Produção e caracterização de frutos de maracujazeiro azedo em população sob seleção recorrente no Estado de Goiás

Abstract

The sour passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) is a tropical fruit crop with wide adaptability, belonging to the family Passifloraceae, genus Passiflora, and species Passiflora edulis Sims. Brazil is the global leader in both production and consumption of passion fruit. Despite the economic and social relevance of this crop, especially for small- and medium-scale growers, the national average yield is still considered low, mainly due to the lack of cultivars adapted to the diverse edaphoclimatic conditions of the country and to major diseases affecting the crop, such as Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) and Fusarium spp. In this context, the genetic improvement of sour passion fruit represents a key strategy to overcome these limitations and enhance the sustainability of the production chain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance and physical fruit traits of sour passion fruit progenies (Passiflora edulis Sims), aiming to identify promising materials for fresh consumption that meet market demands for both quality and yield, thereby contributing to the breeding program of the Universidade Estadual de Goiás (UEG). The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Palmeiras de Goiás, GO, using a vertical trellis system, under a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with 27 treatments (17 UEG progenies and 10 commercial cultivars) and three replications (blocks). Each experimental plot consisted of three plants, and six fruits were evaluated per plant, totaling 18 fruits per plot. The UEG progênies were numbered from 1 to 17, while the commercial cultivars were identified by their respective designations. The following fruit-related traits were evaluated: equatorial fruit diameter (EFD); longitudinal fruit diameter (LFD); fruit mass (FM); pulp mass (PM); peel thickness (PT); total soluble solids content (TSS); number of fruits per plant (NF); and fruit yield per plant (PROD). The results showed that progenies UEG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 17 exhibited higher means for LFD, EFD, FM, and PM compared to most commercial cultivars, and were statistically similar to F200 Yellow Master, BRS Sol do Cerrado, and Redondo Amarelo. Regarding PT, progenies UEG 1, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 17 presented the lowest values, statistically similar to all commercial cultivars except F300 Araguari and the Acesso de Nossa Senhora do Livramento-BA. For NF and PROD, progenies UEG 11, 12, 13, 14, and 17 stood out, showing a higher number of fruits and, consequently, greater fruit yield per plant, outperforming most commercial cultivars. These findings indicate significant future potential for these progenies within the breeding program. Therefore, the present study demonstrates substantial genetic variability among the evaluated progenies. Progenies UEG 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17 obtained the best averages for all morpho-agronomic traits and should be prioritized for continuity in UEG’s passion fruit breeding program, being incorporated into the recombination block within the recurrent selection scheme.