ESTUDO DE GENÓTIPOS DE PUÇÁ ‘COROA DE FRADE’ DA VEGETAÇÃO LITORÂNEA DE BEBERIBE-CE

Abstract

The Ceara State has a variety of species of non-traditional fruits that are consumed in natura and/or processed by local population, with economic potential for agro-industrial processing, however, still poorly studied. In this context, the aim of this research was to evaluate the genetic variability of puçazeiro ‘Coroa de Frade’, native tree from coastal vegetation of Beberibe, Ceará, Brazil, by physico-chemical and chemical characteristics of their fruits. Fifteen genotypes were evaluated. The traits analyzed were: soluble solids (SS), titrable acidity (TA) (% of citric acid), pH, SS/TA ratio, total sugars, reducing sugars, starch and, total and soluble pectin. The genotypes were characterized as a good alternative to the market of exotic fruits, showing high values of SS (20,40 a 31,00 °Brix) and low mean values of titrable acidity (0,27 a 0,58 % of citric acid), producing SS/TA ratio ranged between 37,5 and 102,43, with emphasis on the genotype '8', which pre- sented SS/TA ratio of 95.05. The genotypes showed fruit netting with high starch (> 1%). The values of total pectin (0.35 to 0.98%) and soluble pectin (0.13 to 0.74%) reinforcing the use of this fruits in the industry, with low cost to manufacture of candy and jellies. The repeatability analysis showed that most of the observed varia- tion among genotypes is associated with the genetic component. Therefore, it can be concluded that the studied genotypes of puçazeiro 'Coroa de Frade' showed wide genetic variability and have fruits indicated even for fresh consumption as well as for processing.