Observations and Data on a Promising Selection of the West Indian Cherry, Malpighia Punicifolia L.

Abstract

Six hundred and thirty-eight trees of "acerola", the West Indian cherry (Malpighia punicifolia L.) are under study at present. The discovery made, in 1945, that the juice of this fruit had a high vitamin C content has given the "acerola" a potential economic importance since the juice can be extracted without loss of its nutritional value. A selection of the fruit (B-17) at present under study has proved to be a high yielder of juice as well as of vitamin C. The fruit is also large. The vitamin C content of the juice of 18 fruit samples from 9 trees of this selection ranged from 1,325 to 2,250 mgm. per 100 cc. of juice. The vitamin C content of the juice of a single fruit of the analyzed samples ranged from 53 to 176 mg. Based on these values, the juice of one fruit of this selection will supply the minimum daily requirement of vitamin C for child or adult. An apparent relationship between certain climatic factors and the vitamin C content of the fruit has been observed. Differences between values of the vitamin C content of the fruit harvested at different times during the year are so high that their cause should be investigated further.