Promising acerola (Malpighia emarginata Sessé & Moc. ex DC.) genotypes with high fruit quality for different purposes

Abstract

Acerola is a tropical superfruit known for its rich vitamin C content. Due to the considerable genotypic variability in fruit quality traits, an effective multitrait selection is essential for an acerola breeding program aimed to identify promising genotypes for distinct purposes. In this study, fruits from 95 acerola genotypes were evaluated at two maturity stages across three growing seasons. The genotypes were selected for vitamin C extraction (green unripe fruits) and fresh consumption (red ripe fruits), using four selection indices. The variability ranges for quality traits were as follows: fruit mass of 4.19–5.60 g (green fruit) and 4.13–5.90 g (red fruit), vitamin C of 1492.0–2995.8 mg/100 g (green fruit) and 1247.2–2873.6 mg/100 g (red fruit); soluble solids and titratable acidity of 4.70–13.07% and 0.60–1.60%, both in red fruit. Desirable gains for all traits were achieved by the multitrait indices. Twelve genotypes (Flor Branca, IARP 01, ALHA 03, ACO 10, Junko, Natália, LAG 04, Lígia, Luisa, LAG 05, Costa Rica and BV 01) stood out for vitamin C extraction at the green stage, as well as eleven genotypes (Manoela, IARP 01, Okinawa, LAG 04, Costa Rica, Clone 71/2, ACO 05, ACO 14, LAG 01, BRS Rubra and MAR 10) excelled for fresh consumption at the red stage. Costa Rica, IARP 01 and LAG 04 were selected as dual-purpose genotypes, intended for both fresh consumption and vitamin C extraction.