Biometria e coloração de frutos de fava-d'anta como indicadores do momento de coleta

Abstract

Rutin, the predominant flavonoid in fruits, has a protective action on the nervous system and capillary vessels. The objective of this work was to evaluate the relation between biometric parameters, color and rutin content, to determine the optimal point of harvest for D. mollisfruits. In order to determine the ideal harvest point, eight harvestings were made along the development of the fruits. The fruits were evaluated in relation to biometrics, color, rutin and quercetin content and the presence of isoquercetin. The average length of the fruits (14.2±2.1 cm) did not vary among harvests, but there was variation in dry mass (4.3± 2.9 g; 16.1±6.1 g) and thickness (4.2±1.4 mm; 8.8±4.2 mm) between the first and eighth harvest. The fruits assessed by this study hadimmature parts as predominant. The levels of rutin (13.8±4.5%) and quercetin (0.013±0.014) did not vary throughout harvests, thus, the final yield of rutin (0.63g) and quercetin (0.00059g), in the last harvest, was higher than in the other ones. Isoquercetin was detected in all samples analyzed. It is concluded that, in order to assure a higher rutin yield in the fruits of Fava-d'anta, they should be harvested while immature, but with more yellowish tones and with greater dry mass and thickness.