*Corresponding author:fernando.sanchez@utm.edu.ec

Keywords:

Patate

Guayabo del país

Goiabeira serrana

PCA

Multivariate analysis in the characterization of feijoa fruits (Acca sellowiana [O. Berg] Burret)

in Tungurahua, Ecuador

Análisis multivariante en la caracterización de frutos de la feijoa (Acca sellowiana [O. Berg] Burret)

en Tungurahua, Ecuador

Análise multivariada na caracterização de frutos de feijoa (Acca sellowiana [O. Berg] Burret) em

Tungurahua, Equador

Augusto Rodrigo Palacios-Villacrés

Fernando David Sánchez-Mora

Rubens Onofre Nodari

Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(2): e254219

ISSN 2477-9407

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47280/RevFacAgron(LUZ).v42.n2.III

Food technology

Associate editor: Dra. Gretty R. Ettiene Rojas

University of Zulia, Faculty of Agronomy

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Facultad de Posgrado, Universidad Técnica de Manabí,

Ecuador.

Facultad de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad Técnica

de Manabí. Lodana, Ecuador.

Programa de Pós-graduação em Recursos Genéticos

Vegetais, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC),

Florianópolis, Brasil

Received: 11-02-2025

Accepted: 14-03-2025

Published: 14-04-2025

Abstract

The feijoa (Acca sellowiana [O. Berg] Burret) is a Myrtaceae

native to southern Brazil and northern Uruguay. Its fruits can be

consumed fresh or processed into juice, ice cream, wine, liqueurs and

others. In Ecuador, feijoa cultivation has been reported since 1980

in the province of Tungurahua. To evaluate the morphological and

physicochemical characteristics of feijoa fruits through multivariate

analysis, fruits from 18 farms located in Tungurahua, Ecuador were

analyzed. A sample of 10 fruits per farm were analyzed in the food

processing laboratory of the Tungurahua Higher Technological

Institute. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were

employed for data evaluation. The fruits exhibited an oboval shape

with erect sepals, moderate skin roughness, and white pulp. Fruit

diameter ranged from 2.0 to 5.1 cm (CV=17 %), and fruit length

ranged from 2.46 to 10.1 cm (CV=16.2 %), indicating variability

in fruit size. Fruit biomass ranged from 8 to 133 g, with pulp yields

between 4.6 % and 46.2 %. Total soluble solids ranged from 8.0

to 20 °Brix; the pH and titratable acidity (citric acid percentege)

averaged 3.5 and 0.50, respectively. Fruit length and diameter

showed a high correlation with fruit biomass. PCA identied the

formation of three groups of producers, based on fruit size.

This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.

Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(2): e254219 April-June. ISSN 2477-9409.

2-7 |

Resumen

La feijoa (Acca sellowiana [O. Berg] Burret) es una mirtácea

nativa del sur de Brasil y norte de Uruguay, sus frutos pueden ser

consumidos in natura o procesados como jugo, helados, vinos,

licor, entre otros. En Ecuador desde 1980, se reportan cultivos de

feijoa en la provincia de Tungurahua. Con el objetivo de evaluar las

características morfológicas y físico-químicas de los frutos de feijoa

mediante análisis multivariante, se evaluaron frutos provenientes de

18 ncas ubicadas en Tungurahua, Ecuador. Una muestra de 10 frutos

por cada nca se analizaron en el laboratorio de procesamiento de

alimentos del Instituto Superior Tecnológico Tungurahua. Para el

análisis de los datos se emplearon estadísticas descriptivas y análisis

multivariante. Los frutos mostraron un forma oboval con sépalos

erectos, rugosidad moderada en la piel del fruto y pulpa de color

blanco. El diámetro del fruto varió de 2,0 a 5,1 cm, (CV= 17 %),

con longitud del fruto de 2,46 a 10,1 cm (CV= 16,2 %) mostrando

variabilidad en el tamaño de las frutas. La biomasa del fruto estuvo

entre 8 y 133 g, con rendimientos de pulpa entre 4,6 y 46,2 %. Los

sólidos solubles totales estuvieron entre 8,0 a 20 ºBrix; el pH y la

acidez titulable (porcentaje de ácido cítrico) fueron en promedio

3,5 y 0,50, respectivamente. La longitud y el diámetro del fruto

presentaron una alta correlación con la biomasa del fruto. El PCA

mostró la formación de tres grupos de productores, en función del

tamaño de los frutos.

