Diversity, use and consumers´ acceptance of banana cultivars in the Peruvian Amazon: the case of Pucallpa

Bc. Petr Pudil

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

Bananas represent large part of local food basket in many tropical countries. Though it is a crop with high intraspecific diversity, local cultivars in many regions have not been characterized in terms of morphology, local use and consumers’ acceptance. The study was conducted in Pucallpa, the administrative centre of the Ucayali department located in the Peruvian Amazon, which is one of the most important regions in terms of banana production in Peru. A market survey of seven main markets in the town was done in order to inventory all Musa cultivars. The cultivars were then morphologically characterized using previously published descriptors and their weight measured. Subsequently, the vendors and customers were interviewed in order to document local knowledge including vernacular names, modes of preparation and use patterns of particular cultivars. Sensory properties and overall acceptance evaluation of dessert-type bananas was performed using local consumer panel.Eleven distinct cultivars were found during the market survey, five cooking ('Bellaco', 'Campeón', 'Común', 'Mamaluca' and 'Sapucho') and six dessert cultivars ('Capirona', 'Isla', 'Manzano', 'Muquicho', 'Rojo' and 'Seda'). According to our best knowledge, one of the cultivars investigated ('Campeón') has been newly documented in Peru. The highest peel to pulp ratio was found in three dessert cultivars, 'Muquicho', 'Manzano' and 'Seda'. The highest overall acceptance was performed by 'Seda', 'Muquicho' and 'Manzano'. The overall acceptance of 'Seda' was significantly higher compared to the other cultivars. In most of the cultivars was observed positive correlation between sweetness and overall acceptance. It can be partially explained by young age of the panellists, as younger people tend to evaluate sweet products better. Cultivars with yellow-orange colour of flesh 'Isla', 'Mamaluca', 'Muquicho', 'Rojo', and 'Seda' should be further studied as potential sources of provitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency manifests by supressed immunity, dry skin and hair, or by night blindness. In pregnant women, it can have even detrimental effect on brain development of the foetus. This form of hidden hunger can be prevented by consumption of enough provitamin A rich food, such as fruits with orange or red flesh, which includes certain banana cultivars.

Keywords

sensorial properties, traditional knowledge, human nutrition, intraspecific diversity, banana

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 27. 4. 2018

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: doc. Ing. Zbyněk Polesný, Ph.D.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Magisterský studijní program / obor:
Tropické zemědělství / Tropical Crop Management and Ecology