Abstract
BackgroundFor the first time, a morphometric characterization of chaura (Gaultheria pumila) fruits has been conducted between natural populations growing in the Villarrica National Park, Araucania Region, Chile. Chaura is a native Ericaceae from Chile that produces aromatic and tasty fruits which could be of agricultural interest.ResultsTo influence the decision for a further domestication of G. pumila, both the fruit sizes (indicator of productivity) and the nutritional properties of the fruits have been determined from different subpopulations. Samples were a total of 74 plants and 15 fruits per plant which were randomly harvested following its natural distribution around the Villarrica volcano. Altogether, fresh weight, shape, color, diameter in the pole and the equatorial dimensions were determined as phenotypic traits of the G. pumila fruits. Meanwhile the total soluble solids, anthocyanin and pectin contents were calculated as nutritional traits of the Chaura fruits. Results showed a high phenotypic diversity between the sampled population with three main fruit shapes and three predominant colors. The round shapes were the most abundant, whereas a significant correlation was found among fruit size with weight and color. The highest fresh weight (597.3 mg), pole diameter (7.1 mm) and equatorial diameter (6.5 mm) were estimated in the pink color fruits.ConclusionsThe total amount of anthocyanin was higher in red fruits, while the maximum pectin content was obtained in the round white fruits. Overall results must pave the way for a further domestication and introduction of the Chaura species in the agro-productive system in Chile.
Highlights
For the first time, a morphometric characterization of chaura (Gaultheria pumila) fruits has been conducted between natural populations growing in the Villarrica National Park, Araucania Region, Chile
The results show that the fruits of Chaura have an important content of pectins, reaching about 3% of fresh weight pectins compared to 12% for the pectin content in the orange peel
This paper deals with the first morphometric analysis and phytochemical study in Gaultheria pumila (Chaura) fruits from a wild species from Chile commonly known as Chaura
Summary
A morphometric characterization of chaura (Gaultheria pumila) fruits has been conducted between natural populations growing in the Villarrica National Park, Araucania Region, Chile. The species produces fleshy, flavored and aromatic fruits and inhabits the Andes mountains; its distribution ranges from the Region Metropolitana (33°26′ 16′′ S; 70°39′ 01′′ W) in the North to Region de Magallanes (53°9′ 45′′ S; 70°55′ 21′′ W) in the South [1]. Chaura berries in their natural habitat have been found for the wide variety of shapes and. Tocopherols, tricotrienols, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and tannins can be considered among the most important plant derived antioxidants [10,11,12]. These compounds have been associated with anticancer activity, since they can assist complementary mechanisms of defense such as the induction of metabolizing enzymes and modulation of gene expression, cell proliferation and apoptosis [13]
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