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The complete sequence of a new viral RNA from babaco (Vasconcellea × heilbornii) was determined. The genome consisted of 4,584 nucleotides, containing two open reading frames (ORFs 1 and 2), a 9-nt-long noncoding region (NCR) at the 5' terminus, and an unusually long (1,843 nt) NCR at the 3' terminus. The presence of a potential heptameric slippery signal located 12 nt upstream the stop codon of ORF 1 suggests a -1 ribosomal frameshift mechanism for the translation of ORF 2. Sequence comparisons of ORF 2 revealed similarity to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of several umbra- and umbra-like viruses. Phylogenetic analysis of the RdRp placed the new virus in a well-supported and cohesive clade that includes umbra-like viruses reported in papaya, citrus, opuntia, maize, and sugarcane hosts. Viruses of this clade share a most recent ancestor with the umbraviruses but have different genomic features. The creation of a new genus within the family Tombusviridae is proposed for the classification of these novel viruses.

El estudio se llevó a cabo en la Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias ESPOCH, donde se elaboró una mermelada de arazá y babaco; con el objetivo de aportar valor agregado a estas frutas, utilizando stevia en diferentes niveles 2, 4, 6 %, como sustituto del azúcar blanco, para el análisis estadístico se aplicó un diseño complemente al azar (DCA) de cuatro tratamientos con cuatro repeticiones y 200g por unidad experimental, la acidez, azúcares reductores y Brix presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas para una significancia p

The virome of babaco (Vasconcellea x heilbornii) —a non-traditional fruit crop native to Ecuador— was investigated by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) on plants obtained from a commercial nursery. Six virus-like sequences were detected, including the full length of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) and an RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase (RdRp) sequence with homology to papaya virus Q. Three RNA sequences were found with homology, respectively, to apple latent spherical virus (genus Cheravirus, 71% nt identity), cherry leaf roll virus (genus Nepovirus, 54% nt identity) and Citrullus lanatus cryptic virus (genus Deltapartitivirus, 66% nt identity); whereas a DNA pararetrovirus-like sequence with homology to citrus endogenous pararetrovirus (58% nt identity) was also detected. RT-PCR-based virus surveys on a total of 284 samples collected from three provinces revealed that the partitivirus- and pararetrovirus-like sequences were present in 100% of tested plants; whereas the other virus sequences were detected in up to 68% of plants and were associated with different symptoms. This work provides information on the occurrence and prevalence of PRSV and five additional virus-like sequences in babaco, a vegetatively propagated crop, supporting the need for a virus-free certification program.

The objective of this research is to analyze the feasibility to invest a marketing plant of babaco’s marmalade, an investment project. To reach, a survey was made to 338 jam retail centers. The results showed that 70% of them are willing to buy the babaco jam, due to the lack of diversity of flavors. In addition, a technical study proved the parish of San Jose de Poalo is the suitable place for the production plant. It estimated an initial investment of $ 380.617.50. The results indicate an internal rate of return of 36% higher than the minimum acceptable rate of return of 9.79%, the net present value is more than zero and the cost benefit ratio reveals a benefit of 0.65 dollars for each dollar invested It means the project is accepted, feasible and profitable.

Papaya virus Q (PpVQ) is an umbra-like virus found in papaya plantings of Ecuador. A most recent study conducted in Brazil has reported the presence of a virus with 70% nucleotide identity to PpVQ. The Brazilian virus was shown to act synergistically with Papaya meleira virus (PMeV) to induce a devastating disorder known as papaya meleira. This finding prompted us to investigate epidemiology aspects of PpVQ, especially its transmission and potential involvement with meleira like symptoms in Ecuador. Three out of ten plants inoculated with ‘viruliferous’ whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) tested positive for PpVQ; whereas no mechanical or seed transmission was observed. Surveys using a multiplex RT-PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of PpVQ, PMeV and Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) revealed that PpVQ is found most commonly in co-infections with PRSV, but also in single infections in asymptomatic plants. PMeV, on the other hand, was not detected in any of the tested plants. Interestingly, two virus sequences with homology to PpVQ and PMeV, respectively, were found in leaf samples from babaco (Vasconcellea x heilbornii, syn. Carica pentagona), a sub-tropical relative of papaya native to Ecuador, highlighting the importance of implementing a surveillance scheme for papaya meleira disease in Ecuador as a preventative management and control strategy.

