Abstract
Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) - a common tropical palm has high social, economic, and environmental importance in the Amazon region. In the light of increasing exploration to obtain the fruit and heart of this palms, comprehensive studies are warranted for conservation and genetic improvement. Here, we characterized açaí accessions using phenological, morphological, and agronomic descriptors and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers for joint selection of accessions with greater productivity. Hundred accessions were analyzed using 18 morphoagronomic descriptors and 13 RAPD markers. The spathe and inflorescence emission phases during flowering and fruiting showed seasonality. Based on the coefficient of variation and mean squared error, the accessions exhibited high variability in the tested morphoagronomic descriptors and were distributed into seven groups. Fruit, seed, and pulp weights were important descriptors for the distinction of accessions and identification of those with greater productivity. The accessions presented >85% similarity, and 85 accessions, distributed in nine subgroups, could not be differentiated using RAPD markers. There was no correlation between grouping based on morphometric descriptors and RAPD markers. Panicle weight was 3.9-9.0 kg in 15 accessions and 100-fruit pulp weight was 35-50 g in six accessions. Therefore, accessions with high productivity could be selected.
Highlights
Euterpe species (Arecaceae) have high economic, social, and environmental relevance in the Amazon region (Heijink et al, 2020)
Recent years have been marked by the rising production and consumption of açaí palm products, due mainly to the way paved by the ‘preto’ variety in the domestic and international market following the recognition of its pulp as a functional food that is rich in anthocyanins, calories, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and fibers (Cedrim, Barros, & Nascimento, 2018)
Average number of rachillas from panicles harvested during the study period Average length of the rachis per panicle harvested during the study period Obtained as the ratio of fruit weight per panicle (FWPP) and total panicle weight (TPW), expressed as a percentage
Summary
Euterpe species (Arecaceae) have high economic, social, and environmental relevance in the Amazon region (Heijink et al, 2020). Recent years have been marked by the rising production and consumption of açaí palm products, due mainly to the way paved by the ‘preto’ variety in the domestic and international market following the recognition of its pulp as a functional food that is rich in anthocyanins, calories, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and fibers (Cedrim, Barros, & Nascimento, 2018) This increase in production has resulted from simultaneous movement for greater exploitation of native stands and expansion of planting areas (Lindolfo, Matos, Pereira, & Fernandes, 2020). Planting and characterization of accessions in germplasm banks are alternatives to prevent the loss of genetic resources Morphoagronomic descriptors, such as tillering and fruit production, as well as DNA-based molecular markers for polymorphism have been employed to characterize accessions deposited in germplasm banks and support breeding programs aimed at improved fruit yield (Galate, Mota, Gaia, & Costa, 2014; Yokomizo, Farias Neto, & Oliveira, 2016; Farias Neto, 2019). In the present study, we characterized açaí accessions using phenological, morphological, and agronomic descriptors and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers for joint selection of accessions with higher productivity
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