ARS | Publication request: Yield and fruit quality traits of carambola cultivars grown at three locations in Puerto Rico

Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 29, 2007
Publication Date: October 1, 2007
Citation: Goenaga, R. 2007. Yield and fruit quality of carambola cultivars grown at three locations in Puerto Rico. HortTechnology. 17(4):604-607.

Interpretive Summary: Little is known about the performance of carambola cultivars grown in the tropics and subtropics. This study was conducted to evaluate yield performance and fruit quality traits of nine carambola cultivars grown in replicated trials in three agroenvironments. Cultivars were highly adapted to the diverse agroenvironments in which they were planted. There were no significant differences in number and marketable weight of fruits among locations averaging 258,761 fruits/ha and 30,978 kg/ha, respectively. There were no significant differences in weight of marketable fruit per hectare among cultivars ‘B-17’, ‘Thai Knight’, and ‘Sri Kembangan’ averaging 36,060 kg/ha. Of these, ‘B-17’ had the greatest brix (sweetness) value. This study provides for the first time useful information to Extension Agents and growers about yield and fruit quality traits of various carambola cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Nine carambola (Averrhoa carambola) cultivars grown on an Oxisol, Ultisol, and Mollisol were evaluated for four years under intensive management at Isabela, Corozal and Juana Díaz, PR, respectively. There were no significant differences in number and weight of marketable fruits per hectare among locations averaging 258,761 fruits/ha and 30,978 kg/ha, respectively. There were no significant differences of marketable fruit weight per hectare among cultivars ‘B-17’, ‘Thai Knight’, and ‘Sri Kembangan’ between locations. The average marketable fruit weight for these higher-yielding cultivars was 36,060 kg/ha. ‘Arkin’ and ‘B-16’ were the lowest yielding cultivars averaging 23,490 kg/ha of marketable fruits. Cultivar ‘Kari’ produced significantly longer fruits at all locations, whereas cultivar ‘B-16’ produced the shortest fruits. Significantly higher brix values were obtained from fruits of cultivar ‘B-17’ at all locations whereas lower values were obtained from those of ‘Arkin’.