Palabras clave: Patate, guayabo del país, goiabeira serrana, PCA.

Resumo

A feijoa (Acca sellowiana [O. Berg] Burret) é uma myrtaceae,

nativa do sul do Brasil e norte do Uruguai. Seus frutos podem ser

consumidos in natura ou processados como sucos, sorvetes, vinhos,

licores, entre outros. No Equador, desde 1980 há registros de cultivos

de feijoa na província de Tungurahua. Com o objetivo de avaliar as

características morfológicas e físico-químicas dos frutos de feijoa

mediante a análise multivariada, foram avaliados frutos provenientes

de 18 propriedades localizadas em Tungurahua, Equador. Uma

amostra de 10 frutos por propriedade foi avaliada no laboratório

de processamento de alimentos do Instituto Superior Tecnológico

Tungurahua. Para a análise dos dados, foram utilizadas estatísticas

descritivas e análise multivariada. Os frutos apresentaram formato

oboval, com sépalas eretas, rugosidade moderada na casca e polpa de

cor branca. O diâmetro dos frutos variou de 2,0 a 5,1 cm (CV=17 %),

com comprimento dos frutos variando de 2,46 a 10,1 cm (CV=16,2

%), indicando variabilidade no tamanho dos frutos. A biomassa dos

frutos cou entre 8 e 133 g, com rendimentos de polpa variando entre

4,6 % e 46,2 %. Os sólidos solúveis totais variaram de 8,0 a 20 °Brix;

o pH e a acidez titulável (porcentagem de ácido cítrico) foram em

média 3,5 e 0,50, respectivamente. O comprimento e o diâmetro dos

frutos apresentaram alta correlação com a biomassa dos frutos. PCA

identicou três grupos de produtores com base no tamanho dos frutos.

Palavras-chave: Patate, goiabeira-serrana, guayabo del país, PCA.

Introduction

Feijoa (Acca sellowiana [O. Berg] Burret) is a myrtacea native to

southern Brazil and Uruguay, with the possibility of natural dispersal

in Argentina (Keller and Tressens, 2007; Nuñez et al., 2023). In the

center of origin and diversity it is popularly known as goiaba-do-mato,

goiabeira-serrana or guayabo del país (Puppo et al., 2014; Donazzolo

et al., 2017) and in countries where it is exotic it is known as feijoa,

guayabo de Brasil, pineapple-guava, guavasten (Parra-Coronado

et al., 2015). Due to its adaptability to dierent environments it is

commercially cultivated in New Zealand, Colombia and California

(USA), to a lesser extent in Brazil and in a dozen countries (Zhu,

2018; Sánchez-Mora et al., 2020; Vatrano et al., 2022).

Feijoa is a predominantly allogamous species with hermaphrodite

owers that presents barriers to self-fertilization such as dichogamy

by protogyny and self-incompatibility (Finatto et al., 2011); self-

compatible and self-incompatible genotypes are reported in Brazilian

germplasm and cultivars distributed throughout the world (Sánchez-

Mora et al., 2022). This temperate climate species requires cold

hours to produce fruits, in temperate or subtropical regions, plants

accumulate cold in winter to sprout, ower and fruit, while in the

Andean region they do it continuously due to the continuity of low

temperatures (Sánchez-Mora et al., 2020). In countries where feijoa

is exotic, it is planted in high regions to accumulate cold hours,

for example, in Colombia, in the Department of Cundinamarca,

cultivation has been reported at altitudes of 1,800 to 2,580 m.a.s.l.

(Parra-Coronado et al., 2015), in Mexico, state of Veracruz, feijoa

cultivation has been recorded in mountainous regions above 1,300

m.a.s.l. (González-García et al., 2018).

