Canistel (Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni; yellow sapote, canistel) is an edible fruit that is native to Mexico; the tree is used as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Descriptive studies were carried out with the objective of characterizing the morphology of the fruit and leaves of trees located in different regions of Mexico to select outstanding specimens for large scale reproduction. The selection of trees was carried out in three geographically neighboring areas, where visible differences have been observed in fruit morphology: size, shape, color, number of seeds, and leaf shape. Semi-ripe fruit were collected from each area, weight and measurements were noted, seeds were extracted, and a data matrix was obtained: (fruit weight (grams), fruit polar diameter (centimeters), fruit equatorial diameter (centimeters), pulp weight (grams), number of seeds, seed weight (grams), seed polar diameter (centimeters), seed equatorial diameter (centimeters), and total soluble solids (SST)). Leaves were collected at the mature stage, and an image analysis was carried out to evaluate morphometric parameters: area, perimeter, major diameter, minor diameter, circularity, solidity, and angle. An analysis of variance was performed to find significant differences in the fruit data and a principal component analysis was performed with the leaf data. In Zone 2, the fruit had three seeds, the highest weight in all the zones sampled (180 to 330 g), and the greatest amount of pulp (198.88 g); they were subglobose in shape, and 33% soluble solids. There were eight months to harvest in Zone 1 and nine months in Zone 3. The main variables in the principal component analysis were leaf area, perimeter, and minor diameter; 84.6% of the variability represented by the first three components is sufficient to explain the difference between the leaves of the three zones. This data can be used to assess the propagation of canistel in areas with favorable climatic conditions for fruiting in tropical and subtropical regions.

Canistel (Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni) (yellow sapote, canistel). Originally from Mexico, the fruit is edible, and the tree is used as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Descriptive studies were carried out with the objective of morphologically characterizing the fruits and leaves of trees located in different regions of Mexico to select outstanding specimens and propose their massive reproduction. The trees were selected in three zones. In zone 2 from flower anthesis to harvest 11 months, fruits with 3 seeds, greater weight (180 to 330 g) and quantity of pulp (198.88 g), subglobose shape, total soluble solids 33 %. The fruits of zone 1 at harvest 8 months and zone 3 took 9 months to be harvested, in the rest of the characteristics evaluated were exceeded by the fruits of zone 2. To characterize the canistel (P. campechiana) leaf and identify accessions or cultivars, the three main variables, according to the principal component analysis were: leaf area, perimeter, and minor diameter. The three zones where canistel fruits and leaves were characterized are important and can be recommended for propagation in zones with favorable climatic conditions for fruiting in tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico.

Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni, comúnmente conocido como canistel, zapote amarillo, es un árbol frutal perenne de la familia Sapotaceae. Esta planta se utiliza en México y Centro América como etnomedicinal, tiene un papel importante en diferentes actividades biológicas, los principales componentes bioquímicos de esta especie son los flavonoides, polifenoles y carotenoides. Esta revisión tuvo como objetivo presentar y analizar la información generada sobre la germinación y desarrollo de la planta de P. campechiana, hasta el trasplante a terreno definitivo. Con la intención de resumir el conocimiento de cómo reproducir plantas de P. campechiana que permitan favorecer el aprovechamiento de este recurso biótico. Esta revisión dilucida las estrategias para la propagación ex vitro, la técnica de escarificación manual, la posición de siembra de la semilla que favorecen el desarrollo de la raíz y plúmula y como la poda de raíz malformada mejora el desarrollo de la planta; así como la optimización de la propagación y como con la poda de raíz de plantas de P. campechiana antes del trasplante beneficia la asociación natural con hongos micorrízico arbusculares; todo esto con el objetivo de mejorar la producción de plantas de calidad y la aplicación alimenticia y terapéutica de P. campechiana. La información crítica sobre los descubrimientos y estrategias de propagación y su efecto en la producción de este árbol multipropósito, lo que ayudaría en el estudio de las plantas que han sido subutilizadas pero que tienen potencial.

Starch is a polysaccharide produced by plants, which varies in size, shape and appearance and can be observed at different levels. Pouteria campechiana is a fruit tree of the Sapotaceae family. The fruits contain one to five large seeds with a high starch content. Given the increasing demand for food, it is crucial to explore alternative sources of non-conventional energy for human consumption. This study aims to characterize the starch granules of P. campechiana seeds at various stages of germination. Fruits were collected in the state of Morelos, Mexico and seeds were germinated. Samples were taken at 3, 33, 50, 50, 74, 98 and 130 days after sowing (das). They were fixed in FAA (formaldehyde, acetic acid and alcohol) and cut for embedding in paraffin. Sections were obtained with a microtome, stained with toluidine blue and mounted with resin. They were observed under the microscope. The microphotographs were subjected to digital analysis. The following were measured: area, circularity, solidity, roundness, diameter. At 3 das, the highest amount of starch was found, while at 50 and 130 das, the lowest amount was recorded. The majority of the granules are simple, round, large and small. As germination progresses, they become deformed, taking on a polygonal shape.