Phenological scale for the mortiño or agraz (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz) in the high Colombian Andean area

Abstract

Mortiño, Vaccinium meridionale Swartz, represents a viable alternative for fruit growing because of the presence of appropriate ecological niches and spontaneous populations in the Colombian Andean zone. The knowledge of plants’ phenology is useful to identify the response to critical periods (stages and phases) to different biotic or abiotic factors and to define agronomic practices adjusted to their requirements. Only the different phenological stages have been recognized in the mortiño; therefore, it is necessary to detail the phases within each one of them. The identification of the phenological stages and phases of the mortiño’s canopy evolution was based on the scale of the blueberries Vaccinium corymbosum. It was adjusted between 2008 and 2011 to describe in detail the phenological stages of mortiño through monthly photographic records in five natural populations of three Colombian departments; where 48 individuals were randomly identified in each one. The purpose of the elaboration of this scale was to describe and visually identify the phenological phases of natural populations in similar climatic conditions. Four stages were found, the first one comprised the vegetative button formation (VB) with 5 phases, which ends with the formation of shoots. The second stage was the development of the inflorescence (ID) distributed in 5 phases as well, from floral bud to floral anthesis. In the third stage, the floral development (FD) took place, also with 5 phases, from flowering to the beginning of berry formation. The last stage, the berries were developed (BD) through 4 phases, from fruit formation until harvest maturity.