Colecta de frutales tropicales en El Salvador

The objective of this study was to collect, characterize and establish fruit collections of: Pouteria sapota (zapote), Manilkara zapota (níspero), Psidium sp. (guava), Spondias sp. (jocote), and Mammea americana (mamey apple). Exploration and collecting tours in several zones with a high potential for the cultivation of these fruits were undertaken. Collection site and characterization of the germplasm information was obtained. Weigth, length, diameter, germination percentage, number of seeds, flavor and color of pulp, form of the fruit, color of shell, presence of pests and diseases, and bromatological analysis were also obtained. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for minimum, maximum and average. Collections of fruit trees were established in the Centers of Technology in San Andrés, Izalco and Morazán. Zapote Magaña produced fruits with the highest weight, longitude and diameter, texture of quite fibrous pulp. Zapote valiente produced fruits with a high protein of (2.65%) content and fat (0.77%). Zapote Rivera produced fruits with the higher carbohydrate content (32,15%). Miami guava the higher crude fiber content (3,72%). The main plagues and diseases for the jocote were trips, fruit flies and anthracnoses. A collection of jocote of these types was established: azucaron, verano, pitarrillo, chapin, invierno, iguana and tronador at the Technological Innovation Center in San Andrés, La Libertad.