MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SAPOTE MAMEY [Pouteria sapota (Jacquin) H.E. Moore & Stearn] IN THE CENTRAL-WESTERN REGION OF MICHOACÁN, MÉXICO

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate quantitative and qualitative characteristics of 44 genotypes of sapote mamey [Pouteria sapota [(Jacquin) H.E. Moore & Stearn] of the Central-Westers region of Michoacán, México. Clusters analysis of data indicated six distinct groups with 6, 5, 11, 13, 6 and 3 trees. Canonical discriminant analysis along with F and χ² tests detected the most important variables affecting group differentiation. These were fruit weight, length, and diameter, mesocarp width and weight, fruit length to diameter ratio, fruit shape, texture and flavor. The first canonical discriminant function (CDF1) explained 92 % of the accumulated variation among groups. Fruit weight, mesocarp width and mesocarp weight were dominant on the CDF1 (standardized canonical coefficient = 4.09, - 3.9 y 1.78, respectively), therefore these morphological variables should be used as parameters for selecting mamey trees with uniform fruit quality for either direct consumption or processing. The origin of the genetic materials, however, was not related to the obtained classification. These results provide the first reported indepth insights into the genetic diversity of sapote mamey for fruit production in Michoacán.