Volume 48 Number 3 Article 4 Pages: 152-158
Year 1994 Month 7
Title: Amazonian Small Fruits with Commercial Potential
Authors: C.R. Clement and D.F. de Silva Filho
Citation
Abstract:
Although most native Amazonian fruit species
are trees, a few are woody or herbaceous
shrubs.
The Myrtaceae is especially rich in
small fruit species.
The araca-boi (Eugenia
stipitata McVaugh) was domesticated in western
Amazonia for its deliciously flavored, sour pulp.
The araca-pera (Psidium acutangulum DC) was
managed in swidden second-growth and around
village sites for its pleasantly flavored, sour
fruit, frequently similar in flavor to the straw
berry guava (P. cattleianum L.). The cacari or
camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (HBK) McVaugh)
is a wild species that occurs in monospecific
stands in flood-plains.
It is an extremely sour,
though pleasantly flavored fruit, with up to 4 g
of ascorbic acid per 100 g of edible pulp,
making it richer in this vitamin than the acerola (Malpighia glabra L.). The Solanaceae offers die
cubiu or cocona (Solanumsessiliflorum Dunal),
domesticated in western Amazonia and similar
in appearance to the naranjilla (S. quitoense
Lam.). Its potential yields are enormous and its
pleasantly flavored fruits are used for juices or
preserves.
The Rubiaceae contains the purui
(Borojoa sorbilis (Huber) Cuatre) and several
relatives.
Another sour fruit witn a pleasant
flavor, the purui appears to have been at least
semi-domesticated in western Amazonia also.
These species offer the potential for development as processed juices or other products, as
they are all too sour for out of hand consumption.
This paper describes each species, presents
available composition and yield data, and suggests the research necessary to develop them as
small fruit crops.
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