The in natura consumption of cashew apple is increasing in Brazil after the cultivation of new clones of dwarf cashew developed about two decades ago. In spite of this progress, the consumption is still low since it doesn't reach 1% of about 1,5 million tons yearly produced in the Northeast region. This low consumption is due to some factors, such as the tannin content (0,27% to 0,72%) existent in the cashew apple of the cultivated types of A. occidentale. The Embrapa is realizing an research aiming to improve the apple characteristics of the dwarf clones CP76 and CP09, by backcrossing with A. microcarpum specie. In this work, initiate in 1999, were evaluated the tannin content, the total acidity (ATT%), the total soluble solids (SST), the relationship SST/ATT, the pH and the texture of cashew apples of the genitors used in the backcross and their respective hybrids, with the following results: a) the reduced tannin content were confirmed (0,14%) and of ATT (0,16%) in the A. microcarpum, in relation with the averages of the clones CP76 and CP09 (0,33% for tannin and 0,26% for ATT); b) A. microcarpum was also superior concerning the relationship SST/ATT (80,6%) and the texture of the cashew apple (10,75 N), with the values for the clones of 47,90 and 6,9N, respectively; c) these results confirm the importance of A. microcarpum as father donor in the genetic improvement; d) the genitors didn't differ in relation to the contents of total soluble solids (SST) and pH; e) the hybrid among A. microcarpum x A. occidentale exhibited accentuated hybrid vigor in relation to the tannin content, acidity and texture and absence of hybrid vigor, in relation to the values of the pH and of total soluble solids (SST); f) there wasn't effect in the reciprocal crossings, for most of the studied characteristics, except for the tannin content.
Anacardium microcarpum L.; Anacardium occidentale L.; backcross; tannin; genetic improvement; quality of the cashew apple
