rhode Island. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
