Yield and physicochemical characteristics of west indian cherry genotypes grown in the semi-arid region

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the yield and physicochemical characteristics of three West Indian Cherry genotypes cultivated in the semi-arid region of the state of Piauí, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications and three treatments, corresponding to the West Indian Cherry genotypes ‘Clone 14’, ‘BRS 366 Jaburu’, and ‘Junko’ cultivated in a 4 x 3 m spacing. Combined genotype analysis revealed the following mean variations: yield from 22.96 to 47.53 t ha -1; fruit mass from 4.18 to 5.52 g; longitudinal diameter from 20.28 to 22.80 mm; transverse diameter from 17.32 to 18.42 mm, pulp yield from 27.58 % to 34.54%; red Hue° varying from 19.00° to 26.00°; soluble solids from 7.2 to 8.1 °Brix; titratable acidity from 0.82 to 1.34; ratio of total soluble solids to titratable acidity from 5.00 to 10.37; pH from 3.52 to 3.74; total anthocyanins from 2.56 to 12.11 mg.100 g-1 of pulp; flavonoids from 4.30 to 7.44 mg.100 g-1 of pulp; lycopene from 0.30 to 4.71 mg.100 g-1 of pulp; β-carotene from 14.00 to 32.51 mg 100 g-1 of pulp; mean ascorbic acid content of 2.676 mg.100 g-1 of pulp. Under the present experimental conditions, “BRS 366 Jaburu” was the most promising among the studied genotypes.