Characterization and Evaluation of Five Jaboticaba Accessions at the Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami, Florida

Fruit of five Jaboticaba (Myrciaria caulifloria) cultivars ‘MC-05-06’, ‘MC-05-14’, ‘MC-05-12’,  ‘MC-06-15,’ and ‘MC-06-14’  were evaluated and characterized at the National Germplasm Repository,  Subtropical horticulture Research Station (SHRS) Miami, Florida. Thirty fruits were harvested from clonal accessions during March and  April, 2013 and2014 and allowed to ripe at room temperature (24-29 ^oC). Physical characteristic of fruit were determined by measuring fruit length, diameter and weight.  Jaboticaba physio-chemical characteristics were determined by measuring the BRIX (°Bx), pH, tritatable acid, and fruit color (L*, a*, b*) values. The average mean fruit weight  ranged from 4.02 to 7.0 for ‘MC-05-06 ’ ; 3.5 to 9.9 for MC-05-14; 3.34 to 7.0 for ‘MC-05-14’ for ‘MC-05-12’ , 3.25 to 7.5 for ‘MC-06-15’ and  2.76 to 7.5  for ‘MC-06-14’. Mean fruit length ranged from 24.75 to 13.24 mm, diameter was 22.53 mm, and peel weight fluctuated  from 0.25 grams to 0.93 grams.  The pH ranged from 2.32 to 3.85  and tritatable acidity  express as  % of citric acid content  ranged from 0. 95 to 1.35 being the highest on  ‘MC-06-14’ cultivar. Seeds per fruit varied from 1 t0 4 seeds been the lowest on ‘MC-05-06’.  This study demonstrated  that jaboticaba could be an alternate/potential crop for growers  in south Florida.