Brazil and Uruguay type genotypes are recognized in feijoa,

which dier in their distinctive characteristics in fruits, seeds and

leaves, as well as in their geographic distribution pattern (Rivas et al.,

2024). Several studies showed that fruits of the Uruguay type were

smaller in size and presented greater pericarp thickness (Nodari et

al., 1977; Amarante et al., 2008). For example, Borsuk et al. (2017)

studying 18 natural populations of feijoa in southern Brazil, found

two Uruguay type populations (QLCG and QLPT) that diered in

several characteristics, with emphasis on lower total fruit, pericarp

and pulp biomass, where only total soluble solids values were higher

in Uruguay type plants.

Feijoa fruits stand out for their high biological value due to

the presence of β-carotene, R-active agents, vitamin C and B5,

polyphenols (avones), dietary ber, minerals (such as potassium),

as well as for presenting a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity,

which is why they can be considered as potential raw material for the

food and nutraceutical industry (Belous et al., 2014; Zhu, 2018; Phan

et al., 2019). All parts of the feijoa plant exhibit eective antioxidant

activity (between 81.5 and 91.3 %); however, peel extracts have

slightly higher antioxidant activity compared to leaf and pulp extracts

(Karslı, 2021).

Feijoa fruit peel has potential for the extraction of functional

ingredients (polyphenols and pectins), while other parts of the plant,

such as leaves and shoots, contain relevant bioactive compounds,

including polyphenols (phenolic acids and avonoids) and non-starch

polysaccharides such as pectin (Zhu, 2018). In the study of Sganzerla

et al. (2020), feijoa peel presented the highest content of ash, lipids,

proteins, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity

compared to feijoa pulp. The peel our is rich in dietary ber (45-48

%) and the predominant monosaccharides include glucose (34-43 %)

and xylose (33-37 %), followed by uronic acid (9-12 %) (Almeida et

al., 2020; Cimmino et al., 2022).

Multivariate analysis examines the interrelationships between

multiple variables simultaneously, which is fundamental to

understand complex data where these variables interact and inuence

This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.

Palacios-Villacrés et al. Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(2): e254219

3-7 |

the results; this approach allows exploring patterns, relationships or

structures that are not evident to the naked eye, and can be applied

to metric, categorical or mixed data (Bartholomew, 2010). Dierent

multivariate techniques, such as cluster analysis, principal component

analysis, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, among others, have

been used for the characterization of feijoa fruits, for the identication

of replicates and quantication of genetic divergence (Saifert et al.,

2020; Sganzerla et al., 2020; Citadin et al., 2022).

In Ecuador, feijoa is still produced on a small scale and for

ornamental purposes. The regions where feijoa is grown are

Pichincha (Guayllabamba), Tungurahua (Patate) and Azuay

(Chilcapamba). However, there are few studies of feijoa, highlighting

the one conducted by Vilatuña et al. (2016) who report it as a host

of fruit ies. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the

morphological and physicochemical characteristics of feijoa fruits

present in the farms of producers in the Province of Tungurahua,

through multivariate analysis, in order to establish its potential as a

crop alternative in Ecuador.

Materials and methods

Location of the trial

It is estimated that feijoa was introduced in the province of

Tungurahua, Ecuador in the 1980s by seed multiplication. During

the months of February-April 2023, 18 feijoa producing farms were

evaluated in the province of Tungurahua, Ecuador, located in the

parishes of Patate (14 farms) and Los Andes (3 farms) of the canton

San Cristobal de Patate and in the parish Juan Montalvo (1 farm) of

the canton Ambato at an altitude ranging from 2,065 to 2,904 m.a.s.l.

(Figure 1A).

Figure 1. Feijoa cultivation in Tungurahua, Ecuador. A) Spatial

distribution of the sampled farms linked to feijoa

production; B) Characteristics of feijoa fruits and leaves.

For the selection of the farms, all the properties located in the

province of Tungurahua were considered in which the presence of

feijoa trees older than ve years was reported, whose average heights

were between 3 and 5 m. The abaxial side of the leaves in all the

trees was white with pubescence, characteristic of the Uruguay type

tree (Figure 1B). The farms presented dierent levels of agronomic

management, from those with basic practices (fertilization, pruning

and irrigation) to those with complete management, including

sanitary pest control.

