Lucuma and goldenberry are rich in bioactive compounds, and swell-drying (SD) can help preserve these properties. This study examined how SD impacts the nutritional quality of lucuma and goldenberry. The SD process involved the following: (1) initial pre-drying, with Interval Highly Active Drying (IHAD) for lucuma and Continuous Convective Airflow Drying (CCAD) for goldenberry, (2) a DIC treatment under an experimental design with 13 treatments, and (3) a final CCAD step. The parameters studied for DIC were steam pressure (0.1 to 0.5 MPa) and treatment time (5 to 55 s). Bromatological analysis and antioxidant activity were the response variables. Under accurate SD conditions, both fruits maintained their nutritional quality and increased their antioxidant activity compared to controls. Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, fiber, and ash average contents of lucuma were 88.73%, 7.28%, 1.18%, 1.88%, and 0.92%, respectively. The DIC treatment of 0.27 MPa for 22 s increased the percentage of ABTS and the DPPH inhibition of lucuma by 1.2 and 1.5 times, respectively. For goldenberry, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, fiber, and ash average contents were 71.87%, 7.18% 7.01%, 6.60%, and 6.77%, respectively. DIC treatment of goldenberry at 0.5 MPa for 30 s increased ABTS % inhibition by 1.5 times, and DIC at 0.10 MPa for 30 s increased DPPH inhibition by 4.9%.

Neltuma pallida is a multi-purpose tree species of the seasonally dry tropical forests of northern Peru, where it provides essential ecological and socioeconomic functions. However, recurrent defoliation associated with the cecidomyiid gall midge Enallodiplosis discordis may compromise early seedling establishment and the success of forest restoration programs. This study evaluated the effects of larval infestation on foliar integrity and established quantitative damage thresholds in N. pallida seedlings under dry forest conditions. Insects collected from naturally infested plants were identified using an integrative taxonomic approach that combined classical morphological diagnosis with COI-based DNA barcoding obtained by Sanger sequencing. Morphological assessment assigned the defoliating dipteran to E. discordis, while BLASTn v2.17.0. analysis of the 576-bp partial COI sequence showed 92.6% identity and 100% query coverage with Cecidomyiidae records, supporting its taxonomic placement within this family. Field bioassays conducted over a 17-week period, in which 25 individual seedlings were evaluated (N = 25), revealed a strong and significant positive correlation between larval density and foliar damage percentage (r = 0.872; p < 0.001), with moderate damage levels predominating throughout the evaluation period. Despite sustained larval presence, seedlings did not reach severe damage categories, suggesting potential relative tolerance to partial defoliation under the evaluated field conditions. Temperature and relative humidity were not significantly associated with infestation intensity or foliar damage during the study period. Overall, these findings indicate that E. discordis-associated foliar damage represents a relevant, although not necessarily lethal, biotic constraint for the early regeneration of N. pallida under the field conditions assessed. The quantitative thresholds reported here provide useful criteria for dry forest restoration programs, phytosanitary monitoring, and integrated pest management strategies in the Peruvian dry forest.