Genetic diversity of Passiflora cincinnata in the Chapada do Araripe, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Passiflora cincinnata Mast. belongs to the Passifloraceae family and is a plant native to the Brazilian semi-arid region, popularly known as maracujá-do-mato. This species has food, pharmaceutical and ornamental potential. It is used as a source of genes of interest in yellow passion fruit breeding programs or as vigorous rootstocks in commercial plantations. Thus, morphologically characterizing native species and measuring genetic diversity between accessions are essential steps for the success of plant breeding in the world. This study aimed to characterize and estimate the genetic diversity between accessions of a natural population of Passiflora cincinnata in the Chapada Nacional do Araripe, Northeast Brazil, in order to provide subsidies for the creation of a passion fruit breeding program. Twenty-six passion fruit accessions were evaluated for 10 morphological characters: plant neck diameter, height of the first fork, leaf length, leaf width, diameter at breast height, flower diameter, petal length, stamen length, pistil length and fillet length. The accessions were georeferenced and characterized with the aid of a graduated tape measure and a digital caliper. Four replicates were measured for each characteristic in the P. cincinnata accessions evaluated. The results were submitted to analysis of variance using the F test (p<0.05), estimation of genetic parameters, optimization grouping (Tocher) and the relative contribution of the characters to divergence. The results show that there is variability among the accessions of this natural population and that there is potential for them to be used as germplasm for passion fruit breeding programs.