Mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth): An Underutilized Superplant from the Andes

Susana A. Llivisaca-Contreras, Fabián León-Tamariz, Patricia Manzano-Santana, Jenny Ruales, Jaime Naranjo-Morán, Lizette Serrano-Mena, Eduardo Chica-Martínez, Juan M. Cevallos-Cevallos

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mortiño is a member of the Ericaceae family native to the Andes that has been used by local communities for centuries. This species has shown potential in the areas of medicine, agronomy, and green technology. We used a multidisciplinary approach to review aspects related to the ecology, horticulture, composition and potential biotechnological applications of mortiño. As interest in this species grows, care must be taken to identify opportunities that justify its sustainable use while emphasizing the development of local communities. Mapping the wide variety of potential uses and the current state of conservation and utilization of this berry will help researchers to better target mortiño’s potential.

Original languageEnglish
Article number358
JournalHorticulturae
Volume8
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR-UOS) grant VLIR Network Ecuador.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • anthocyanins
  • antimicrobial
  • antioxidant
  • domestication attempts
  • ecology
  • genetic diversity
  • green technology
  • medicinal plant
  • polyphenols

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