espanolEste articulo analiza el efecto del 1-Meticlciclpropeno en la inhibicion de etileno en el fruto de babaco (Vasconcellea x heilbornii var. Pentagona) en tres estados de madurez del fruto y tres tiempos de exposicion. Se empleo un Diseno Completamente al Azar (DCA) con cuatro repeticiones. Las variables bajo estudio fueron: la perdida de peso, la frmeza, la concentracion total de solidos solubles y el porcentaje de acidez titulable. La menor perdida de peso se registro para frutos cosechados de forma temprana (color “Verde”) y expuestos al 1-Meticlciclpropeno por un periodo corto (7 dias). En el caso de la variable frmeza de fruto, los mejores resultados se obtuvieron al cosechar los frutos cuando estos se cosechan en estado “Verde”. La concentracion de solidos solubles fue mayor para los frutos cosechados en estado “Verde-Amarillo” y “Amarillo”, mientras que los valores de porcentaje de acidez titulable se incrementan con la madurez del fruto. El tiempo de inmersion no tuvo efectos signifcativos para las variables frmeza de fruto, concentracion de solidos solubles y porcentaje acidez titulable. EnglishThis article analyzes the effect of 1-Meticlclclpropen on the inhibition of ethylene in babaco fruit (Vasconcellea x heilbornii var. Pentagona), with three ripe stages and three exposition times. A Complete Random Design with four repetitions was used. The variables under study were: loss of weight, fruit firmness, total concentration of soluble solids and percentage of titrated acidity. The lowest loss of weight was obtained for fruits harvested earlier (“Green”) and exposed to 1-Meticlciclpropen for a short period of time (7 days). In the case of fruit firmness, the best results were obtained when fruits were harvested “Green”. The total concentration of soluble solids was higher for fruits harvested in stages “Green-Yellow” and “Yellow”, while the values of titrated acidity increased with the fruit ripeness. The time of exposure to 1-Meticlclclpropen had no significant effect on fruit firmness, total concentration of soluble solids and percentage of titrated acidity.

The objective of the present research work is to develop the methodology for the implementation of ISO 9001: 2015 in the Rio Chico el Rosal Autonomous Producers Association to improve the production process of the babaco, taking into account that the application of the requirements based on the proposed standard, will help to reduce the problems in the production process of the babaco, by means of this is intended to provide adequate information to all staff working in the Association on the appropriate way to carry out each phase of production and quality control that must be performed in each of the processes, this will reduce expenses for waste, reprocessing and thus increase customer satisfaction. In the present work, it is concluded that, through the implementation of the quality management system based on the ISO 9001: 2015 standard, the association will achieve a reduction of 2.78% of nonconforming products, a figure of $ 7,700.00. In addition, it was possible to reduce the production time, eliminating unnecessary activities in the process diagrams and finally it was achieved to raise workers' awareness about quality in each activity, however minimal. El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo, el desarrollo de la metodología para la implementación de la norma ISO 9001: 2015 en la Asociación de productores autónomos Río Chico el Rosal para mejorar los procesos de producción del babaco, tomando en cuenta que la aplicación de los requerimientos basados en la norma propuesta, ayudará a disminuir los problemas en los procedimientos de producción del babaco, por medio de esto se pretende dar información adecuada a todo el personal que trabaja en la Asociación sobre la forma apropiada de llevar a cabo cada fase de producción y el control de calidad que se debe realizar en cada uno de los procesos, con esto se reducirá los gastos por desperdicios, reprocesos y por ende se aumentará la satisfacción del cliente. En el presente trabajo se concluye que por medio de la implementación del sistema de gestión de la calidad basado en la norma ISO 9001: 2015, la asociación logrará disminuir un 2, 78% de los productos no conformes, lo que representa en unidades monetarias una cifra de $7.700,00. Además, se logró disminuir el tiempo de producción, eliminando las actividades innecesarias en los diagramas de proceso y finalmente se alcanzó concientizar a los trabajadores sobre la calidad en cada actividad por mínima que sea.

