Parámetros de calidad poscosecha de frutas comercializadas en las ferias de la Amazonía ecuatoriana.

Abstract

In the present study, quality parameters of fruits marketed in Ecuadorian Amazonian fairs were measured through physical and chemical characteristics to establish a precedent of the biodiversity of edible fruits in the region. For the research, were collected fruits from the main native fairs of 6 provinces in Ecuadorian Amazon region (Sucumbíos, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe). Subsequently, physical characteristics of fruits were measured, such as diameter, height, weight and color. Also, chemical characteristics of the fruits were measured such as: soluble solids, titratable acidity and maturity index. The results showed that 57 edible fruit species, distributed in 20 families, were collected in fairs of the provincial capitals. In the physical characteristics except color, 17 fruit species were identified under the classification of Ecuadorian Standardization Service (INEN), of which 12 fruits are within the classification. In the physical characteristic of color, it was observed by colorimetry the fruits collected had yellowish red and yellowish green tones. In the results of the chemical characteristics of the fruits, it was identified that, in soluble solids borojó was the fruit with the highest Brix value (27.56), and small pumpkin was the fruit with the lowest value (0.01). In titratable acidity, the fruit with the highest acidity was lemon (11.49), and custard apple was the fruit with the lowest acidity (0.09). In the maturity index, guabilla had the highest index (141.62), while arazá had the lowest index (0.016). It is recommended the participation of collaborators for studies involving destructive methods on fresh fruits. The current research can be complemented with an ethnobotanical study, or a study on the nutritional composition of the fruits.