Plant material

Trees with the best sanitary and productive characteristics at

the time of fruit collection were selected and numbered in order of

visits. A sample of 10 fruits was obtained from each farm, when

they presented physiological maturity (when the fruits detach easily

from the plant). The samples were taken to the food processing

laboratory of the Instituto Superior Tecnológico Tungurahua (ISTT)

for processing.

Determination of feijoa fruit characteristics

Qualitative characteristics of the fruit were determined:

fruit shape, sepal insertion, roughness, skin color and fruit pulp

(Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária [MAPA], 2020). In addition,

the physicochemical characteristics: fruit diameter (cm), fruit length

(cm) and pericarp thickness (cm) were evaluated using a digital

calibrator (Mitutoyo mt531, Japan). Fruit biomass (g), pericarp (g)

and pulp (g) were estimated with a digital balance (Mettler Toledo

model JL6001GE/A, sensitivity 0.1 g, USA). According to MAPA

(2020), pericarp thickness is the maximum width from the edge of

the locule to the skin; and fruit pulp corresponds to the locules and

the core of the fruit. Pulp yield (%) was estimated by the ratio of pulp

to fruit biomass. Total soluble solids (TSS) were measured with a

portable refractometer (Zuzi model ATC model SK-RF012, 0 to 20

% °Brix, China). To quantify the titratable acidity (TA, percentage

of citric acid), a mini titrator (Hanna model HI84532, USA) was

used, starting from 5 mL of juice extracted from the sample of the

10 fruits, which was diluted in 20 mL of distilled water; this solution

was titrated with NaOH (≥97.0 %, Fisher Scientic) at 0.1 N, until

reaching pH 8.2. The results were expressed as percent citric acid.

The pH of the sample was determined prior to titration.

Statistical analysis

For data analysis, a mixed matrix was prepared with qualitative

and quantitative data, with which descriptive statistics were

performed. Spearman’s correlation (p<0.05), heat map and principal

component analysis were determined with the quantitative data, using

the free software R Development Core Team (2024).

Results and discussion

According to the MAPA (2020) descriptors, in the province of

Tungurahua, the 18 farms were characterized by having obovate

fruits, erect sepals and white esh. In 94 % of the farms evaluated, the

fruits presented moderate roughness in the skin. On the other hand,

the color of the fruit skin showed greater variation, with 28 % of the

farms showing light green fruit, 22 % medium green fruit and 50 %

dark green fruit (Figure 1B).

The fruit biomass variable showed the greatest variation (CV=

73.1 %), while the fruit diameter and length variables showed the

least variation (CV= 15.9 %) (Table 1). Fruit diameter varied from 2

(farm F16) to 5.1 cm (farm F7) and from 3.5 (farm F10) to 10.1 cm

(farm F6) in length. Fruit biomass ranged from 8 (farm F18) to 133 g

(farm F7), showing dierent sizes (Table 1; Figure 2A).

Farms F7, F1, F11, F2 and F15 recorded the largest diameter

(3.6 ± 0.29 cm), length (7.1 ± 0.37 cm) and fruit biomass (103.8 ±

4.77 g), while farm F16 recorded the smallest diameter (2.53 cm),

length (5.14 cm) and fruit biomass (12.6 g) (Table 1). This shows that

these variables are strongly related (Figure 2A). The variables length,

diameter, fruit biomass and pulp biomass (to estimate yield) were the

main variables used to dierentiate fruits (Puppo et al., 2014).

The values of fruit diameter and length found in Tungurahua were

lower than those reported for Brazilian-type feijoa fruits and similar

to those reported for the Uruguay type and in countries where feijoa

is exotic.

This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.

Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(2): e254219 April-June. ISSN 2477-9409.

4-7 |

Figure 2. Multivariate analysis of physicochemical characteristics

of fruit from 18 feijoa producing farms: A) Heatmap of

physicochemical characteristics of fruit; B) Principal

component analysis, of the variables: fruit biomass (FB, g),

pericarp thickness (PT, cm), fruit diameter (FD, cm), fruit

length (FL, cm), pulp yield (PY, %), total soluble solids

(TSS, °Brix), titratable acidity (AT citric acid, %) and pH.

