Production technology and crop improvement of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.)
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Date
2020
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Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara
Abstract
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.) belonging to the family Passifloraceae
is most accepted for fresh consumption and for various processed products. Passion
fruit cultivation is gaining popularity among farmers due to its adaptability under
humid tropical conditions and presence of nutritional and therapeutic components.
The present study was undertaken in passion fruit with the objectives to evaluate
performance of different genotypes, hybridization for development of superior types,
standardize the nutrient requirement and propagation method through stem cuttings.
Eight passion fruit accessions collected from different locations of Kerala were
evaluated for vegetative, flower, yield and fruit characters. Flower characters did not
show significant variation, while, the yield and fruit characters exhibited variations
among the eight accessions evaluated. Pollen storage studies conducted revealed that
passion fruit pollen can be stored over calcium chloride in a desiccator under
refrigerated condition for 72 hours with 50.88 per cent pollen viability. Accessions 7
and 5, which were early to flower (157.33 days and 160.33 days), early to fruit
(159.67 days and 163.33 days) and early to harvest (63 days and 67 days) were
identified as early bearing types. The number of fruits per vine per year recorded was
maximum in Accession 4 (155.33), which was on par with Accession 2 (149.33) and
Accession 6 (146.67). Peak fruiting was observed from the month of June to
September. Accession 3 (yellow) and Accession 4 (purple) were found to be superior
in fruit characters. Accessions 2, 4, 5 and 8 with high juice content and thin rind can
be utilized for processing and value addition. Accession 5 with improved quality
parameters like high non-reducing sugar (5.92 %), sugar acid ratio (4.97), TSS (17.33
◦Brix), total sugars (13.55 %) and lower acidity (2.73 %) was identified as a superior
selection based on quality parameters. Correlation studies showed that yield/vine had
significant and positive correlation with fruit diameter, fruit girth, fruit weight, pulp
weight and juice weight. Rind thickness was found to have significant positive
correlation with shelf life. The study revealed that considerable variability existed
among the different accessions of passion fruit. The accessions which recorded high
yield viz., Accession 2, 4 and 6 can be used for further crop improvement programmes
to develop superior passion fruit varieties.
Hybridization work was carried out using six selected superior accessions
maintained at Malanadu passion fruit plantation, Idukki, which resulted in the
development of one selfed progeny and 8 hybrids. The hybrids and selfed progeny
were evaluated for three months at nursery stage and in the field in the college
orchard, COH, Vellanikkara for one year. Peak flowering and fruiting periods were
observed during March - May. Maximum number of fruits were recorded in hybrids
viz., H3 (P4 x P6), H4 (P5 x P4), H5 (P6 x P1) and H8 (P6 x P5). With regard to fruit
characters, hybrid H6 (P6 x P2), was observed to be the best, with highest fruit weight,
fruit girth, fruit diameter and pulp weight, which also had maximum overall
acceptability in sensory evaluation.
Fertilizer trial was conducted at four different levels of NPK in the variety
134P. Among the phenological characters, duration of flowering to harvest varied
significantly. Higher number of fruits per vine (165.50) was recorded with application
of 50 N: 20 P2O5: 50 K2O g vine-1 (T4), which was on par with the treatments applied
with 37.5 N: 15 P2O5: 37.5 K2O g vine-1 (T3) and 25 N: 10 P2O5: 25 K2O g vine-1 (T2).
The treatment which received 50 N: 20 P2O5: 50 K2O g vine-1 was found to be
significantly superior with respect to fruit diameter, fruit girth and rind weight.
Application of 50 N: 20 P2O5: 50 K2O g vine-1 resulted in high TSS (19.15 °Brix),
total sugars (13.38 %) and reducing sugars (8.76 %). In the organoleptic evaluation,
maximum score was observed for the fruits from the plots which received fertilizers of
37.5 N:15 P2O5: 37.5 K2O g vine-1.
The presence of number of nodes in the stem cuttings, different concentrations
of NAA and their interaction were found to have significant effect on the survival
percentage and shoot and root parameters of the rooted cuttings. Four noded cutting
recorded maximum survival per cent (70.60 %), total leaf area (166.15 cm2) and shoot
length (28.75 cm). Among the different concentrations of NAA, survival percentage,
root length and total leaf area, NAA 800 ppm was found significantly superior. The
study revealed that four noded cuttings dipped (quick dip method) in 600 ppm NAA
could be used for the large scale multiplication of passion fruit plants for commercial
cultivation.
Description
MSc