Frutificação e desenvolvimento de frutos de aceroleira no Norte do Paraná

The objective of this study was to evaluate fruit set and development of West Indian Cherries. The cultivars 'Dominga' (UEL-3), 'Ligia' (UEL-4) and 'Natalia' (UEL-5) were evaluated in Londrina, state of Parana, in three flowering periods. The fruit set percentage was calculated as the ratio of the number of marked, naturally pollinated flowers to the number of harvested mature fruits. The duration of the flower-bud, flower, green fruit development, and mature fruit stages were assessed as well. The fruit set rate varied from 10.7% for cultivar 'Natalia' (UEL-5) in the period October/November to 32.7% for 'Dominga' (UEL-3) in December/January, respectively. The fruit set cycle (from anthesis to harvest) lasted between 19 and 32 days. It lasted longer in the October/November period than in December/January and January/February, when the temperature and precipitation increased.