A new member of the genus Potexvirus was fully sequenced and characterized. The virus was isolated from babaco (Vasconcellea x heilbornii), a natural hybrid native to Ecuador. The virus contains a 6,692 nt long genome organized in five open reading frames in an arrangement typical of other potexviruses. Sequence comparisons revealed close relatedness with Papaya mosaic virus (PapMV), Alternathera mosaic virus (AltMV) and Senna mosaic virus (SenMV), exhibiting nucleotide identities up to 67% for the polymerase (Pol) and 68% for the coat protein (CP), with deduced amino acid identities of 70% and 72% for the Pol and CP, respectively. The presence of an AlkB domain, in the polymerase region, was observed. Terminal nucleotide sequences were conserved across potexviruses with characteristic motifs and predicted secondary structures at the 3’ UTR. Although serologically undistinguishable from PapMV and AltMV, the new virus showed differences in host range and symptom induction. The name babaco mosaic virus is proposed for this newly characterized Potexvirus. The complete genome sequence of the new virus has been deposited in NCBI GenBank under accession number MF978248.

La presente investigación se realizó con el objetivo de desarrollar un protocolo para el establecimiento y ensayos preliminares de propagación in vitro de babaco (V. x heilbornii) proveniente del distrito de Luya, región Amazonas. Se recolectaron secciones vegetativas de plantas de V. x heilbornii, evaluando desinfectantes como lejía comercial y cloruro de mercurio para el establecimiento de yemas axilares, posteriormente se evaluó diferentes concentraciones de reguladores de crecimiento auxinas, giberelinas y citocininas en la propagación in vitro de V. x heilbornii. Los resultados mostraron que el empleo de una combinación de lejía comercial al 10% más cloruro de mercurio 0,1% fueron los adecuados para la asepsia de las secciones vegetativas de V. x heilbornii. En tanto, el empleo de AIA 0,5 mg/L más 2iP 1- 2 mg/L permitieron el crecimiento y desarrollo de yemas axilares, resultados que permitirán la propagación in vitro de esta especie silvestre de importancia económica.

International audience; Lipase-catalysed synthesis of alkyl esters is regarded as a potential alternative to chemical catalysis. Owing to its availability as a waste material from the babaco fruit production, its strong lipolytic activity and its natural immobilization, the dried latex of Vasconcellea × heilbornii appears as a good candidate to produce alkyl esters. The ability and performance of this lipase to catalyse the alcoholysis of sunflower oil with various primary alcohols was evaluated in a solvent-free system. A linear correlation between the final reaction rate and the alcohol polarity was established. For methanolysis, the influence of substrates ratio on final conversion rate was studied at different temperatures. At 30 °C, the lipase was inactivated by shaking in a mixture containing more than 0.5 molar equivalents of methanol; the minimum methanol concentration for enzyme deactivation increased with temperature. Moreover, for a 0.5:1 methanol/TAG molar ratio, conversion rates of 73, 66 and 55% were obtained at 30, 40 and 55 °C respectively, showing that the increase of temperature diminished the final methanolysis conversion rate. These facts were associated to the miscibility of methanol in oil and to the thermodynamic state of the medium. To overcome the inactivation of the lipase by methanol, alcoholysis was carried out by fractionated addition of methanol. In those conditions, Vasconcellea × heilbornii latex could catalyse the conversion of 70% of sunflower TAGs in methyl esters at 30 °C.

