Overview: Caryocar brasiliense Cambess.
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. is a wild plant that commonly found in the savannah and cerrado biomes of Brazil. It is a tree species from the Caryocaraceae family, which can grow up to 12-15 meters tall, with a wide crown and rough bark. It is well known for its socio-economic importance, and it is commonly used for the medicinal, ornamental, and food purposes.
Common Names of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess.
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. is known by various common names, including Pequi, in Brazil, where it is most commonly grown, and people typically use its fruit in regional dishes. It is also known as pequi-oil tree, pequi-fruit, pequi-leaf, pequi-nut, or pequi-mirim.
Appearance and Characteristics
The tree has a vast, rounded, and widely-spreading crown with branches. The bark of the trunk and branches is rough, dark gray, and fissured. Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptical to oval-shaped, dark green, and shiny, measuring about 8-20 cm long. The pequi fruit is spherical, with a diameter of 6-8 cm, bright yellow when ripe, with 1-4 pyriform seeds inside covered by oily, mealy, and fragrant pulp. The fruit has a firm, hard shell, with a diameter of 5-7cm, with little spikes, which make it difficult to open. The seeds inside the shell are small and hard, measuring around 3cm long and 1.5cm wide.
Uses of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess.
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. is popular for its multipurpose qualities, where its parts, including fruit, flower, bark, leaves, and seeds, have essential economic values for different purposes. The fruit has a rich, smoky flavor and is traditionally used in the Brazilian cuisine for stews, soups, sauces, and desserts. The oil extracted from the pequi fruit pulp has a yellowish color, rich in carotenoids, and unsaturated fatty acids, making it a healthy cooking oil. The tree's leaves can be used for medicinal purposes. They have antimicrobial properties, and the bark has anti-inflammatory properties. The wood of the tree is also useful, and it is used locally for furniture, construction, and charcoal production.
Light Requirements
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. thrives best in full sun and partial shade. An adequate amount of sunlight is required for the plant's efficient photosynthesis, growth, and development. In areas with limited sunlight, the plant may produce fewer flowers and fruits.
Temperature Requirements
The plant grows well in areas with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 30°C, with a mean annual temperature of approximately 25°C being ideal. During the dry season, temperature variations may occur, which may affect the seed production. However, the plant generally tolerates dry, hot conditions well.
Soil Requirements
The plant needs well-drained soil, which must have adequate organic matter content and a pH range of 4.5 to 6.5. Clayey soil types may retain water, leading to waterlogging, whereas sandy soils may not provide the required nutrients. Hence, loamy soils with adequate drainage are ideally suited for the growth and development of the plant. Additionally, the plant can grow on rocky soils with shallow root systems.
Cultivation of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess.
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. is native to the cerrado biome in Brazil, and it thrives in tropical climates with well-draining soil.
The best time to cultivate Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. is during the rainy season, which generally occurs from November to April. The plant can be sown directly in the ground, or it can be grown from seeds in nurseries and then transplanted after six months.
Watering Needs
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. requires regular watering, especially when it is young. The frequency of watering should be reduced during the dry season to avoid waterlogging, which can cause root rot. It is essential to ensure that the soil is sufficiently moist but not saturated.
Drip irrigation is suitable for cultivating Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. because it delivers water directly to the roots and prevents water wastage due to runoff.
Fertilization
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. can benefit from regular fertilization with a balanced fertilizer. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers should be avoided as they can cause rapid growth, which may result in weak branches and poor fruit yield.
The recommended fertilization method is to apply a slow-release fertilizer during the rainy season. This fertilizer will gradually release nutrients into the soil, providing nourishment to the plant over time.
Pruning
Pruning of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. can promote new growth and improve the development of fruits. Pruning should be undertaken annually during the dry season, and it should aim to remove dead or weak branches.
During the first few years of the plant's life, it is vital to focus on developing a strong central trunk. Once the trunk is established, pruning should focus on shaping the tree to ensure that light penetrates evenly and reaches all parts of the plant. Pruning should also aim to maintain the size of the tree, making it more accessible to harvest fruits.
Propagation of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess.
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. is an important tree species native to Brazil, also known as the "pequi" tree. Propagation of this plant can be done through various methods.
Sexual propagation
Sexual propagation of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. can be done through seeds. The fruit has one to three seeds that are used for propagation. The seeds should be harvested from mature fruits and sown into soil mixed with sand or vermiculite. Seed sowing should be done during the rainy season, and germination can take up to two months. The seedlings should be transplanted to individual pots once they have grown enough.
Asexual propagation
Asexual propagation of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. can be done through various methods, including:
Grafting
Grafting can be done by taking scions from young trees and grafting them onto rootstock seedlings. Grafting is commonly done during the winter or spring season when the sap is low. The scion and rootstock should have the same diameter to ensure successful grafting. The rootstock should be cut at an angle to ensure maximum contact with the scion.
Cuttings
Cuttings of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. can be taken from young branches or stems and planted directly in soil mixed with sand or vermiculite. The cuttings should be about 15 to 20 cm long and should have at least two nodes. The cuttings should be planted in pots or beds with good drainage and kept moist until roots form.
Air layering
Air layering involves creating a wound on a mature branch or stem, and packing it with damp moss or sand. Roots will form from the wound and then the new plantlet can be detached and planted in soil. This method can be done during the rainy season and can take up to six months for roots to form.
Disease and Pest Management for Caryocar brasiliense Cambess.
Caryocar brasiliense Cambess., also known as the "pequi" tree, is a valuable plant species found in the Cerrado biome in Brazil. However, it is susceptible to various diseases and pests that can affect its growth and yield. Proper management strategies are necessary to protect the plant from these threats.
Common Diseases
One of the most common diseases that affect Caryocar brasiliense is the "pequi rust," caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia caryocarpi. Symptoms include yellow-orange spots on leaves that later turn brown and black. Rust can be controlled by removing infected leaves and applying copper-based fungicides.
Another disease that affects the plant is anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. It causes circular brown spots on leaves that later spread to fruits and can cause flower blight. Fungicides and proper pruning can reduce the impact of anthracnose.
Common Pests
Several pests can infest Caryocar brasiliense, including the "pequi borer" (Heilipus lauri), a beetle that lays eggs on the trunk, leading to the death of the tree. Infested trees should be removed and destroyed to prevent the beetles from spreading.
The "pequi fruit borer" (Cerconota anonella) is another pest that affects the plant. The larvae eat the fruit, which can cause significant damage to the yield. Pheromone traps and insecticides are effective in controlling the pest.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management approaches may be useful in managing diseases and pests in Caryocar brasiliense. These can include cultural practices such as regular pruning, cleaning up debris, and providing adequate nutrition. Biological control methods, such as the use of natural enemies like parasitoids, can also be effective.
Chemical control should be the last resort, as it can have negative impacts on the environment and human health. Care should be taken when selecting pesticides and applying them, following instructions on the label carefully.
Overall, proper management techniques are crucial to maintaining healthy and thriving Caryocar brasiliense trees and ensuring sustainable production in the Cerrado biome.
