Table 2 Examples of Brazilian plants under domestication and their documented trends in changes resulting from artificial selection

Acca selowiana (O. Berg) Burret (Myrtaceae)

Goiabinha serrana

Tree

Fruit

Fruit weight

Heavy fruit

[14]

Length-diameter ratio

Elongated fruit

Fruit shape

Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze (Araucariaceae)

Pinheiro-Brasileiro

Tree

Pine

Pine size

Larger pine

[98]

Productivity

More productive specimens

Pine flavor

Sweeter pine

Manihot esculenta ssp. esculenta (Euphorbiaceae)

Cassava

Shrub

Tuberous root (sometimes leaves)

Stem cuts

Lower degree of branching favoring propagation by cuttings and lowering flowering, partial loss of defenses. Faster growth through change in seedling morphology

[99–101]

Seedlings

Spondias tuberosa Arruda (Anacardiaceae)

Umbuzeiro

Tree

Fruit

Fruit size

Larger fruit

[14, 78]

Pit size

Small pit

Fruit rind thickness

Thinner

Pulp yield

Higher yield

Fruit shape

Oblong fruit

Theobroma cacao L.(Malvaceae)

Cocoa

Tree

Seeds

Fruit’s peel

Thinner (Pentagona type)

[102]

Seed/fruit rate

Higher (Pentagona type)

Pulp flavor

Sweet (var. Criollo)

Fermentation time

Less (var. Criollo)

Euterpe oleraceae Mart. (Arecaceae)

Açaí

Tree

Fruit

Fruit color

Purplish fruit

[89]

Fruit flavor

Multiplos caules

Ramificação do caule

Bertholletia excelsea Bonpl. (Lecythidaceae)

Castanheira

Tree

Fruit and seeds

Seed/fruit rate

Higher

[89]

Theobroma grandiflorum (Wild. ex. Spreng.) Schum (Malvaceae)

Cupuaçu

Tree

Fruit

Fruit size

Larger fruit

[89]

Number of fruit

Higher

[89]

Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal (Solanaceae)

Cubiu

Perennial herb

Fruit

Fruit size

Larger fruit

Number of loculus

Firm fruits

Number of fruit

Higher