REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY AND MATURATION POINT OF MACAUBA COCONUT

The macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) meets the guidelines for sustainable development. Native to Brazil and of wide edaphoclimatic aptitude, this palm tree has high productive potential, tolerates fires, grows in regions of extensive grazing and has widespread use due to the wide range of derivatives it offers for human use. The macaúba begins production in the 5th year of development, when its bunches produce hundreds of drupe-type fruits, which develop for about 1 (one) year, reaching maturity in a heterogeneous way. The fruits publise quickly due to the characteristics of the vegetable oil, or olive oil, that makes up their pulp. This oil is used in the manufacture of biofuels and cosmetics, and the residual cake from extraction is rich in carbohydrates and highly appreciated by cattle, the main disperser of this species. Almonds are rich in protein and offer an excellent quality oil, absorbed by the food and cosmetic industries. The determination of good post-harvest practices allows obtaining a satisfactory yield from the exploitation of this crop, as they directly influence the efficiency of the extraction and quality of macaúba oil. This work aims to understand the reproductive morphology of macaúba plants to determine the correct time to harvest the fruits. The experiment was installed at the Renewable Energy Platform of the Federal University of Lavras, with fruits collected in its vicinity in naturally occurring plants