Theobroma grandiflorum explained

Theobroma grandiflorum, commonly known as cupuaçu, also spelled cupuassu, cupuazú, cupu assu, or copoazu, is a tropical rainforest tree related to cacao.[1]

Distribution

Native and common throughout the Amazon basin, it is naturally cultivated in the jungles of northern Brazil, with the largest production in Pará, Amazonas and Amapá, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. The pulp of the cupuaçu fruit is consumed throughout Central and South America, especially in the northern states of Brazil,[2] and is used to make ice creams, snack bars,[3] and other products.[4] [5]

Description

Cupuaçu trees usually range from NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) in height, though some can reach 20m (70feet). They have brown bark, and the leaves range from NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) long and NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) across, with 9 or 10 pairs of veins. As the trees mature, the leaves change from pink-tinted to green, and eventually they begin bearing fruit.[6]

Flowers of cupuaçu are structurally complex, and require pollination from biotic vectors.[7] The majority of cupuaçu trees are self-incompatible, which can result in decreased pollination levels, and consequently, a decrease in fruit yields. Pollination can also be negatively affected by environmental conditions. Pollinators, which include chrysomelid weevils and stingless bees, are unable to fly between flowers in heavy rains.

The white pulp of the cupuaçu has an odour described as a mix of chocolate and pineapple and is frequently used in desserts, juices and sweets. The juice tastes primarily like pear, banana, passion fruit, and melon.[8] [9] Chocolate made from cupuaçu, very similar to that made from cocoa, is called cupulate.[10]

Cultivation

Cupuaçu is most commonly propagated from seed, but grafting and rooted cuttings are also used.[11]

Cupuaçu trees are often incorporated in agroforestry systems throughout the Amazon due to their high tolerance of infertile soils, which are predominant in the Amazon region.

Cupuaçu is generally harvested from the ground once they have naturally fallen from the tree. It can be difficult to determine peak ripeness because there is no noticeable external color change in the fruit. However studies have shown that in Western Colombian Amazon conditions, fruits generally reach full maturity within 117 days after fruit set.[12] Brazilians either eat it raw or use it in making sweets.[13]

Commercial food products include pulp and powder.[14]

Pests and diseases

Witches' broom (Moniliophthora perniciosa) is the most prominent disease that affects cupuaçu trees.[15] It affects the entire tree and can result in significant loss of yields and even tree death if left untreated. Regular pruning is recommended to reduce the severity of this disease in cupuaçu plantings.

Cupuaçu supports the butterfly herbivore, "lagarta verde", Macrosoma tipulata (Hedylidae), which can be a defoliator.[16]

Phytochemicals

Cupuaçu flavors derive from its phytochemicals, such as tannins, glycosides, theograndins, catechins, quercetin, kaempferol and isoscutellarein.[17] It also contains theacrine, caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline as found in cacao, although with a much lower amount of caffeine.[18] [19] [20]

