Resumo

VARGAS-SIMON, Georgina; HERNANDEZ-CUPIL, Román  e  MOGUEL-ORDONEZ, Eduardo. Morphological characteristics of plum (Spondias purpurea L.): growing in three municipalities of Tabasco State, Mexico. Bioagro [online]. 2011, vol.23, n.2, pp.141-149. ISSN 1316-3361.

This work was carried out to describe some morphological characteristics of varieties of plum (Spondias purpurea) growing in three municipalities in Tabasco State, Mexico. We have identified four varieties according to the exocarp color: Criolla red (Cr), Criolla purple (Cm), red Tuxpana (Tr) and yellow Tuxpana (Ta). Fifteen trees were selected randomly in each municipality. In mature leaves, phyllotaxis, number, size and characteristics of the lamina of leaflets were recorded. During anthesis, the number and length of petals and stamens of the flowers, as well as the length of the pedicel were recorded. Polar and equatorial diameters of the fruits were measured, along with the percentage of edible portion. The periods for leaf abscission, flowering and fruiting were observed. The trunk diameter was maximum in Cr (32.1 cm), and minimum in Ta (23.2 cm). There were differences in size, position and shape of the leaflets among varieties. Perianth color was pale pink in Ta, clear red in Cm, and red-wine in Tr and Cr. The fruits of the Tuxpana’s were longer and with higher edible portion, with an average of 3.3 cm and 83%, respectively. The onset of flowers and fruits occurred from January to May in Cr, Cm and Tr, and from February to June in Ta.

Palavras-chave : Phenology; leaf abscission; flowering; fruiting.