<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p><italic>Byrsonima crassifolia</italic> L. Kunth is a plant native to the Americas that grows in tropical and subtropical areas. Fresh <italic>B. crassifolia</italic> fruits are a good source of ascorbic acid and carotenoids and contain volatile compounds such as butyric and caproic acids. Although <italic>B. crassifolia</italic> is commonly exploited from wild natural ecosystems, it exhibits the potential to become a crop plant. When optimal agronomic management systems support propagation by seed, fruits with more homogeneous characteristics can be produced compared to those obtained from wild or backyard plants. <italic>B. crassifolia</italic> fruits can be found in local markets in Central and South America. The pulp, peel, and other <italic>B. crassifolia</italic> fruit components can be processed to make traditional and innovative food products, namely candies, cookies, cakes, candied fruits, ice creams, sorbets, jellies, juices, liqueurs, jams, nectars, pickles, and fruit drinks as an alternative to avoid the waste of overripe fruits. Additionally, the woody fraction of the <italic>B. crassifolia</italic> tree is used as a source of firewood, as shade, and for constructing living fences. These uses also allow the maximum use of biomass by establishing support for cultivation with the circular economy and strengthening food security. Therefore, this review aims to provide insights into the generation and dissemination of knowledge supporting the development of strategies in the areas of agronomy, postharvest management, and technological processing of <italic>B. crassifolia</italic> to promote its sustainable use and exploitation.</p>
</abstract>

Byrsonima crassifolia L. Kunth is a plant native to the Americas that grows in tropical and subtropical areas. Fresh B. crassifolia fruits are a good source of ascorbic acid and carotenoids and contain volatile compounds such as butyric and caproic acids. Although B. crassifolia is commonly exploited from wild natural ecosystems, it exhibits the potential to become a crop plant. When optimal agronomic management systems support propagation by seed, fruits with more homogeneous characteristics can be produced compared to those obtained from wild or backyard plants. B. crassifolia fruits can be found in local markets in Central and South America. The pulp, peel, and other B. crassifolia fruit components can be processed to make traditional and innovative food products, namely candies, cookies, cakes, candied fruits, ice creams, sorbets, jellies, juices, liqueurs, jams, nectars, pickles, and fruit drinks as an alternative to avoid the waste of overripe fruits. Additionally, the woody fraction of the B. crassifolia tree is used as a source of firewood, as shade, and for constructing living fences. These uses also allow the maximum use of biomass by establishing support for cultivation with the circular economy and strengthening food security. Therefore, this review aims to provide insights into the generation and dissemination of knowledge supporting the development of strategies in the areas of agronomy, postharvest management, and technological processing of B. crassifolia to promote its sustainable use and exploitation.

<italic>Byrsonima crassifolia</italic> L. Kunth a bio-resource with potential: Overview and opportunities

Folia Horticulturae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

 L. Kunth a bio-resource with potential: Overview and opportunities

Byrsonima crassifolia L. Kunth is a plant native to the Americas that grows in tropical and subtropical areas. Fresh B. crassifolia fruits are a good source of...

Characteristic	Species
Characteristic	Byrsonima crassifolia	Byrsonima verbascifolia	Malpighia mexicana
Tree height (m)	3–7 (up to 15)	1–5	3–4
Leaf size (cm)	6–16 × 3–8	14–20 × 6–12	3–16 × 2–8
Fruit size (cm)	1.5–2.0	1.3–1.5	1.9–2.5
Seedling morphology group	Phanerocotylar, epigeal, foliaceous	Phanerocotylar, hypogeal, foliaceous	–
Hypocotyl size (mm)	10–20 × 1.3–1.5	6–10 × 1.5–1.8	–
Cryptogeal germination	Absent	Present	–
Photo fruits

Byrsonima crassifolia L. Kunth a bio-resource with potential: Overview and opportunities

Article Category: REVIEW ARTICLE

Published Online: Jun 26, 2023

Page range: 61 - 75

Received: Jun 15, 2022

Accepted: Jan 16, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2023-0005

Keywords
bioactives, crops, food security, murici, nanche

© 2023 Cesar San-Martín-Hernández et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Some characteristics reported of species of Malpighiaceae family identified as nanche or murici in some areas of the Americas.

Byrsonima crassifolia L. Kunth a bio-resource with potential: Overview and opportunities

Article Category: REVIEW ARTICLE

Published Online: Jun 26, 2023

Page range: 61 - 75

Received: Jun 15, 2022

Accepted: Jan 16, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2023-0005

Keywordsbioactives, crops, food security, murici, nanche

© 2023 Cesar San-Martín-Hernández et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

Some characteristics reported of species of Malpighiaceae family identified as nanche or murici in some areas of the Americas.

Keywords
bioactives, crops, food security, murici, nanche