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Prunus serotina is divided into five subspecies. Among these, P. serotina subsp. capuli, commonly known as capuli, is native to Central and South America. Its fruits are big, sweet, and consumed by locals in various forms, with the Ecuadorian Andes region providing the best fruit forms of capuli. The objective of this study was to characterize a collection of different genotypes of capuli's fruit, and their endocarps, found growing in the wild in the Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Cotopaxi provinces of Ecuador. The fruits were characterized for weight (11.7–50.3 g), diameter (12.4–21.7 mm), height (11.4–19.7 mm), and soluble solids content (SSC) (13.4–27.6 °Brix) across two years. Similarly, the endocarps' diameters (7.5–12.2 mm) and heights (8.1–13.6 mm) were measured. Significant differences were found for all the fruit and endocarp variables studied. A multivariate analysis showed that all the fruit and endocarp size characteristics, except SSC, were positively correlated with each other within a season. No clear population differentiation was seen among the genotypes from different provinces, suggesting a lack of clear morphological differentiation. The future breeding and selection of a capuli with superior, commercial, large fruit and a high SSC shows great potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Andean region of Ecuador is the place of origin of many maize landraces grouped into 24 races. Definition of priorities for maize diversity conservation in this region can be supported by the spatial identification of areas with a high eco-geographical and phenotypic diversity. Six hundred thirty-six maize samples were morphologically characterized using 14 descriptors and assigned to a distinctive race. Additionally, sampled farms were characterized by 12 environmental variables. From these data, maps of morphological and eco-geographical diversity were obtained by using techniques to determine eco-geographical and phenotypic distances and applying them to each geographical neighbourhood. The races Patillo Ecuatoriano, Racimo de Uva and Uchima exhibited high intra-racial morphological variation, particularly in the shape of the ear, kernel row layout, cob diameter and total kernel number. The highest number of different races was observed in Imbabura, Azuay and Chimborazo provinces. The highest levels of morphological diversity were found in three cells (10 × 10 km), located in Pichincha, Chimborazo and Loja provinces. Two ecological niches, located in Loja province, showed high levels of eco-geographical diversity. A comparison between diversity maps revealed shared hotspots of morphological and eco-geographical diversity in the central and southwest areas of Imbabura province. The Andean highlands of Ecuador are an optimal refuge for the conservation of maize diversity, and the criteria of eco-geographical and morphological diversity and race richness should be considered when defining priority in situ conservation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was conducted in order to evaluate the adaptability of three promissory clones of National cocoa proposed by the Autonomous Equatorian Institute of Agricultural Research to the ecological conditions of the Arosemena Tola canton, belonging to the Napo province, Equator. To carry out to this objective a random blocks design was made, where the treatments consisted on the promissory clones, EET-95, EET-96 and EET-103 compared with the clone CCN-51 used as control. Morphological and agronomic indicators were determined. The promissory clones have characteristic of adaptability to the conditions study, in particular the clone EET-103, with high index of seeds, similar values of fruit index and yield that the control, but with higher quality and lower content of heavy metals in the seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]