Analysing fruit shape in safou (Dacryodes edulis) fruit by using aspect ratio

Abstract Fruit shape is one of the most important quality criteria for evaluation by customer preference. Aspect ratio (A.R.) was used as physical parameter to perform the choice of ratios for fruits shape determination. This study proposes a relationship between fruit shape and morphological parameters in bush butter fruits (Dacryodes edulis) collected on 35 bush butter trees. The results show that bush butter fruits present some shapes. To describe fruit shapes the use of morphological characteristics is possible. So, the unique parameter used in our study was A.R., width over length. All of 35 trees analyzed were regrouped in three types; those types were assimilated at shapes in bush butter fruit designated by elliptical, spheroidal and obovate shape. On fruit shapes, the analysis of variance shows that the mean values of aspect ratio are significantly different shape as shape. So, it indicates great distinction in the three fruit shapes presented. The distance calculus proposes also a bush butter categorization model based on A.R. A model to describe fruits source of the new trees is proposed.