The objective of this research was evaluate some qualitative traits and estimate the soluble solids content (SSC) in basal (linked to peduncle), median and apical fractions of the custard apple. Three fruits of each one of the ten trees, from 6-8 years old, orchards growing at Mossoró-RN and Aracati-CE, Brazil were utilized. The trees were considered replications (blocks), the fruits were the plots and the fruit fractions were the subplot. Three fruits of each tree were peeled and fractioned in the mentioned portions. The material was homogenized in a blender and filtered in nylon. In the juice obtained, three readings in a digital refractometer were made. The average of these values represented the value for each splitplot. The joint analysis of variance showed effects of sites, blocks whitin sites, fractions and sites x fruits x fractions interaction . The fruit weight varied 226 to 418 g and the pulp yield (pulp weight/fruit weight) varied of 45 to 54 %. The SSC in basal fraction (26.49 %) was lower than in the median (28.02 %) and in the apical (27.53 %) portions contents, but did not differ significantly from that to the apical fraction.
sugar apple; tropical fruits
