Phenotypic stability of acerola genotypes evaluated in different times
Rogério Ritzinger, Carlos Alberto da Silva Ledo, and Marilia Ieda da Silveira Folegatti
Characteristics of acerola related to the levels of total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA) and vitamin C (VC) are directly linked to the quality of the fruits, being influenced mainly by the genotype and climate. Climatic variations makes the amounts of SST, ATT and VC in the fruits not constant, so that eventually they do not meet the minimum demands of the consuming markets. This work had as objective to evaluate the differential response of acerola genotypes to the variation of the climatic conditions in fruits picked in three successive harvests in different seasons and also in the same season in successive years, by means of an analysis of phenotypic stability. In both situations, significant differences were observed among the genotypes in relation to the stability in the three variables assessed due to variations in the climatic conditions.