In fruits of the Brazil type, dierent ranges in fruit diameter and

fruit length have been recorded, for example: In Rio Grande do Sul,

Donazzolo et al. (2017) reported fruit diameters from 1.7 to 7.1 cm,

and fruit length from 2.4 to 9.6 cm; while in Santa Catarina (São

Joaquim) Sanchez-Mora et al. (2019), reported values from 3.4 to 6.4

cm in diameter and values from 4.0 to 9.6 cm, in fruit length. In fruits

of the Uruguay type, Rivas et al. (2024) reported fruit diameters of

1.2 to 4.2 cm and fruit length of 1.6 to 5.3 cm. Borsuk et al. (2017),

evaluated 18 natural populations from southern Brazil (Paraná, Santa

Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) and found two populations with

Uruguay-type characteristics (QLCG and QLPT) that recorded lower

values in fruit diameter from 1.9 to 3.1 cm and from 2.4 to 6.9 cm in

fruit length.

In countries where feijoa is exotic, lower values of diameter and

fruit length are presented. For example, in Colombia, Parra-Coronado

et al. (2015) recorded values of 3.5 to 4.9 cm in diameter and 5.7

to 7.5 cm in fruit length. In Mexico, González-García et al. (2018)

obtained fruit diameters of 3.1 to 4.0 cm, and fruit length of 5.1 to

5.6 cm. In Turkey, Beyhan et al. (2011) reported fruit diameters

ranging from 2.3 to 3.9 cm and lengths varying from 2.8 to 6.0 cm.

In Italy, in the evaluation of dierent commercial cultivars, ranges of

4.3 to 5.1 in diameter and 5 to 7.2 cm in fruit length were observed

(Pasquariello et al., 2015). Zhao et al. (2023) found in New Zealand

cultivars fruit length from 6.6 cm (Pounamu) to 10.2 cm (Kaiteri),

with fruit diameter ranging from 4.5 cm (Apollo) to 7.4 cm (Unique).

Feijoa in Tungurahua presented a smaller range in fruit biomass

(Table 1) with respect to those reported in fruits from Brazil, in which

values from 6 to 209 g have been recorded (Nodari et al., 1977;

Donazzolo et al., 2017; Sánchez-Mora et al., 2019). In Uruguay

and in several countries where feijoa is exotic, fruit sizes similar to

those of Tungurahua have been reported, such as those indicated by

Rivas et al. (2024) in Uruguay-type feijoa fruits (1.9 to 51.8 g). In

Mexico, González-García et al. (2018), have reported fruit biomasses

ranging from 29.5 to 50.3 g and in Turkey, Beyhan et al. (2011)

found fruit biomasses ranging from 18.6 to 40 g. However, fruit

sizes evaluated in Tungurahua, did not dier from those reported in

commercial cultivars, for example: in Brazilian commercial cultivars

fruit biomass has ranged from 94 to 150 g for the cultivars SCS411

Alcântara and SCS414 Mattos, respectively (Santos et al., 2022).

In the department of Cundinamarca (Colombia), fruit biomasses of

30.5 to 98.9 g have been reported with the cultivar ‘Quimba’ (Parra-

Coronado et al., 2015). This highlights the potential of Ecuadorian

feijoa germplasm for future applications in agricultural production

and genetic improvement.

One of the desirable characteristics of feijoa fruit is pulp yield. In

the farms evaluated, this variable ranged from 4.6 to 46.2 % in F4 and

F9, respectively. In farms F3 and F8 the average fruit pulp yield was

above 30 % (Table 1; Figure 2A). In Brazil, feijoa fruits have ranged

from 5.5 to 53.8 % in pulp yield (Borsuk et al., 2017; Sánchez-Mora

et al., 2019). Higher pulp yields have been reported in Uruguay-type

feijoa by Rivas et al. (2014), in fruits from Uruguayan populations

(11.7 to 68.8 %).