Southern Ecuador is generally acknowledged to be located in a biodiversity hot spot. Several species of agricultural and horticultural crops can be found there with a huge genetic diversity and can be found in wild or in semi-cultivated status as backyard crops. Cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) and several species of highland papayas (Vasconcella spp.) have their centre of origin in southern Ecuador and are cultivated as minor fruit crops in several subtropical zones worldwide. Little research work has been carried out so far in exploring the crops’ centre of origin. Germplasm collection and characterisation can give valuable information to local and international crop breeding programmes whereas a detailed study of the ecology of wild stands, may provide useful information on climate and soil preferences of the crop and can -combined with a GIS analysesbe used to locate suitable cropping areas. Collection and characterisation of 137 wild and semi-cultivated cherimoya accessions was carried out in southern Ecuador between January 1996 and March 1998. A tremendous variability of pomological characteristics was encountered, typical situation of a main centre of biodiversity. The best accessions collected during these trips can easily withstand preliminary comparison with commercial cherimoya cultivars (‘Fino de Jete’, ‘Bays’, ‘White’, ‘Bronceada’ and ‘Concha Lisa’). The collection of Vasconcella germplasm was carried out between August 1997 and April 2000. A total of 211 accessions of the common species Vasconcella cundinamarcensis (Solms-Laub.) Badillo, V. stipulata (Badillo) Badillo and V. × heilbornii (Badillo) Badillo were collected together with some accessions of the rarer species V. candicans (A. Gray) A.DC., V. microcarpa (Jacq.) A.DC., V. monoica (Desf.) A.DC., V. palandensis (Badillo et al.) Badillo, V. parviflora A.DC. and V. weberbaueri (Harms) Badillo. These accessions showed great variability and raised several questions about their exact taxonomic position. Preliminary studies of the papain content of some of these accessions showed papain activities up to 20 times higher than those of papaya (Carica papaya L.). Edapho-climatological conditions in the collection areas indicated the preferences of cherimoya and highland papayas in their natural environment, and were used, combined with GIS studies, to determine the potential cultivation zones. INTRODUCTION The Andean region with its striking eco-geographical contrasts is generally acknowledged as an important centre of biodiversity and is described as one of the eight centres of plant diversity as defined by Vavilov (Vavilov and Chester, 1950). Ecuador alone accounts for 16,087 plants species (Jorgensen and Leon-Yanez, 1999), being the highest plant diversity of the world per area unit. Within this rich plant biodiversity, several species are known as agricultural or horticultural crops. A lot of these crops however are considered as under-utilised (Izquierdo and Roca, 1998), due to “botanical colonialism” and have often been replaced by crops from Asia, Mexico and Europe Proc. IS on Sust. Use Of Plant Biodiv. Eds. E. Duzyaman Y Badillo et al., 2000) and must be considered as a hot spot for Vasconcella research. In southern Ecuador, Vasconcella cundinamarcensis, V. stipulata and the natural hybrid between these species V. × heilbornii are common and can be found in wild and in backyard gardens. Other less common highland papayas include V. candicans, V. microcarpa, V. monoica, V. palandensis, V. parviflora and V. weberbaueri. Consumption of highland papayas is common in the Andes where fruits are eaten fresh, roasted, in juices, in marmalades or in preserves (Van den Eynden et al., 1999). Only babaco, V. × heilbornii ‘Babaco’, is already commercially developed. It was introduced as a new crop in New Zealand in 1973 (Harman, 1983) from where it spread in the eighties to Australia (Cossio, 1988), Italy (Ferrara et al., 1993), Spain (Merino Merino, 1989), France (CTIFL, 1992), South Africa (Wiid, 1994) and even Switzerland (Evequoz, 1990) and Canada (Kempler et al., 1996) where greenhouse trials are being currently pursued. This study aimed at showing the potential of these native fruit crops. A study of the existing pomological variability in a centre of biodiversity gives valuable information to select potential accessions for future cultivation and/or breeding programmes. An edapho-climatological study of the targeted fruit species in their natural habitat has provided in fact valuable information on their soil and climate preferences which can combined with GISbe used to establish potential cultivation zones. A study of the papain content of highland papayas shows an even broader perspectives for the exploitation of Vasconcella species. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A collection and characterisation of 137 wild and semi-cultivated cherimoya accessions was carried out in southern Ecuador between January 1996 and March 1998. A large variability of pomological characteristics was encountered, typical for a centre of biodiversity (Scheldeman and Van Damme, 1999). A selection of the best accessions, based on low seed content showed that local accessions easily withstand preliminary comparison with commercial cultivars from Spain (‘Fino de Jete’), United States (‘Bays’ and ‘White’) and Chile (‘Bronceada’ and ‘Concha Lisa’) (Scheldeman et al., 1999). Locally selected cherimoya accessions clearly show higher fruit weight and lower seed

