Radiación solar y calidad de planta en una plantación de vara de perlilla (Symphoricarpos microphyllus H. B. K.)

vara de perlilla or rejagar (symphoricarpos microphyllus h.b.k.) is a shrub that prospers among pine, oak and spruce forests; it is used in christmas crafts and brooms, for local use and sale in cities. in this study, an analysis was made of the effect of radiation and seedling quality on the survival and growth of the shrub, for commercial plantation. in la mesa, san josé del rincón, estado de méxico, méxico, a plantation was established with two seedling qualities: small (20 to 35 cm) and large (45 to 60 cm). of each quality, 450 shrubs were planted, of six months of age, under three conditions (pine plantation, oak forest and a control without tree canopy). the experimental design was complete randomized blocks. morphological variables were measured and hemispherical digital images were taken to calculate solar radiation with the hemiview program. average annual survival was 96.4 % in both seedling qualities, and decreased slightly with the highest level of shade. the morphological variables presented higher values with 6000 mj m 2year-1of total solar radiation.