Phenological performance of 23 Leucaena spp. accessions.

Twenty three Leucaena spp. accessions of a collection of 180 were evaluated, in order to characterize the performance of their phenological patterns in the establishment stage; the plants were sown at a distance of 6 x 3 m between rows and between plants. The number of pinnae per leaf and of pinnule per pinna was counted; in addition, the length and width of the pinnule were measured, and the quantity of legumes per capitulum, the length and width of the pods were determined. The form of the pinnae, the type and position of the glands and the color of he flowers were taken into consideration. The emergence of flowers and fruits was different among the species of this genus, and it occurred only annually in some of them. The accessions of each species had a similar performance, in the rainy, as well as the dry season, except L. diversifolia CIAT-17503, L. macrophylla CIAT-17233 and L. esculenta CIAT-17229 (which remained in vegetative stage). Likewise, the individual flowers of the Leucaena species and accessions were observed to be generally small. It is concluded that there are differences among the species and accessions evaluated in this stage; as well as in the performance of their flowering and fructification patterns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]