Swietenia (macrophylla)

Kim Wilkinson Craig Elevitch Permanent Agriculture Resources P.O. Box 428 Holualoa, Hawaii 96725 808-324-4427 808-324-4129 (fax) par@agroforestry.net www.agroforestry.net

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Family Scientific Name:	Meliaceae
Family Common Name:	Mahogany
Scientific Name:	Swietenia macrophylla King
Common Name:	mahogany, Honduras mahogany, big leaf mahogany, large leaf mahogany; mahokani (Samoa, Tonga)
Ecotype:	Subtropical and tropical dry and moist forests, 0 to 1400 m elevation
General Distribution:	Native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of northern South America. Naturalized in West Indies and Puerto Rico. Because of its commercial value, the species has been introduced and is cultivated throughout the tropical world.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Seedlings have reached target when approximately 15-20 cm in height, stem diameter 8 mm, with well-formed root systems that are not root-bound but that fill out the container.
Propagule Collection:	The genetic quality of Honduras mahogany varies widely. Tree breeding and improvement projects have been underway for decades in some parts of the tropics, and select seed matched to the outplanting site conditions should be obtained if possible for best growth and yield. Time for seed collection varies by climate, generally mahogany bears seeds when the weather is dry. Fruits are collected before dehiscence. Each fruit contains around 20-65 developed seeds. Once seeds are released (usually after a few days of drying in enclosed conditions such as ventilated bags), seed wings are removed for easy handling.
Propagule Processing:	Fresh seed is usually very viable, with germination about 75-80%. For practical purposes, mahogany is a recalcitrant seed and should be planted fresh, ideally within 8 weeks of collection. However, some research projects are demonstrating that in controlled, cool environments in hermetically sealed containers, seeds can retain viability for up to 4 years. One kilogram contains between 1,200-2,100 seeds, depending on seed size.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	No pretreatment is necessary, although soaking seeds for 12-24 hours in cool water will cause them to take on water, and hasten germination. For fresh seed collections free from insect infestations, germination is usually high, over 75-80%. Seeds can then be pregerminated on paper towels or direct sown into containers. Germination usually begins in 14-20 days from sowing, and germination can continue for up to 40 days from sowing date. From personal experience, it seems that often the seeds that germinate earliest or at the peak of germination time produce more vigorous plants than the later-germinating seeds.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Seedlings are grown in full sun in an uncovered growing area. Containers used are Ray Leach SC-10 Cells or Economy Super Cells (available from Stuewe & Sons, Inc.) 21 cm deep and 3.8 cm diameter. A well-drained potting media such as 50% Sunshine peat moss, 25% perlite, 25% vermiculite, amended with a little compost, dolomite lime, gypsum, micronutrients, Osmocote 14-14-14 is used. Potting media should also be inoculated with VAM (mycorrhizal fungi), available from commercial suppliers and garden centers.
Establishment Phase:	Pregerminated seeds are placed in containers filled with premoistened potting media and covered with about 5mm of potting media and a thin layer of mulch (such as #2 poultry grit). Water with a fine-headed sprayer to keep moist. Full sun is best. Daily water is usually necessary, by hand or with an automated system.
Length of Establishment Phase:	3 - 6 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Seedlings can be grown in full sun. After about ten weeks, seedlings are double-spaced to allow maximum penetration of sunlight and air circulation. This will make the growing environment less hospitable to fungal pathogens, a problem with mahogany in wet areas. Amending with additional fertilizer such as a light top dressing of Gro-More 8-8-8 will aid in growth and development. If any weeds enter the soil-free media, they should be removed.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3 -4 months
Hardening Phase:	Growers should continue to ensure that seedlings receive full sun. Seedlings should never be allowed to dry out, but watering frequency may be reduced to introduce seedlings to temporary, moderate water stress. During the hardening phase, N fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated in fertilizer applications.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	When seedlings have reached target size, they may be delivered to the planting site. They are not extracted from their container or stored before shipping. Keeping seedlings in their container is necessary to protect the roots. Containers may be stood up in cardboard boxes, or delivered in trays. Seedlings must be protected from wind and excessive heat during transport, but refrigeration is not recommended. Empty containers and trays may be returned after the planting is complete.
References:	Bauer, G.P. and J.K. Francis. 1996. Swietenia macrophylla. Institute of Tropical Forestry, Rio Piedras, PR. Soerianegara, I., and R.H.M.J. Lemmens, Eds. 1994. Plant Resources of Southeast Asia No. 5(1): Timber Trees: Major Commercial Timbers. PROSEA, Bogor, Indonesia. Rocas, A.N. 2002. Swietenia macrophylla. In: Vozzo, J.A., ed. Tropical Tree Seed Manual. USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC.

Citation:

Elevitch, Craig R.; Wilkinson, Kim M.. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Swietenia macrophylla King plants Permanent Agriculture Resources Holualoa, Hawaii. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/11/22). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.