Genetic analysis identifies the region of origin of smuggled peach palm seeds

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth, Palmae) is cultivated almost exclusively in tropical America, both for its fruit and its heart-of-palm. There is growing demand for the heart-of-palm, stimulating an agribusiness with about 43,000 hectares in various Latin American countries, as well as breeding programs of peach palm for this product, including in Amazonia [1,2]. Currently, Brazil is the largest heart-of-palm producer, followed by Ecuador and Costa Rica, which are the largest exporters [2].

Source: Forensic Science International - February 17, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Michelly de Cristo-Ara újo, David Bronze Molles, Doriane Picanço Rodrigues, Charles R. Clement Tags: Case Report Source Type: research