BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MACAÚBA PALM BUNCHES (ACROCOMIA ACULEATA) ASSOCIATED WITH FRUIT SET/RETENTION

Fruit set and retention are crucial for ensuring productivity in any crop. In the macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata), a species with high potential for oil production, variation in fruit set/retention has been observed among clusters on the same plant, both in natural populations and commercial plantations. This study aimed to correlate cluster characteristics with fruit set/retention by analyzing 16 plants with full and failed clusters from a progeny evaluation experiment located at the Apta regional unit in Pindorama, SP. The evaluated traits included Fresh Cluster Weight (PFC), Fresh Rachis Weight (PFR), Number of Fruits per Cluster (NFC), Cluster Size (TC), Number of Rachilas (NR), Female Flower Scars (CFF), Fruit Width (LF), Fruit Length (CF), Dry Mass of 10 Fruits (MSF), and Estimated Productive Potential (NR x CFF). Full clusters had, on average, 80% more fruits than failed clusters, with 253.69 fruits compared to 51, respectively. Positive correlations between the number of fruits per cluster (NFC) and cluster characteristics (PFR, TC) indicate that larger clusters contain more fruits. However, a negative correlation was observed between the number of fruits per cluster (NFC) and fruit size (LF and CF), revealing that clusters with fruit set/retention issues have larger and heavier fruits. Failed clusters exhibited higher productive potential, with 164.6 rachila and 4.5 female flowers per rachilla, compared to full clusters with 152.4 rachila and 4.1 female flowers. Although full clusters produced more fruits, failed clusters demonstrated higher productive potential, estimating 743 fruits per cluster versus an average potential of 618.2 fruits in full clusters. Further studies are needed to identify the factors affecting fruit set variation in macaúba to ensure the productivity and profitability of the crop.