Southern Ecuador is considered to be a centre of biodiversity of the so-called highland papayas. In Southern Ecuador, this group, which comprises lesser-known Andean Caricaccae that grow, mostly in the wild, above 1000 mas1, consists of Carica pubescens (A. DC.) Solms-Laub., C. stipulata Badillo, C. x heilbornii Badillo, C. candicans A. Gray, C. weberbaueri Harms., C. parviflora (A. DC.) Solms-Laub., C. microcarpa Jacq, C. monoica Desf. and the new endemic species C. palandensis Badillo, Van den Eynden & Van Damme. At this moment only the natural hybrid C. x heilbornii nm. pentagona Badillo, commercially known as babaco, is getting attention on the continuously expanding subtropical fruit market. Natural hybridisation and presence of accessions of which taxonomical position (at the species level) remains unclear, combined with a limited number of botanical studies, suggest that the taxonomy of the Caricaceae in Southern Ecuador is still not completely explained. Nevertheless, local collections and characterisation studies show that, from an agronomical point of view, these highland papayas show a big potential for the future. Organoleptic characteristics of some accessions and species are very promising, especially for use as juices and marmalades. Making use of natural or artificial hybridisation can even expand this potential. Analyses of the activity of the proteolytic enzyme complex (papain) of these local accessions and species showed that the latex of the unripe fruit possessed up to 15 times more activity than papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivars selected and grown for their high enzyme activity. This potential, which needs further detailed study, is increasingly under threat as population is increasing, putting pressure on fallow and forest land and concentrating agricultural systems on food and cash crops, consequently neglecting little known native fruit crops and reducing the natural vegetation in which they occur. A survey on local knowledge of these highland papayas showed that younger people have significantly less knowledge on them than older people proving the urgent need for further studies and conservation strategies.

Biocatalytic activities in proteolysis, lipolysis and interesterification reactions were studied for crude latex from the subtropical plant Carica pentagona. The results reveal that crude Carica pentagona latex exhibits equivalent proteolytic activities (5.73 units mg−1) and lipolytic activities (1.01 units mg−1) compared to the well-known Carica papaya, the commercially source for papain (4.57 units mg−1 and 0.90 units mg−1 respectively). Therefore, in interesterification reactions, Carica pentagona latex shows interesting lipase properties (0.77 units mg−1) higher than commercial Carica papaya latex (0.28 units mg−1).

El babaco (Vasconcellea helbornii var. pentagona) es una fruta nativa del Ecuador con un gran potencial como especie cultivable. Este importante cultivo ha decaído en los últimos años debido fundamentalmente a la presencia de una devastadora enfermedad causada por el hongo Fusarium oxysporum conocida como marchitez vascular. La marchitez vascular puede causar hasta un 100% de pérdida en la producción del babaco en algunas zonas del país. Las estrategias actuales de manejo se basan en el control químico que implica enormes problemas ambientales. A pesar de ser exclusivamente atribuida a Fusarium oxysporum, estudios recientes llevados a cabo en la Universidad Na- cional de Loja, han mostrado el establecimiento de interacciones patógeno-patógeno entre Fusarium oxysporum y la bacteria Pseudomona sp., en plantas de babaco con los síntomas de la enfermedad de la marchitez vascular. Esto indica que la enfermedad de la marchitez vascular puede ser atribuida a una comunidad de especies de hongos en lugar de un solo organismo.

