Phytochemical Characterisation of Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense Lam.) Segregants from Interspecific Crosses Within Section Lasiocarpa

Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense Lam.) is an Andean fruit crop of high economic and nutraceutical value, appreciated for its acidic-aromatic flavour and its contents of carotenoids, vitamin C and phenolic compounds. However, naranjilla production is constrained by susceptibility to pests and diseases, which has promoted the use of wild relatives from section Lasiocarpa in breeding programmes. The objective of this study was to characterise the physical, chemical, mineral and antioxidant attributes of 21 naranjilla materials developed in Ecuador and to identify elite segregants using multivariate approaches. Significant differences were observed among segregants for all evaluated variables. Antioxidant capacity, together with polyphenols and flavonoids, explained the largest proportion of total variation, whereas soluble solids and acidity were associated with organoleptic quality. Segregant P40 stood out due to its high antioxidant activity, soluble solids content and fruit weight; hence, it was identified as the most outstanding elite material. These results confirm the potential of naranjilla breeding in improving both yield and fruit quality.