Introduction

Due to practicality and reliability, the indicators ‘crown condition’ and ‘tree damage’ have been used to assess the health condition of urban trees.

Objective

To determine the health condition of Ficus microcarpa L. f. trees using the indicators ‘crown condition’ and ‘tree damage’ in Cuernavaca, Morelos.

Materials and methods

A total of 387 F. microcarpa trees were assessed for the following variables: live crown ratio (LCr), crown density, crown dieback, foliage transparency, and the presence of biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic damage.

Results and discussion

In Cuernavaca, Ficus microcarpa trees have heights ranging from 3 to 5 m and diameters between 20 and 40 cm, classified as young to mature trees. Health condition of trees was considered good, with an average LCR of 70 %, crown diameter of 65 %, and dieback of 5 %, except for foliage transparency, which, at 35 %, classified the trees into a moderate health category. The most frequent tree damage was reduced living space (55.21 %) and topiary (18 %). Only 32 dead trees (8.26 %) were recorded.

Conclusion

Crown condition and tree damage indicators were used to determine F. macrocarpa health. Foliage transparency is an early stress indicator that can be attributed to damage agents, mostly of abiotic and anthropogenic origin.

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