Pericarp thickness ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 cm in F3, F7 and F13,

respectively; with an average of 0.5 cm (Table 1; Figure 2A). This

characteristic is of agronomic importance because it is the opposite

of pulp yield, so it is desired that the pericarp thickness of the fruit be

less thick to obtain higher pulp yield. These variations were similar

to those found by Silveira et al. (2015) and Rivas et al. (2024), who

reported values from 0.11 to 0.69 cm in pericarp thickness of fruits

from dierent genetic selections of Uruguay type feijoa. Brazil type

fruits, reported higher pericarp thickness with an average of 0.8 cm

varying from 0.4 to 1.5 cm (Sanchez-Mora et al., 2019). Likewise,

Borsuk et al. (2017), studying feijoa populations in southern Brazil

reported a greater amplitude of pericarp thickness (0.2 to 1.6 cm).

This variable is a discriminant descriptor in the selection of feijoa

accessions (Puppo et al., 2014).

This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.

Palacios-Villacrés et al. Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(2): e254219

5-7 |

Table 1. Descriptive analysis of the physical-chemical characteristics of the fruit in 18 feijoa producing farms. Tungurahua, Ecuador.

Variables

Descriptive

parameters

Farms

Total

F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 F15 F16 F17 F18

Fruit diameter

(cm)

Average

3.4 3.9 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.5 3.8 3.6 2.9 3.0 3.4 3.1 2.9 3.1 3.3 2.5 3.4 3.3 3.2

Minimum

2.9 3.0 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.9 3.1 2.9 2.2 2.5 3.0 2.6 2.3 2.4 2.9 2.0 3.0 2.9 2.0

Maximum

3.9 4.8 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 5.1 3.9 4.1 3.6 3.8 4.2 4.1 3.7 3.8 2.8 3.7 3.6 5.1

CV (%) 10.5 13.7 12.9 9.4 12.0 7.6 19.0 8.6 20.1 13.6 8.5 14.1 19.1 13.7 11.7 9.4 6.6 8.2 15.9

Fruit length

(cm)

Average

6.9 7.3 5.9 6.5 6.3 7.4 7.7 6.7 5.6 6.1 6.9 6.7 6.1 6.6 6.9 5.1 6.7 6.7 6.6

Minimum

6.3 6.4 4.1 4.4 4.2 6.6

6.3 6.3 3.9 3.5 6.5 5.7 4.0 5.0 6.6 4.0 6.2 6.3 3.5

Maximum

7.4 8.7 7.8 7.3 7.4 10.1 9.9 7.2 6.8 8.2 7.5 7.5 7.9 7.9 7.3 6.5 7.2 7.3 10.1

CV (%) 6.1 12.0 21.8 14.1 16.2 15.6 18.0 4.5 18.3 21.2 4.9 9.0 18.2 14.5 3.6 19.6 4.8 4.7 15.9

Fruit biomass

(g)

Average

103.0 99.0 28.2 30.4 32.4 33.4 102.6 36.3 22.2 26.8 102.4 35.9 26.4 33.9 111.8 12.6 36.1 33.6 50.7

Minimum

77.0 68.0 9.0 10.0 16.0 14.0 71.0 18.0 10.0 14.0 71.0 21.0 12.0 11.0 91.0 8.0 11.0 16.0 8.0

Maximum

127.0 119.0 68.0 59.0 55.0 66.0 133.0 53.0 55.0 59.0 122.0 60.0 61.0 58.0 130.0 19.0 55.0 53.0 133.0

CV (%) 16.4 17.9 73.9 52.5 38.9 58.6 23.6 34.4 60.2 58.2 18.9 40.9 59.2 43.8 11.7 27.5 38.7 36.0

73.1

Pulp yield

(%)

Average

28.5 28.2 32.3 25.0 26.2 27.8 29.8 30.2 28.0 23.7 28.6 26.8 22.6 24.2 27.8 28.4 28.6 29.2 27.5

Minimum

25.0 24.5 27.3 4.6 16.1 25.0 25.0 26.8 12.5 11.1 25.0 12.0 11.8 16.7 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 4.6

Maximum

31.9 33.0 40.0 33.0 37.2 31.9 33.3 33.0 46.2 35.7 31.0 38.3 38.5 30.9 33.0 32.0 33.0 33.0 46.2

