@article{Arroyo-Oquendo_Mora_2003, title={Phenologic aspects of the development of peach palm for heart of palm.}, volume={14}, url={https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/agromeso/article/view/11945}, DOI={10.15517/am.v14i2.11945}, abstractNote={<p>Four heart of palm varieties of peach palm</p><p>(Bactris gasipaes Kunth) in four developmental stages (3, 6,</p><p>9 and 12 months), were studied with regard to their</p><p>phenological behaviour, to complement other works</p><p>previously conducted. The study began with the description</p><p>of the physical composition of the foliar heart of palm, which</p><p>shows that the number of embryonic leaves is higher than that</p><p>of the mature leaves, and that the proportion differs with the</p><p>varieties. It diverges from the 50:50 ratio found in adult</p><p>stems. It was found that the larger number of embryonic</p><p>leaves corresponds to the varieties with highest production.</p><p>Also, the weight of the foliar heart of palm is correlated to the</p><p>sheath weight of the spear leaf as well as to the weights of the</p><p>sheaths of all embryonic leaves, the useful embryonic leaf</p><p>laminas and the weight of the .dome. (upper part of the stem</p><p>where the embryonic leaves rest). The degrees of those</p><p>correlations vary with the varieties. Number of shoots</p><p>produced per plant at those stages, which is an agronomical</p><p>important characteristic of this palm, shows a correlation</p><p>with earliness and productivity. It is suggested, that axial</p><p>leave buds of juvenil whole leaves give rise to vegetative</p><p>shoots and those from mature composite leaves to</p><p>inflorescenses. The root, stem and foliar development keep a</p><p>very precise balance throughout the first 12 months. The stem</p><p>diameter and height are correlated with production and length</p><p>of the petiole of the older leaf, which is a practical prediction</p><p>parameter to be used. According to the results obtained, the</p><p>most useful parameters in a selection program of plant</p><p>breeding are: earliness and number of shoots production,</p><p>stem diameter and height, length of the petiole of the oldest</p><p>leave and succulence/firmness of the heart of palm.</p>}, number={2}, journal={Agronomía Mesoamericana}, author={Arroyo-Oquendo, Carlos and Mora, Jorge}, year={2003}, month={Sep.}, pages={165–176} }