UEL 4 Ligia

'UEL 4 Ligia' is one of three acerola cultivars released in 2002 by Universidade Estadual de Londrina in Parana, Brazil, from a breeding programme begun in 1992 that started with 31 genotypes collected from commercial orchards in Parana and Sao Paulo and propagated by cuttings. Of the three UEL releases it has the largest fruit and the highest ascorbic acid, and it is also the earliest to start cropping, which is why it is the pick of the series for a subtropical rather than a fully tropical site. Its ascorbic acid figures are remarkable even for acerola: about 3,579 mg per 100 g in unripe fruit and still 1,458 mg per 100 g when fully ripe. The UEL cultivars were bred for the processing market, going into juices, preserves and nutraceutical products. They are recommended for northern Parana and climatically similar regions, meaning cooler subtropical conditions than most acerola selections were developed for.