Intensities of thinning and pruning for the control of the Hay Tillandsia recurvata, in a forest of Pinus cembroides

Abstract

Tillandsia recurvata is a plant epiphyte not parasitic, but for some reason still not well known has become a serious health problem for different forest, resources timber and non-timber forest in Mexico and in different countries of the American continent. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different intensities of thinning and pruning of trees infested for the control of T. recurvata, after three years of having done the application of silvicultural treatments. The applied treatments were as follows: T1, 75% of pruning of infested branches; T2, 100% of pruning of infested branches; T3, 15% of thinning of the infested trees; T4, 30% of thinning of the infested trees; T5, 15% thinning more than 75% of pruning; T6, 30% of thinning more than 75% of pruning; T7, 15% thinning more than 100% of pruning; T8, 30% more pruning to 100% and T9, witness (no thinning or pruning). The treatments were distributed in a randomized experimental design with four replications using plots of 10 X 10 meters, for each treatment per replicate. The measured variables were the average number of pilling emerged in the treated trees using four linear meters, one of the shaft and three main branches. In addition were the measures plots of height and diameter of the trees sample to determine the relationship with the re-infestation of Tillandsia recurvata. The results reveal tha treatment 2, which included 30% thinning more than 75% of pruning, was that better control Hay Speck with a 14.8 average re-infestation pilling tree; the favorite part of T. recurvata for re-infestar to treated trees was the shaft and second lower branches; finally it was note that larger diameter and height of the trees was lower to re-infestatio of Tillandsia recurvate.