RESEARCH ARTICLE Degree of Hybridization in Seed Stands of Pinus engelmannii Carr. In the Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, Mexico Israel Jaime Ávila-Flores1, José Ciro Hernández-Díaz2, Maria Socorro González-Elizondo3, José Ángel Prieto-Ruíz4, Christian Wehenkel2* 1 Doctorado Institucional en Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Apdo, Postal 741, Zona Centro, Durango, Durango, México, C.P., 34000, 2 Instituto de Silvicultura e Industria de la Madera, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Apdo, Postal 741, Zona Centro, Durango, Durango, México, C.P., 34000, 3 CIIDIR Unidad Durango, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Sigma 119 Fracc, 20 de Noviembre II, Durango, Durango, México, C.P., 34220, 4 Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Blv. Durango y Ave, Papaloapan s/n. Col. Valle del Sur, Durango, Durango, México, C.P., 34120 *
[email protected] Abstract Hybridization is an important evolutionary force, because interspecific gene transfer can introduce more new genetic material than is directly generated by mutations. Pinus engel- OPEN ACCESS mannii Carr. is one of the nine most common pine species in the pine-oak forest ecoregion Citation: Ávila-Flores IJ, Hernández-Díaz JC, in the state of Durango, Mexico. This species is widely harvested for lumber and is also González-Elizondo MS, Prieto-Ruíz JÁ, Wehenkel C used in reforestation programmes. Interspecific hybrids between P.engelmannii and Pinus (2016) Degree of Hybridization in Seed Stands of arizonica Engelm. have been detected by morphological analysis. The presence of hybrids Pinus engelmannii Carr. In the Sierra Madre in P. engelmannii seed stands may affect seed quality and reforestation success.