Evaluation of yield and fruit quality traits of eight selected starfruit clones

Eight selected Department of Agriculture-registered clones namely; B1, B2, B4, B6, B9, B11, B13 and B16 were evaluated and compared to B10 and B17 as check clones. The plants were planted in six single-tree plots in randomised complete block design. The evaluation was done on the plants at the age of five years after planting in Kluang, Johor. Yield traits were assessed based on fruit number and total weight of fruits harvested, while fruit quality was assessed based on fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, total soluble solid (TSS) content and seed number per fruit. Analysis of variance showed that the clones were highly significant for all the parameters evaluated. B10 produced the highest yield (36.14 t/ha) while B17 produced the highest TSS (12.9 °Brix). The results further showed that B6 had the same mean fruit weight but less sweet than B17, but smaller in fruit weight with the same TSS as compared to B10. Among the eight clones evaluated, B6 emerged as another additional choice for grower in terms of yield and fruit quality.