Morphological characterization of Matisia cordata Bonpl. in a tropical dry forest from Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract

Characterization of plant genetic resources is the first step to conserve plant diversity. Morphoagronomic characterization is a method that requires a selection of sensible descriptors, which are characteristics that define a phenotype. Sapodilla (Matisia cordata Bonpl.) is a plant genetic resource and is an important part of the agricultural tradition of the nearby western of Antioquia (Colombia). However, the lack of scientific information about this species shows that it is an underutilized fruit. The local community, in its traditional knowledge, recognizes two phenotypes of sapodilla: Creole and Ecuadorian. The phenotypic diversity of 100 trees of M. cordata was evaluated from 28 morphoagronomic descriptors. The Gower distance and UPGMA method were used to determine the diversity and make the dendrogram, respectively. The Bayes methodology was used to obtain the highest posterior density intervals of 95% probability and compare both phenotypes. Trees of the Creole phenotype had elliptical crown and acute shaped fruits, whereas the Ecuadorian phenotype presented a pyramidal crown and diverse fruit shapes. The Creole phenotype had stems with larger diameter at chest height (28.8 cm), more knots (10 cm), smaller leaves (25 cm), lighter fruits (301 g), larger peduncles (15.6 mm), smaller (40 mm) and lighter seeds (30 g), and an epicarp and a darker pulp than the Ecuadorian phenotype. The farmers’ local knowledge was partially confirmed since most of the descriptors coincided with the local perception, except descriptors of color and flavor of the pulp.