Babaco (Carica pentagona Heilb.) : importance, origin and botany; adaptability and growing conditions; past and present research; commercial potential

La industria del procesamiento de alimentos, es hoy en día un tema de relevancia, ya que actualmente se conocen nuevos y mejorados productos a través la industrialización de frutas no tradicionales que despiertan el interés del mercado, generando así competencias que buscan entre ellas llegar a la máxima calidad y beneficio para el cliente. El proyecto de implantar una empresa dedicada a realizar mermelada de babaco en el cantón Píllaro y comercializar el producto en la ciudad de Ambato, nace de la idea de innovación de productos alimenticios que brinden beneficios importantes para la salud de las personas que los adquieran, logrando así generar rentabilidad para la organización. Es importante destacar que nuestro país cuenta con una gran biodiversidad de frutas que son de propiedades únicas, las cuales pueden ser explotadas en su máximo potencial como es el babaco, el cual se da en las zonas altas del país principalmente en la provincia del Tungurahua, esto nos da la ventaja de poder aprovechar un recurso natural existente y procesarlo, de tal manera que se conserven sus beneficios y éstos puedan ser disfrutados por los consumidores a un precio accesible para ellos.

Basic compositional data are evaluated for the subtropical fruits (babaco, feijoa, passionfruit, and tamarillo) growing in Galicia (North-west Spain)

The effects of growing media, pot size, number of stems, and plant density on fruit yields of greenhouse‐grown babaco plants (Carica × heilbornii Badillo n.m. pentagona (Heilborn)) were determined. No significant differences were found in the total yield or days to harvest between plants grown in sawdust and Peatlite (2 peat : 1 perlite), nor between plants grown in 23‐litre and 45‐litre pots, nor between two‐stemmed and single‐stemmed plants. However, two‐stemmed plants produced significantly more, but smaller, fruits/plant than single‐stemmed plants. The yield (fruit weight)/plant = 6.88 + 4.50/x r2 = 0.97, P < 0.05, fruit number/plant = 1/(0.050–0.0075/x)r2 = 0.79, P < 0.05, and fruit size (mean fruit weight) = 386 + 313‐x/0.86 r2 = 0.94, P < 0.05, decreased over plant densities ranging from 0.5 plants/m2 to 3.7 plants/m2. However, on an area basis, yield (fruit weight)/m2 = 1/(0.032 + 0.155‐x)r2 = 0.79, P < 0.05, and fruit number/m2 = ‐23.3 + 49x‐2 r2 = 0.98, P < 0.05, increased, indicating t...

Ovules of babaco [Carica pentagona (Heilborn) Badillo], 23 to 140 days old, were cultured to initiate regenerative callus. Callus developed from the integuments and possibly from the nucellus. Ovules of greater length and age produced more calli on White's medium or medium with half-strength MS salts than on full-strength MS. Ovules >60 days old that were chilled for 24 hours produced significantly more callus than fresh ovules -1·m-2) developed green areas that subsequently produced nodular structures. Nodular structures produced proembryonal structures that developed into mature somatic embryos when transferred to media containing either GA3 (0.1 mg·liter-1) plus activated charcoal (2.0 g·liter-1) or casein hydrolysate (200 mg·liter-1) plus IAA (0.5 mg·liter-1). Somatic embryos converted into plantlets when transferred to embryo conversion medium. Chemical names used: 1-H -indole-3-acetic acid (IAA); gibberellic acid (GA3).

An alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) present in the lyophilized latex of babaco ( Vasconcellea heilbornii ) has been purified to apparent homogeneity by native PAGE. The purification involves a three-step procedure with successive anion exchange with Q Sepharose HP, lectin affinity chromatography using ConA Sepharose 4B, and gel filtration using Superdex 200 prep grade. The molecular mass was determined to be in the range of 260-280 kDa by Superdex 200 prep grade gel filtration, and isoelectric focusing showed a pI range between 5.85 and 6.55, suggesting different glycosylated isoforms. The optimal temperature for the alpha-mannosidase was determined to lie between 50 and 60 degrees C, and the optimal pH was 4.5 at 50 degrees C. The K(m) value for p-nitrophenyl alpha-mannopyranoside (pNPM) was found to be 1.25 mM and the V(max), 2.4 microkat mg(-1) at 50 degrees C and 1.94 microkat mg(-1) at 40 degrees C. The pure alpha-mannosidase was specific for mannose and did not display activity for any other tested synthetic substrates.

