Improve for better use: exploitation potential, advances and gaps in the conservation and breeding of Hancornia speciosa – A review

Abstract

Amidst the flora richness of the Brazilian Cerrado, a group of fruit species widely consumed by local communities stands out. Hancornia speciosa Gomes (mangaba tree or mangabeira), a native fruit tree, arouses the interest of the agro-industrial sector, but has been suffering from the advances of anthropogenic activities in its areas of natural occurrence. This review aims to present the main aspects related to the biology, ecology and exploitation potential of H. speciosa, as well as the advances and gaps in efforts for its conservation and breeding. The mangaba tree is found with greater incidence in areas covered by the Cerrado biome, in addition to the coastal plateaus and coastal lowlands of the Northeast of Brazil. Older botanical classifications suggest the existence of six botanical varieties for the species, with the exchange of pollen grains between any of them potentially viable. In 2020, Brazil produced the equivalent of 1933 tons of mangaba, which can be consumed fresh or processed and has a high nutritional value and important pharmacological properties. Accessions of H. speciosa are safeguarded ex situ, in vivo, by research institutions and public universities in the North, Northeast and Midwest regions. Although there are no commercial cultivars so far, some germplasm collections have already managed to select candidates for parents with emphasis on productivity and fruit quality. The food and pharmacological potential of H. speciosa here described and the continuous exploration and degradation of its natural habitats make efforts related to its conservation and breeding pertinent. Such activities will allow the maintenance of its genetic resources, as well as the expansion of its production and consumption chains beyond the local scale.