Ацерола: описание, распространение и выращивание

Species of plant

Malpighia emarginata is a tropical fruit bearing shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae. Common names include acerola (from الزُّعرُورَة "azarole"), Guarani cherry, Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry, and wild crepe myrtle. Acerola is native to Paraguay and Brazil in South America, Central America and southern Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Haiti, but is now also being grown as far north as Texas and in subtropical areas of Asia, such as India.

Malpighia emarginata is originally from Yucatán, and can be found in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America as far south as Peru and Colombia, and the southeast region of Brazil, and in the southernmost parts of the contiguous United States (southern Florida and the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas). In Florida, it can be grown in protected locations as far north as Cape Canaveral. It is cultivated in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world, including the Canary Islands, Ghana, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, India, Java, Hawaii, and Australia.

Brazil is the largest producer of acerola worldwide. On , Brazil produces of acerola per year. In order to preserve the genetic variability of acerola, the federal rural University of Pernambuco in Brazil established an "Acerola Active Germplasm Bank" in June 1998.

Acerola can be propagated by seed, cutting, or other methods. It prefers dry, well drained, sandy soil and full sun, and cannot endure temperatures lower than Because of its shallow roots, it has very low tolerance to winds. Furthermore, a sufficient water supply is advantageous for good growth and maximum yields of large fruits. This is especially important during fruiting and flowering. The optimal growth conditions are reached at a mean temperature of and of rainfall annually.

Acerola is an evergreen shrub or small tree with spreading branches on a short trunk. It is usually tall, but sometimes reaches in height. The chromosome number is 2n = 40.

The bark of young branches is green and sparsely covered with curly haired trichomes, which fall off with age. The greyish to brownish bark is relatively smooth and covered with conspicuous cork pores when young. With age, it is thick and cracked.

The leaves are simple, ovate to elliptic lanceolate in outline, long, wide, with an entire or undulating margin. They are attached oppositely on the stem on short petioles. The leaves have small hairs, which can irritate skin.

The flowering of the tree happens from April to November. Flowers are bisexual and in diameter. They have five pale to deep pink or red fringed petals, 10 stamens, and six to 10 glands on the calyx. The three to five flowers per inflorescence are sessile or short peduncled axillary cymes. and other nutrients. They are divided into three obscure lobes and are usually acidic to subacidic, giving them a sour taste, but may be sweet if grown well.

Acerola flowers and fruits already in the first year after planting but increases its production in the following years, reaching up to per plant in the sixth year.

Plants can be set at any time of the year, but the best time is spring, just before the rainy season. Choose a location with good water drainage and in a sheltered spot. Florida duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus), and brown banded skipper (Timochares ruptifasciatus). Larvae of the acerola weevil (v=sup) feed on the fruits, while adults consume young leaves.

Acerola fruit is 91% water, and 8% carbohydrates, and contains negligible protein and fat (table). The fruit also supplies manganese at 29% DV, while other micronutrients are uniformly low in content (table). In reference amount, acerola fruit provides an exceptional content of vitamin C at some 20 times the Daily Value (DV) (table). Whereas the content of sugar, soluble solids and titratable acids increases, the vitamin C content decreases with the ripening process of the fruit. Therefore, the immature green fruit is harvested for industrial use of the vitamin C.

The sour fruits of acerola are high in vitamin C, and acerola cherry is used as a food supplement. Acerola fruit may be eaten raw or used as a juice that is mixed with other, usually sweeter fruit juices.

Acerola is a popular bonsai subject because of its small leaf and fruit, and fine ramification. It is also grown as an ornamental and for hedges. Because acerola also contains pigments like anthocyanins and carotenoids, it could also be used as a food colorant.