Research PaperGenetic diversity and the quality of Mangabeira tree fruits (Hancornia speciosa Gomes - Apocynaceae), a native species from Brazil

- Mangaba is a fruit native to Brazil and it has economic and industrial importance.
- Thirty-six genotypes were analyzed for genetic diversity using ISSR marker.
- The quality attributes of the fruits were analyzed.
- High vitamin C content values were found in mangaba fruits.

The mangaba is a native Brazilian species of socioeconomic importance and with a great appeal for the conservation of its genetic resources. The fruit is rich in nutrients, especially ascorbic acid. Because the species' areas of natural occurrence have decreased rapidly, the Embrapa Coastal Tablelands has maintained it in the Mangaba Active Germplasm Bank (AGBMangaba), in Itaporanga D'Ajuda, Sergipe, Brazil, since 2006, in an attempt to conserve its genetic resources. The objective of the present study was to estimate the genetic diversity and fruit quality of six bank accessions (BI, CA, LG, PR, PT, and TC) from the states of Bahia and Sergipe, aiming at the selection of promising material for genetic improvement. Twenty ISSR markers were tested, and 12 were selected to evaluate genetic similarity, which allowed the identification of three distinct groups. The longitudinal and transversal diameters were measured, and fresh mass content, the number of seeds, pH, soluble solids content, titratable total acidity, and vitamin C content were evaluated. The quality of these accessions was evident; the BI, CA, PR, and PT accessions showed the highest values of vitamin C content, which is a characteristic of interest in both genetic improvement programs and agroindustry.