Resistance to Fusarium solani and characterization of hybrids from the cross between P. mucronata and P. edulis

The development of resistant cultivars is an alternative to control phytosanitary problems affecting passion fruit crops. This study was conducted to obtain progenies through interspecific crosses between Passiflora edulis × Passiflora mucronata, perform the genetic assessment of the progenies obtained, and evaluate and select genotypes resistant to Fusarium solani. When P. mucronata was used as female parent, 516 seeds were obtained, with 20 % germination and survival of nine hybrid genotypes. On the other hand, in the reciprocal cross, 9 seeds were obtained and only one genotype survived. Due to the small number of genotypes obtained, 10 hybrid genotypes and their parents P. edulis (susceptible) and P. mucronata (resistant) was propagated by cuttings. Nine plantlets of each genotype were taken to the field in a randomized block design, with three replications, aiming at morphological characterization. Twenty quantitative and 7 qualitative descriptors were assessed. Nine clones of each individual were kept in a greenhouse, inoculated with F. solani, and assessed 76 days after inoculation. Later, the fungus was re-isolated. The offspring genotypes of the cross in which P. edulis was the female parent did not flourish. For most quantitative and qualitative traits, hybrids were similar to P. mucronata. The genotypes studied formed six groups. Resistance to the fungus was detected in the genotypes of P. mucronata, from Bahia, and two hybrid genotypes. The resistant hybrid can be backcrossed with P. edulis and/or used as rootstock for sour passion fruit.