CV (%) 8.0 9.8 11.4 36.7 22.1 9.0 10.0 7.2 37.2 34.2 8.6 31.0 37.3 21.3 10.4 9.0 8.4 9.2 20.7

Pericarp

thickness

(cm)

Average

0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

Minimum

0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3

Maximum

0.6 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7

0.6 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8

CV (%) 18.3 26.8 22.9 13.7 12.9 23.2 23.5 19.1 19.4 15.6 15.2 15.1 25.3 19.1 22.1 20.4 15.3 12.3 19.2

Total soluble

solids (Brix)

Average

16.6 15.0 16.6 14.3 16.4 13.9 15.7 14.2 14.2 14.4 13.7 14.5 16.4 16.1 14.4 10.4 12.7 13.0 14.6

Minimum

10.0 8.0 12.5 10.0 10.0 9.0 9.0 8.0 9.0 12.0 8.0 11.0 11.0 12.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 10.0 8.0

Maximum

20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 18.0 19.0 18.0 17.5 18.0 18.0 19.0 20.0 20.0 19.0 16.0 20.0 20.0 20.0

CV (%) 19.9 28.1 19.2 19.2 23.2 21.9 18.8 27.5 20.7 14.3 24.1 18.5 19.3 16.0 32.6 23.6 36.9 26.9 24.5

pH 4.0 3.8 4.2 4.0 3.5 3.0 3.5 3.0 3.0 3.8 3.8 3.0 3.0 3.6 4.0 3.5 3.0 3.0 3.5

Titratable acidity (% citric acid) 0.52 0.52 0.54 0.54 0.50 0.46 0.50 0.47 0.45 0.52 0.52 0.46 0.46 0.52 0.54 0.49 0.46 0.47 0.50

The TSS variable recorded an average of 14.6 ºBrix (CV= 24.5

%), with a variation from 8 to 20 ºBrix. On average, 38.9 % of the

farms recorded values higher than 15 ºBrix (Table 1; Figure 2A).

These TSS values found in feijoa in Tungurahua were similar to those

reported by Rivas et al. (2024) in Uruguay-type feijoa (10.6 to 23.6

ºBrix) and by Sánchez-Mora et al. (2019) in Brazilian germplasm (5.6

to 18.3 ºBrix). In New Zealand commercial cultivars, TSS values

have ranged from 10.1 for the cultivars Anatoki and Smith, up to 16.3

ºBrix with the cultivar Opal Star (Pasquariello et al., 2015; Zhao et

al., 2023). In the cultivar Quimba in Colombia, values of 10.3 to 13.4

ºBrix have been reported (Parra-Corrado et al., 2015). In Brazilian

feijoa cultivars (SCS411 Alcântara, SCS414 Mattos, SCS412 Helena,

SCS415 Nonante and Accession 2316) values of 9.3 to 13.8 ºBrix

have been reported (Amarante et al., 2017; Santos et al., 2022).

In relation to fruit pH, a variation of 3 to 4 was obtained, with an

average of 3.5 and CV= 12.6 %. The fruit recorded an average acidity

of 0.5 % citric acid, with a variation of 0.45 to 0.54 %, and CV=

6.4 %. Farms F9, F6, F13, F13, F17, F8 and F18 had the lowest pH

values (3), and citric acid values of less than 0.47 %; while F1, F4,

F15 and F3 recorded pH values between 4 and 4.2, and acidity values

of 0.52 to 0.54 % citric acid (Table 1; Figure 2A). These values were

similar to those found in Brazilian commercial cultivars whose pH

ranged from 2.45 to 3.68 for SCS412 Helena and SCS411 Alcântara,

respectively (Amarante et al., 2017); and fruit acidity, ranged from

0.53 to 0.65 % citric acid, for SCS414 Mattos and SCS411 Alcântara,

respectively (Santos et al., 2022). In Uruguayan germplasm, titratable

acidity values between 0.24 and 1.97 g citric acid.100 mL

-1

pulp juice

have been recorded, with an average of 0.85 g (Puppo et al., 2014);

while, in Colombia, in the Quimba variety, titratable acidity ranged

between 1.7 and 1.9 % citric acid in the locality of Tenjo and between

1.6 and 1.9 % citric acid in the locality of San Francisco (Parra-

Corrado et al., 2015).

