Desempenho de genitores e híbridos de maracujá (Passiflora edulis Sims) em condições semiáridas

Abstract

Brazil is one of the largest fruit producers in the world and leads the production of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). However, crop yields are still below its productive potential, mainly due to the lack of cultivars adapted and resistant to the diverse soil and climate conditions of the country. In this context, the objective of this study was to develop hybrid varieties of P. edulis and evaluate them in semiarid conditions together with their respective parents. The aim was to support genetic improvement programs aimed at obtaining cultivars that are more adapted and resilient to the region. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks with six replicates, each block containing 10 individuals. Five genotypes were used in the experiment, resulting from populations of accessions selected over the years by rural producers. The accessions used were two traditional varieties, an elite line and two commercial cultivars. The following characteristics were evaluated: leaf length, blade width, fruit weight, length, width, weight of seeds plus aril, number of seeds, seed weight, soluble solids content and albedo thickness. The data were subjected to normality analysis and then analysis of variance was performed, with subsequent grouping of means by the Tukey test at 5% probability. The value of heterosis and heterobeltiosis and the relative importance of the characteristics were also estimated by the Singh method based on the generalized Mahalanobis distance. Wide genetic variability was observed among the passion fruit (P. edulis) genotypes evaluated. Characteristics such as blade width, width, length and weight of the fruit and number of seeds showed high heritability estimates, which suggests greater safety in the selection of these characteristics. The variables that contributed most to the genetic divergence were: fruit weight and diameter and seed weight, indicating strong genetic control. The parents LE and CC1 demonstrated the best performance among the others analyzed. The positive expression of heterosis and heterobeltiosis contributed to the selection of the combinations VC1xLE, VC1xVC2, VC1xCC1, CC1 × CC2 and LE x CC2. Artificial hybridization between P. edulis genotypes was efficient for the selection of superior combinations with a view to developing new cultivars adapted to semiarid soil and climate conditions and consequently more productive. These results contribute significantly to genetic improvement programs, offering technical and scientific support to both the academic community and rural producers, aiming at the sustainability and resilience of passion fruit crops in regions with adverse climates.