干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Provided that the Opuntia ficus-indica is the main producer of fruit and forages, it has been the object of extensive research. Besides, another species Tacinga inamoena, native plant, which its fruit has been used as an alternative food source can also be found in the semi-arid northeastern region of Brazil. However, this native plant had not been the object of any research yet. The aim of this work is to evaluate its industrial and nutritional potential through the organoleptic, physical, chemical characteristics, nutritional content and mineral composition. The Quipa shows organoleptic characteristics similar to other fruit of the same gender. Its edible portion, pulp and fleshy pericarp, corresponds to 62, 8% of the total fruit weight. As regard to chemical composition, the pulp differs significantly from the fleshy pericarp, the latter showing higher content of minerals among them calcium, magnesium and potassium with values of 587,04mg, 257,02mg and 318,01mg, respectively. The results showed that Quipa is appropriate for consumption in natura and shows industrial potential.