Genetic improvement program of Prosopis in northeastern Brazil.

This paper reports the strategies of the genetic improvement program carried out by EMBRAPA, for the Psosopis species. The results obtained with the introduction of species from different ecological zones in the world are presented, as well as the tecnhiques of asexual propagation to establish a clonal seed orchard. Sixteen species of Prosopis from several provenances were introduced from Peru, Argentina, Chile, Senegal, Pakistan, Mexico, Cape Verde, Paragyay, Honduras and United States of America, from 1984 to 1994. The best species established in term of survival and growth were P. juliflora, P. pallida, P. velutina, P. glandulosa, P. cineraria and P. affinis. Aspects of wood and fodder production and quality of some Prosopis species are also presented.