Abstract
Tucuma (Astrocaryum aculeatum G. Meyer) is an oil palm tree with great economic potential. The oil of its pulp and seed of its fruits are used for the production of biofuels in Brazil, and the fruit characterization in natural populations is required to obtain important information for the genetic improvement of this species. The objective was to evaluate physical characteristics of A. aculeatum fruits and seeds in the northern Brazilian Amazon. Physical parameters of tucuma fruits and seeds in pasture areas were evaluated in the southern state of Roraima. Samples of 1000 fruits in full maturity stage of 50 plants were submitted to characterization and evaluation of morphology based on ten physical parameters. A. aculeatum fruits and seeds showed variability in the evaluated characteristics, useful to utilize in genetic improvement programs. The parameters with greater variability were the weight of the fruit, the seed coat, the wet seeds, the pulp and the thickness of both the pulp and the seed coat. Due to the high correlation between the weight and diameter of the fruit, and the weight and diameter of the seed in fruits and seeds of A. aculeatum, indirect diameter selection using the weight and vice versa can be realized, reducing work on assessments in fruits of this species.
Highlights
La pulpa del fruto es sabrosa y se consume al natural, es rica en B-caroteno, proteínas, minerales, lípidos, carbohidratos, aceites y fibras
The oil of its pulp and seed of its fruits are used for the production of biofuels
Physical parameters of tucumã fruits and seeds in pasture areas were evaluated in the southern state of Roraima
Summary
La Amazonia presenta innumerables especies nativas de plantas frutícolas con potencial económico, tecnológico y nutricional, que originan el interés de estudios científicos en diversas áreas. A partir de la década de los años 1990, las formas de uso de la pulpa de A. aculeatum se han diversificado en la alimentación, aumentando la demanda por el fruto (Ramos et al, 2011), en tanto la escasez de estudios referentes al cultivo de la especie y la ocurrencia de pocas áreas plantadas contribuyen para que prácticamente toda la producción provenga de la actividad extractiva (Elias et al, 2006). Los frutos del tucuma presentan diferencias en forma, tamaño y sabor, y además sus semillas poseen un gran valor artesanal y comercial (Miranda & Rabelo, 2006). Según Oliveira et al (2003) el género Astrocaryum se constituye por gran cantidad de especies y estas presentan alta heterogeneidad que se relaciona con factores genéticos y ambientales, tales como el tipo de suelo, clima y periodo de fructificación que podrían ser determinantes en diferencias de tamaño, peso y constitución de los frutos. El objetivo fue evaluar las características físicas de frutos y semillas de A. aculeatum en la Amazonia Septentrional brasilera
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