Caracterização intraespecífica da variabilidade biométrica de frutos em populações nativas de Camu-camu

Abstract

The camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth). Mc. Vaugh), fruit native to the Amazon basin, draws attention for its high content of vitamin C that can exceed 4000 mg in 100 g of pulp. Its economic potential is in the markets of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and nutrition, primarily in Peru and Brazil. The case of camu-camu, as in most breeding programs for native species, presents the major limitation that receive little attention and scant research experiences. The exploration, collection and conservation of the species through the Gene bank are a guarantee for performing selection among and within progenies, based on the characteristics of ideotypes for the commercial use of this fruit. In this sense, the aim of the present work the characterization of intraspecific variability of agronomic native populations of camu- camu prospected in the state of Roraima. The experimental design was randomized, were evaluated in 247 accessions from 16 populations with three replications of 10 fruits per replicate at each access. Fruits were evaluated individually height fruit, fruit diameter, average fruit weight, pulp yiel, Yield bark, seed yield, content solid solubility (expressing am ºBrix) Average number seeds per fruit and the content of ascorbic acid. Statistical analyzes were aided by multivariate technique of principal components and cluster analysis. Multivariate analyzes of components and major grouping, which allowed them to determine the most important variables and that landed the largest intraspecific variability in the characteristics evaluated. The analyzes suggest that the variable total fruit mass, pulp yield, content solid solubility , and ascorbic acid have the greatest discriminating characters for selection of intraspecific camu-camu. The populations from the region of the lower Rio Branco showed the highest levels of ascorbic acid, representing a large potential in obtaining access to this promising character.