Abstract

AULAR, Jesús et al. Fruit characterization of four pasifloras from the Venezuelan Andes. Bioagro [online]. 2004, vol.16, n.2, pp.137-142. ISSN 1316-3361.

In the Venezuelan Andes exist different species of the Passiflora genus with high agronomic potential. The objective of this paper was to study fruit characteristics of P. ligularis Juss, P. mollisima HBK Bailey and P. mixta L. from Táchira State, and P. quadrangularis L. from Mérida State. Physical and chemical characteristics of the edible portion of the fruit were evaluated in samples collected through a completely randomized design. Among the first three species, P. ligularis showed the highest values of fresh mass, diameter, and skin thickness, but the lowest juice percentage. This species presented the highest total soluble solids (TSS), the lowest acidity and highest TSS/acid ratio as well, which explains its consumption as fresh fruit. P. mollisima showed the highest fruit length and P. mixta the lowest. With regard to P. quadrangularis, fruits showed large fresh mass and dimensions, but low juice percentage. The mesocarp represented 84.4% of the fruit; however, this high value should not be considered a waste since the skin is consumed in conjunction of the aril. TSS and acidity of the aril were much higher than those of the mesocarp. It is concluded that fruits of these four species have different and very particular characteristics.

Keywords : Passifloraceae; fruit quality; postharvest attributes.