Distribución de plántulas y germinación de semillas del lúcumo chileno (Pouteria splendens) en Los Molles, Chile

Pouteria splendens (Chilean lúcumo, red wood) is an endemic and endangered tree from Central Chile. It is the only member of the Sapotaceae family in the country and little is known about his life cycle. In this work we described the spatial distribution of seedlings in the biggest remained population of the species, and we investigated the effect of the water availability, presence of pericarp in the seeds and the leaf litter on the capacity of germination in the species. Seedling density was higher under the canopy of mother plants, than outside its. Only water availability had a signifi cant effect on the germination. The species has the potential to regenerate, in future plans of conservation and restoration of the species must take advantage the nurse effect of the canopy.