Challenges in Breeding and Selecting Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa × P. incarnata hybrids
MSU Affiliation
Extension Service (MSUES); Coastal Research and Extension Center; Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES); South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station
Creation Date
2026-06-30
Abstract
Passiflora is comprised of many species, with P. edulis being the prominent commercial species. Another species that grows in more temperate regions is P. incarnata. Breeding to create interspecific hybrids with these two species has been done before but without longstanding success. Controlled crosses of P. edulis f. flavicarpa × P. incarnata were made to generate baseline data on interspecific passionfruit hybrids that can survive subtropical and temperate winters. The number of fruits collected per individual hybrid selection ranged from 4 to 52. Some fruits produced no seeds whereas others averaged more than 25 seeds per fruit. Pulp weight ranged from 0 to 10 g, with two individuals above 10 g. Many vines had poor pulp percentage (< 25%). A few were over 30% and two individuals were over 40%. The average width of fruit ranged between 32 and 46 mm. The overall shapes were similar among fruits. Vines with P. incarnata from Illinois (USA) as a parent produced fewer seeds, lower total fruit weight, shorter height, smaller width, lower fruit density, lighter pulp weight and pulp percentage. The vines with P. incarnata from Oklahoma (USA) as a parent made more seeds, longer height, and a more elongated shape than the other two pollen parents. Mississippi-based P. incarnata vines had the greatest average total fruit weight, hull weight, fruit width, and fruit density. Based on the results of this study, there is reason to be cautiously optimistic about interspecific hybrid Passiflora involving P. incarnata. Creating more generations with backcrossing to P. edulis is the next logical step in the process.
Publication Date
9-4-2023
Publication Title
Technology in Horticulture
Publisher
Maximum Academic Press
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Rights
© 2023 The Author(s)
Recommended Citation
Stafne ET. 2023. Challenges in breeding and selecting Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa × P. incarnata hybrids. Technology in Horticulture 3:16 doi: 10.48130/TIH-2023-0016
