The fruit of pequi tree (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) presents a considerable variability in both physical and chemical characteristics, according to the sampling region, and research with fruits collected in the state of Mato Grosso are scarce in the literature. In this study, it was analyzed the physical characteristics, the chemical-nutritional composition, and the volatile compounds of pequi pulp, collected from different places of the state of Mato Grosso. The fruits were analyzed according to color (L*, a*, b*, hº and C*), mass and external mesocarp, seed (pyrenes) and pulp yield. The proximate composition, total carotenoid content, fatty acids profile and volatile compounds of the pulp were determined, and the physicochemical composition of the soil was also analyzed. It was found that the fruit is composed by 80-85% of external mesocarp, 11-15% of pyrenes and 4-7% of pulp, that is rich in lipids (46-51g 100g-1), total carotenoids (15-27mg 100g-1) - which were related to the color tonality and intensity (hº and C*) of the pulp - and dietary fiber (8-15g 100g-1). The main volatile compounds of pequi pulp were ethyl hexanoate, (E)-β-ocimene and ethyl octanoate. The allyl isobutyrate, 3-hexanol, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, myrcene, (Z)-dihydroapofarnesol, β-eudesmol and (E-E)-geranyl linalool were described for the first time in C. brasiliense's pulp essential oils. Part of differences on volatile compounds could be explained by the soil variations, especially silt, P, and Mg2+.
Pequi; proximate composition; carotenoids; fatty acids; volatile compounds