Cupuaçu butter

Cupuaçu butter is a triglyceride composed of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, giving the butter a low melting point (approximately 30 °C) and texture of a soft solid, lending its use as a confectionery resembling white chocolate.[1] The main fatty acid components of cupuaçu butter are stearic acid (38%), oleic acid (38%), palmitic acid (11%), and arachidic acid (7%).[21] [19]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/1492/cupuacu.html . Cupuaçu . Neglected Crops: 1492 from a Different Perspective . J.E. Hernándo . Bermejo . J. . León . Plant Production and Protection Series No. 26 . FAO . Rome, Italy . 205–209 . Giacometti . DC . 1994 . 978-92-5-103217-6 .
  2. Web site: Cupuaçu - the taste of the Amazon - Kew. kew.org. 28 October 2018.
  3. News: Cupuaçu: Brazil's new alternative to chocolate. Catherine. Balston. Johanna. Derry. 17 April 2014. The Guardian. 28 October 2018.
  4. Prazeres . Isadora Cordeiro dos . Domingues . Alessandra Ferraiolo Nogueira . Campos . Ana Paula Rocha . Carvalho . Ana Vânia . Elaboration and characterization of snack bars made with ingredients from the Amazon . Acta Amazonica . June 2017 . 47 . 2 . 103–110 . 10.1590/1809-4392201602203 . free .
  5. Web site: Brazil: Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition. b4fn.org. 28 October 2018.
  6. Web site: Theobroma grandiflorum Cupuassu, Cupuacu PFAF Plant Database. pfaf.org. 28 October 2018.
  7. Venturieri . Giorgini Augusto . Flowering levels, harvest season and yields of cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) . Acta Amazonica . March 2011 . 41 . 1 . 143–152 . 10.1590/S0044-59672011000100017 . free .
  8. Silva . F.M. . Silva . C.L.M. . Note. Quality evaluation of cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) purée after pasteurization and during storage / Nota. Calidad del puré de cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) después de la pasterización y durante su almacenamiento . Food Science and Technology International . February 2000 . 6 . 1 . 53–58 . 10.1177/108201320000600108 . 98661637 .
  9. Teixeira . Maria Francisca Simas . Andrade . Jerusa Souza . Fernandes . Ormezinda Celeste Cristo . Durán . Nelson . Lima Filho . José Luiz de . Quality Attributes of Cupuaçu Juice in Response to Treatment with Crude Enzyme Extract Produced by Aspergillus japonicus 586 . Enzyme Research . 2011 . 2011 . 494813 . 10.4061/2011/494813 . 22114735 . 3206358 . free .
  10. Pensamento Verde, 12 May 2014. "Frutas brasileiras: Descubra os benefícios do cupuaçu" (in Portuguese) Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  11. Schroth. G.. 2000. Growth, Yield and Mineral Nutrition of Cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum) in Two Multi-Strata Agroforestry Systems on a Ferralitic Amazonian Upland Soil at Four Fertilization Levels. Journal of Applied Botany.
  12. Hernández L . Claudia . Hernández G . María Soledad . Growth and development of the cupuaçu fruit (Theobroma grandiflorum [Willd. Ex Spreng.] Schum.) in the western colombian Amazon ]. Agronomía Colombiana . January 2012 . 30 . 1 . 95–102 . .
  13. Web site: This Brazilian Fruit Makes Beer, Ice Cream, and Faux Chocolate. Atlas Obscura. 28 October 2018.
  14. Silva . Alessandra Eluan da . Silva . Luiza Helena Meller da . Pena . Rosinelson da Silva . Comportamento higroscópico do açaí e cupuaçu em pó . Hygroscopic behavior of açaí and cupuaçu powders . pt . Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos . December 2008 . 28 . 4 . 895–901 . 10.1590/S0101-20612008000400020 . free .
  15. Alves . Rafael Moysés . Resende . Marcos Deon Vilela de . Bandeira . Bruna dos Santos . Pinheiro . Thiago Martins . Farias . Daniella Cristina Raiol . Evolução da vassoura-de-bruxa e avaliação da resistência em progênies de cupuaçuzeiro . Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura . December 2009 . 31 . 4 . 1022–1032 . 10.1590/S0100-29452009000400015 . free .
  16. Lourido . Gilcélia . Silva . Neliton M. . Motta . Catarina . Parâmetros biológicos e injúrias de Macrosoma tipulata Hübner (Lepidoptera: Hedylidae), em cupuaçuzeiro [Theobroma grandiflorum (Wild ex Spreng Schum)] no Amazonas . Biological parameters and damage by Macrosoma tipulata Hübner (Lepidoptera: Hedylidae), in cupuaçu tree [Theobroma grandiflorum (Wild ex Spreng Schum)] in Amazonas, Brazil . pt . Neotropical Entomology . February 2007 . 36 . 1 . 102–106 . 10.1590/s1519-566x2007000100012 . 17420867 . free .
  17. Yang . Hui . Protiva . Petr . Cui . Baoliang . Ma . Cuiying . Baggett . Scott . Hequet . Vanessa . Mori . Scott . Weinstein . I. Bernard . Kennelly . Edward J. . New Bioactive Polyphenols from Theobroma g randiflorum ("Cupuaçu") . Journal of Natural Products . December 2003 . 66 . 11 . 1501–1504 . 10.1021/np034002j . 14640528 .
  18. Lo Coco . F. . Lanuzza . F. . Micali . G. . Cappellano . G. . Determination of Theobromine, Theophylline, and Caffeine in by-Products of Cupuacu and Cacao Seeds by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography . Journal of Chromatographic Science . 1 May 2007 . 45 . 5 . 273–275 . 10.1093/chromsci/45.5.273 . 17555636 . free .
  19. Book: Sira . Elevina Eduviges Prez . The Uses of Cocoa and Cupuaçu Byproducts in Industry, Health, and Gastronomy . 2018 . Nova Science Publishers . 978-1-5361-3456-8 .
  20. Taylor L, Mumford P, Roberts M, Hayward S, Mullins J, Urbina S, Wilborn C . Safety of TeaCrine®, a non-habituating, naturally-occurring purine alkaloid over eight weeks of continuous use . . 13 . 2 . 2016 . 26766930 . 4711067 . 10.1186/s12970-016-0113-3 . free .
  21. Cohen . K. de O. . Jackix . M. de N. H. . Características químicas e física da gordura de cupuaçu e da manteiga de cacau . Chemical and physical characteristics of cupuaçu fat and cocoa butter . pt . 2009 .

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