La presente investigación es un estudio de caso realizado en la parroquia San Pablo de Tenta del cantón Saraguro en la provincia de Loja. En esta zona, se realizó el análisis-diagnóstico de la competitividad de los productores de babaco con un enfoque de agrocadena, mediante la sistematización de la información recopilada en un proceso de estudio de campo aplicando algunas herramientas metodológicas directamente a los personajes involucrados. Es así, que para cumplir con las perspectivas del estudio, la investigación se desarrolla en torno a los siguientes puntos principales: la caracterización de las tipologías de los productores; el mapeo inicial de la agrocadena, la reconstrucción de la historia agraria y productiva; la identificación de los actores indirectos dentro de la agrocadena; el reconocimiento de los mercados y los tipos de mercados articulados al eslabón de producción, y finalmente la construcción de los costos de producción y beneficios percibidos. De esta manera, el texto se encuentra divido en cinco capítulos. El primer capítulo corresponde al planteamiento del marco conceptual que sustenta el desarrollo de la investigación. El segundo capítulo muestra el marco metodológico empleado. El tercer capítulo trata sobre la sistematización de la información descriptiva de la zona donde se realizó el estudio. El cuarto capítulo incluye la sistematización de la información sobre los aspectos generales de los productores de babaco y de la agrocadena. En el quinto capítulo se presenta la sistematización de la información socio-económica y técnica recogida en la zona de estudio, mediante la aplicación de las herramientas de apoyo en la fase de campo.

A power law model describes adequately the rheological behaviour of Babaco purees and concentrates while a Herschel-Bulkley model describes concentrates only. A single equation ηa=α x cβ x exp (Ea/RT), combining the effects of temperature and concentration on apparent viscosity (ηa100), was used to describe rheological behaviour.

The volatile constituents of babaco fruit (Carica pentagona Heilborn) were investigated. Two different methods of isolation of the volatiles were employed: (a) reduced pressure steam distillation followed by dichloromethane extraction: (b) direct extraction of filtered babaco pulp with diethyl ether. HPLC fractionation of the extracts was carried out. The extracts were analysed by dual capillary gas chromatography and combined capillary GC-MS. The identified volatiles included 9 hydrocarbons, 20 alcohols, 9 carbonyls, 9 acids, 60 esters, 3 lactones, 2 sulphur and 7 miscellaneous components. Quantitative analysis of the major components (butan-1-ol and hexan-1-ol) showed similar results for the two isolation methods. Combined GC-sensory analysis was carried out: of the 21 main odours detected, 18 were tentatively assessed by linear retention index comparison with authentic chemical standards. The aroma of babaco appears to be due to the collective effect of a number of components.

The unripe fruit of babaco (Vasconcellea 9 heilbornii; syn. Carica pentagona) contains a latex, similar to that in Carica papaya, which exhibits lipolytic activity. Herein, the regioselectivity, stereoselectivity and typoselectivity in both hydrolysis and acyltransfer reactions of babaco latex lipases were studied and compared to those of Carica papaya latex. In hydrolysis, both biocatalysts are 1,3-regioselective with ratios for 1,2-2,3-diacylglycerols/1,3- diacylglycerol of 6.5 and 21 for babaco and papaya, respectively. In contrast, papaya latex had a slight sn- 3 stereopreference. Babaco latex displayed a higher activity on triacylglycerols with short chain and unsaturated fatty acids.

El mercado de alimentos se enfrenta a cambios debido a las nuevas tendencias de consumo. La estructura de la población está cambiando, el tamaño promedio de la familia decrece y el comportamiento nutricional se ha sofisticado en medida de los ingresos económicos, estilo de vida y la calidad de los productos prevalece ante la cantidad. Recientes estudios acerca del comportamiento de los consumidores demuestran que el consumidor actual maneja nuevas prioridades en relación a su alimentación. Hoy prefieren alimentos seguros, sanos, frescos, orgánicos, prácticos, exclusivos, étnicos, etc. En general, los productos deben ser naturales, limpios y saludables.

Introducción. Generalidades del babaco. Valores nutricionales del babaco. Estadística del mercado. Propuesta gastronómica. Conclusiones y recomendaciones. Bibliografía.