PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF FRUIT FROM MAURITIA FLEXUOSA L.F. (ARECACEAE) “AGUAJE” OF NINE COMMUNITIES OF DATEM DEL MARA ON - LORETO REGION, PERUVIAN AMAZON.

The aim of this study was to characterize phenotypically, through morphological and physicochemical variables, fruits of nine natural populations of Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (Arecaceae) of DATEM del Mara ón located in the Loreto region of Peru. To achieve the goal twelve variables were analyzed. Three principal components explained 91.22 % of the total variability. In the dendrogram with an Euclidean distance of 0.95, three population groups were visualized. Group I expressed the highest concentration of a-carotene (p<0.05); Group II had the highest values of fruit width, total fruit weight, weight of seed plus episperm, seed weight, and concentration of crude fat and total energy (p<0.05); in Group III was found higher values of fruit length and peel weight (p<0.05) and with respect to the variables of pulp weight, concentration of crude protein and concentration of carbohydrate there were no significant differences among the three groups (p>0.10). This research will be useful for the selection of aguaje germplasm in Peru.