Caracterização física de frutos do pequizeiro (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) no estado de Goiás

Abstract

The Brazilian Cerrado region presents large biodiversity in its ecosystem. Native fruit trees stand out, with tens of species used by locals for feeding. In the Goiás legumes and fruits victualling center (Central de Abastecimento de Goiás – CEASA), the most commercialized Brazilian Cerrado fruit is pequi. The harvest period occurs from September to February, the fruit originating from different regions of Goiás, Minas Gerais, Tocantins, and Bahia states. This research had as objective to evaluate physical characteristics of pequi tree fruits from five Goiás state regions. Three subpopulations in each region, called areas, were identified. In each area, five trees were chosen for fruit sampling. Physical characteristics analyzed were fruit mass, peel, pit, pulp and almond; fruit and pit dimensions; peel thickness and pulp color. Results indicate differences in fruits physical characteristics for regions. The edible fresh pulp represents 8.53%of fruit mass; differences in physical characteristics of fruits were observed mainly in fruits within plants, in plants within areas and among areas.