Physicochemical characterization and dietary fiber of 15 Nance (Byrsonima crassifolia L.)fruits selections from Nayarit

Nance (Byrsonima crassifolia L.)is found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. In Nayarit, Mexico, nance is mainly propagated by seed, so the fruit production comes from backyard trees. Therefore, it is extremely important to study the characteristics of nance fruits, and to propose selections that allow contributing to its genetic improvement. The objective of this investigation was to analyze the physico-chemical characteristics and dietary fiber of 15 nance (Byrsonima crassifolia L.)fruits selections cultivated in Nayarit. The fruit collection was obtained from the Germplasm Bank of the Autonomous University of Nayarit. The variables evaluated were: fresh mass, length and equatorial diameter, color, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), pulp pH, dry mass of the seed and content of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber (SDF, IDF). The results of this investigation showed that the fruits weighed from 2.3 to 8 g, with lengths from 14.5 to 22.8 mm and diameter from 15.6 to 23.7 mm (elongated and cylindrical shape), yellow color (>98 percent), TSS content of 5.4 at 11.9 with a TA of 0.29 to 2.76 percent, pulp pH from 3.07 to 4.40, whose TSS/TA ratio was from 3.7 to 40.1, which allowed classifying them by flavor (sweet, sour, bittersweet), the weight of the seed represented from 4 to 10 percent, being the pulp the edible part (89 to 95 percent)of the total weight of the fruit. The SDF content was from 8 to 11 percent, while the IDF content was from 15 to 31.82, concluding that the selections that stood out for their physicochemical and dietary fiber characteristics are UAA1, UAA6, UAAA7 and UAA15, which can contribute to genetic improvement.