The main objective to acerola breeding nowadays is to increase profitability of the orchards through the utilisation of high yield and high Vitamin C content cultivars. In order to evaluate the performance of acerola clones (Malpighia emarginata DC.) planted in private orchard, an experiment was set up in August 1999 arranged as randomized block design with 45 clones, 3 replicates and 5 plants per plot. Plant height and canopy diameter were measured at plant ages of one and two years. Fruit yield was evaluated from August till December in the year 2000, and from January till December in 2001. Fruit evaluation consisted of measurements of Vitamin C and soluble solids (°Brix) contents and fruit average weight. Among the main conclusions it should be emphasized that: all clones tend to produce throughout the year although May and July have not been favourable to 53% of the clones; after considering satisfactory performance as for morphological plant characteristics and fruit attributes, the clones I 13/2, I 51/1, II 26/4, III56/4 and III 78/1 were chosen by preliminary selection; high Vitamin C content above 1600 mg/100g, was found in the pulp of fruits from 11% of the clones.
Malpighia emarginata; improvement; yields; vitamin C; selection
