Fruit and Vitamin C Production of Five- and Six-Year-Old Acerola Trees

Abstract

1. The production records obtained from 163 individual acerola trees belonging to 10 selected clones at the Isabela Substation are shown for the years 1955 and 1956. The trees were 5 and 6 years old from time of setting out as large, well-rooted cuttings. 2. The trees bore fruit during five well-defined cropping periods, which consisted of from 1 to 4 weeks of continuous production. These bearing periods were interspersed with resting periods which varied from 2 to 16 weeks. 3. The four longest bearing periods, accounting for 96 percent of the yearly fruit total, occurred during the months of May to October, inclusive. 4. The yearly yield per acre of a commercial planting in Puerto Rico is estimated at 10 tons of fruit containing 435 pounds of vitamin C. 5. The most productive clone, now strongly recommended for commercial plantings, was B15 which more than doubled the above estimates. The Florida Sweet (K7), a selection made at Homestead, Fla., gave a high yield of fruit which had a relatively low vitamin content. It is rated as an outstanding clone for consumption as fresh fruit.