FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / A avaliaÃÃo da qualidade de frutos oriundos de plantas selecionadas pelo programa de melhoramento genÃtico da Embrapa AgroindÃstria Tropical, visa selecionar plantas com melhor potencial para consumo in natura e processamento industrial. Objetivou-se com este trabalho caracterizar fisicamente, fÃsico-quimicamente e quimicamente frutos de aceroleira oriundos de 19 clones comerciais, avaliando a capacidade antioxidante total (AOT) das suas porÃÃes comestÃveis. Os frutos foram provenientes de trÃs diferentes campos experimentais, sendo os clones I6/2, Apodi-CL, Okinawa-CL, Cereja, Roxinha, Frutacor, II 47/1, Flor Branca, Barbados, Monami, Sertaneja e Mineira do Campo Experimental de Limoeiro do Norte-CE; os clones AC 69, Okinawa-OU, AC 26, AC 71, Apodi-OU e FP19 do plantio comercial orgÃnico da Empresa Nutrilite Amway e o clone FlÃrida Sweet do Campo Experimental de PacajusâCE. Todos os frutos foram colhidos no estÃdio de maturaÃÃo comercial nos respectivos locais, onde foram avaliados quanto à firmeza da polpa, comprimento, diÃmetro, cor instrumental L a* b*, peso total, sÃlidos solÃveis (SS), acidez total (AT), pH, relaÃÃo sÃlidos solÃveis/ acidez total (SS/AT), aÃÃcares solÃveis totais (AST), vitamina C total, antocianinas totais, flavonÃides amarelos, polifenÃis extraÃveis totais (PET), carotenÃides totais e atividade antioxidante total (AAT). Os pesos apresentaram amplitude entre 2,09 e 14,48g, com mÃdia de 6,05g. O comprimento mÃdio foi de 19,73mm e o diÃmetro 22,53mm. Os clones que concentraram a maior firmeza, vitamina C, polifenÃis totais e atividade antioxidante foram AC 69, Okinawa-OU, AC 26, AC 71, Apodi-OU e FP19. O FlÃrida Sweet obteve a maior relaÃÃo SS/AT, seguido pelos orgÃnicos. O Frutacor e o AC26 apresentaram os maiores teores de carotenÃides totais. Os frutos do clone Barbados mostraram a menor atividade antioxidante total. O peso e o tamanho (comprimento e diÃmetro) ficaram entre os parÃmetros fÃsicos com menor influÃncia de fatores ambientais. Para a vitamina C, polifenÃis e atividade antioxidante foram obtidas as maiores variaÃÃes, tanto residuais quanto genÃticas. Os sÃlidos solÃveis, pH, acidez total, relaÃÃo SS/AT, carotenÃides e aÃÃcares totais foram as variÃveis que demonstraram as menores influÃncias do ambiente e genÃtica, quando comparadas com as demais. Houve correlaÃÃo significativa (P ≤ 0,01) entre o peso, tamanho, coordenada a* e b*. Os polifenÃis apresentaram correlaÃÃo positiva (P ≤ 0,01) com a atividade antioxidante total (0,73). A vitamina C parece ter contribuÃdo consideravelmente para essa atividade, apresentado correlaÃÃo direta (P ≤ 0,01) com os polifenÃis (0,87) e com a atividade antioxidante total (0,78). RelaÃÃo negativa significativa a 1% foi encontrada entre a acidez total e a relaÃÃo SS/AT. Diante do exposto, como foi observada correlaÃÃo direta da atividade antioxidante com dois, dos principais grupos de compostos bioativos (polifenÃis totais e vitamina C), pode-se inferir que a aÃÃo antioxidante dos materiais se deve, basicamente, a esses dois compostos, sem desconsiderar o sinergismo que existe entre todos eles. / The evaluation of the quality of fruit come from selected plants, by the program of genetic improvement Embrapa AgroindÃstria Tropical. It has as objective selects plants to cultivation with the better potential to consume in nature and industrial processing. The objective of this work was to characterize physically, chemically and physico-chemically fruits of acerola, 19 clones from commercial, evaluating the total antioxidant capacity (AOT) of its edible portions. The fruits were from different fields experimental, and the clones I6 / 2, Apodi-CL, Okinawa-CL, Cereja, Roxinha, Frutacor, II 47 / 1, Flor Branca, Barbados, Monami, Sertaneja and Mineira Field Trial of Limoeiro do Norte-CE; the clones AC69, Okinawa-OU, AC26, AC71, Apodi-OU and FP19 commercial planting organic Company Amway Nutrilite and clone Florida Sweet of Field of Experimental Pacajus-CE. All fruits were harvested at the stage of maturity in their commercial locations, where they were evaluated as to the firmness of flesh, length, diameter, colour instrumental La*b*, total weight, soluble solids (SS), total acidity (AT), pH , relationship soluble solids / total acidity (SS/AT), total soluble sugars (AST), total vitamin C, total anthocyanins, flavonoids yellow, total extractable polyphenols (PET), total carotenoids and total antioxidant activity (AAT). Weights had amplitude between 2.09 and 14.48g with an average of 6.05g. The average length was 19.73mm and 22.53mm diameter. The clones that concentrated the greatest firmness, vitamin C, total polyphenol and antioxidant activity were AC69, Okinawa-OU, AC26, AC71, Apodi-OU and FP19. The Florida Sweet received the highest regard SS/AT, followed by organic. The Frutacor and AC26 showed the highest levels of total carotenoids. The Barbados showed the lowest total antioxidant activity. The weight and size (length and diameter) were among the physical parameters with less influence of environmental factors. For vitamin C, polyphenols and antioxidant activity were obtained the greatest variations, as much as residual genetic. The soluble solids, pH, total acidity, relatio SS/AT, carotenoids and total sugars were the variables that showed the lowest influences of the environment and genetics, as compared to the other. There was significant correlation (P ≤ 0,01) between the weight, size, coordinated a * b*. The polyphenols showed a positive correlation (P ≤ 0,01) with the total antioxidant activity (0.73). Vitamin C appears to have contributed considerably to this activity, presented direct correlation (P ≤ 0,01) with polyphenols (0.87) and the total antioxidant activity (0.78). Significant negative relationship to 1% was found between the total acidity and the relationship SS/AT. Given the foregoing, as was observed direct correlation of antioxidant activity with two of the main groups of bioactive compounds (polyphenols total and vitamin C), it can be inferred that the antioxidant activity of the materials should be, basically, these two compounds, without disregard the synergism that exists between all of them.