Feijoa [Acca sellowiana (Berg) Burret] accessions characterization and discrimination by chemometrics

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Feijoa [Acca sellowiana (Berg) Burret] is a Brazilian native fruit with few commercial-level plantations and high agroindustrial potential. A genotype evaluation experiment was conducted from 1996 onward, aiming to obtain fruits based on the agronomical parameters; however, the selection based on chemical composition had not been evaluated with respect to developing a new cultivar. Accordingly, the present study aimed to discriminate seven accessions of feijoa in terms of nutritional composition, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity using multivariate analysis (principal component analysis and multivariate contrast), targeting the potential production of a new cultivar with better nutritional value and high antioxidant capacity. RESULTS: Feijoa husk presented high content of ashes, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity compared to feijoa pulp. However, only feijoa pulp was selected to multivariate analysis because it is the fruit edible part. Data variability was explained in 78% and the feijoa pulp accessions were discriminated into four groups related to their characteristics. The accession 5 discrimination can be explained by the high content of ashes, carbohydrates, soluble solids, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Accession 6 was also discriminated by the high content of total acidity, pH and proteins, as well as a low content of soluble solids. CONCLUSION: Feijoa accessions may be indicated for increasing plant selection via hybridization with the other accessions, aiming to produce new cultivars with better nutritional composition and antioxidant capacity. For example, accession 5 is the most suited fruit for human consumption and is a potential plant with respect to becoming a new cultivar.

Chemometric approach based on multivariate analysis for discriminating uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis Cambess) fruits during the ripening stages: Physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity

“…2 Brix (fresh weight, f.w.). 3 g citric acid 100 g À1 pulp (fresh weight, f.w.). 4 mg ascorbic acid 100 g À1 pulp (fresh weight, f.w.).…”

“…Brazilian biodiversity presents a range of native fruits, which are not entirely known by the population. For instance, feijoa ( Acca sellowiana ), uvaia ( Eugenia pyriformis Cambess), Rio Grande cherry ( Eugenia involucrata ), butiá ( Butia eriospatha ), gabiroba ( Campomanesia reitziana ), araçá ( Psidium cattleyanum ), blue passion fruit ( Passiflora caerulea ), and pitanga ( Eugenia uniflora ) are some examples of native's fruits from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest with high potential for agro‐industrial processing 3,4 . Therefore, innovative studies should be conducted with these plant materials, aiming to disseminate the knowledge about the native's fruits to produce new agro‐industrial products to the worldwide population, becoming a promising resource with the economic potential to the local population 5 …”