Cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum DUNAL): An Amazonian native medicinal plant in process of selection for cultivation in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

Cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum) is an Amazonian native fruit that was domesticated by the South American Indians. This species, depending on the cultivated genotype, could produce from 40 to 100 ton fruit/hectare. The fruits of that bushed Solanaceae are rich in fibers, proteins, vitamins and mineral salts, that are used by regional populations as a phytotherapic (to control diabetes, uric acid, cholesterol, burnings and skin micosis). This is the reason why this important genetic resource could be economically explored by the Amazonian society. This research aimed to select genotypes of cubiu adaptable to Manaus edafoclimatic conditions. 28 ethnovarieties from different places of the Brazilian, Peruvian and Colombian amazon were evaluated. The experiment was carried out the experimental station for vegetables at INPA, Manaus, in utissol yellow red, allic, sandy texture of low fertility. It was adopted the delineated experimental of randomized blocks with 28 ethnovarieties and four repetitions represented by six useful plants fertilized only with organic matter, on a spacement of 1.0 × 1.5m. The following characteristics of the fruit: shape, length, width, pulp thickness, average weight, number of loculis, juice volume of loculis cavity, peel weight and humed seed weight. The variance analysis detected significative differences for all quantitative studied characters. The ethnovarieties showed nine different fruit shape, varying in number of 4 to 89 fruit/plant, average weight of 20.2g to 301.0g/plant, in estimated yield of 12.0t, 16.0t and 18.0t of small, medium and large per hectare, respectively. The phenotypic variation of fruits of the genetic material researched allowed the selection of various genotypes that could be used immediately for cultivation, or improvement programs of the species, in order to attend, in the future, the necessities of the agroindustries established in the Amazon.