The principal component analysis (PCA) of the 18 feijoa farms

showed that the rst two components PC1 and PC2 explained 59

% of the variation in the data (Figure 2B). The rst component

explained 38.4 % of the variability, through the variables: diameter

(0.569), length (0.567) and fruit biomass (0.497); while the second

component explained 20.6 % of the variability, where pulp yield

(0.793) and pericarp thickness (-0.538) contributed mostly to explain

this variation. Similar results were found by Citadin et al. (2022),

who when characterizing 99 feijoa trees found that the rst two

components explained 65.2 % of the variation, with the variables

fruit biomass, pulp yield, TSS and fruit diameter/length ratio being

the most highly correlated with the components.

These results were in agreement with Borsuk et al. (2017), who,

when evaluating feijoa fruits from 18 natural populations in southern

Brazil, found that PCA explained 89.8 % of the variation, and the

variables that contributed most to the variability in the components

This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.

Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2025, 42(2): e254219 April-June. ISSN 2477-9409.

6-7 |

were diameter, length, fruit biomass, pericarp biomass, pulp biomass,

pulp yield and TSS. In the evaluation of 178 feijoa genotypes,

Sánchez-Mora et al. (2019), found that the rst two components of

PCA explained 56.0 % of the variation in the data, and the variables

biomass (-0.54) and, fruit diameter (-0.48), pericarp thickness (-0.45),

pH (-0.66) and titratable acidity (0.64) contributed the most to the

variability.

The variables fruit diameter and fruit length showed signicant

correlation (r= 0.91***) and were highly correlated with fruit

biomass (r= 0.85***; r= 0.90***), suggesting that they are reliable

parameters of feijoa fruit size (Figure 2B). The characteristic pericarp

thickness was correlated with yield (r= -0.50*), being evident that

fruits with higher pericarp thickness aected pulp yield (Figure

2B). In Brazil-type feijoa, Sánchez-Mora et al. (2019), found highly

signicant correlations between fruit biomass with diameter (r=

0.85) and fruit length (r= 0.66), and between pulp yield and pericarp

thickness (r= -0.59). According to Donazzolo et al. (2017), fruit

diameter and fruit length could serve as indirect selection criteria to

increase the biomass of feijoa pulp. The variables titratable acidity

and pH were reported to be highly correlated (r= 0.96***), showing

that the fruits were ready to initiate the dynamic ripening process.

Signicant correlations between titratable acidity and pH (r= -0.49)

were observed in Brazilian feijoa germplasm (Sánchez-Mora et al.,

2019).

In Figure 2B, it is possible to observe that fruit from farms F7 and

F2 showed a wide dispersion, indicating high intra-farm variability,

while fruit from farms F11 and F13 were more concentrated,

suggesting greater homogeneity. Farms F1, F2, F7, F11 and F15

were strongly clustered with larger fruit size, as evidenced by fruit

diameter, length and biomass. Meanwhile, farms F14, F5, F4, F10 and

F13 reported larger diameters in pericarp thickness and TSS. Higher

pulp yields were observed in fruits from F8 and F3. Fruits from F16

were smaller in size. Fruit size and quality characteristics of feijoa

could be related to crop management, such as irrigation, fertilization,

pruning, thinning, pest and disease control, among others.

Conclusions

Feijoa trees in the province of Tungurahua, Ecuador, show similar

characteristics to the Uruguay type. Fruit length and diameter were

highly correlated with fruit biomass, suggesting them as determinant

variables in the selection of trees with commercial potential. The

PCA identied farms F1, F2, F7, F11 and F15 as having better

physico-chemical characteristics of the fruit as evidenced by fruit

diameter, length and biomass, presumably due to crop management

and genotypic characteristics of the trees. The observed variability

in the evaluated traits indicates considerable potential for increasing

productivity through the implementation of appropriate agronomic

management practices, as well as for initiating a breeding programme.

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