Improving yield and fruit quality traits in sweet passion fruit: Evidence for genotype by environment interaction and selection of promising genotypes

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 15; no. 5; p. e0232818
• Main Authors: Chavarría-Perez, Lourdes Maria, Giordani, Willian, Dias, Kaio Olimpio Graças, Costa, Zirlane Portugal, Ribeiro, Carolina Albuquerque Massena, Benedetti, Anderson Roberto, Cauz-Santos, Luiz Augusto, Pereira, Guilherme Silva, Rosa, João Ricardo Bachega Feijó, Garcia, Antonio Augusto Franco, Vieira, Maria Lucia Carneiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 14.05.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Aroma; Biology and Life Sciences; Breeding; Citrus; Correlation; Correlation analysis; Crop management; Crop yield; Crops; Diameters; Environmental aspects; Flavor; Fruits; Fruits (Food); Genetic aspects; Genetic variation; Genotype & phenotype; Genotype-environment interactions; Genotypes; Growth; Heritability; Incompatibility; Orchards; Passion; Passion fruit; People and places; Plant breeding; Polygenic inheritance; Progeny; Pulp; Quantitative genetics; Sea level; Seasons; Skin; Sweet taste; Thickness; Weight; Brazil; North Carolina; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232818

Breeding for yield and fruit quality traits in passion fruits is complex due to the polygenic nature of these traits and the existence of genetic correlations among them. Therefore, studies focused on crop management practices and breeding using modern quantitative genetic approaches are still needed, especially for Passiflora alata, an understudied crop, popularly known as the sweet passion fruit. It is highly appreciated for its typical aroma and flavor characteristics. In this study, we aimed to reevaluate 30 genotypes previously selected for fruit quality from a 100 full-sib sweet passion fruit progeny in three environments, with a view to estimating the heritability and genetic correlations, and investigating the GEI and response to selection for nine fruit traits (weight, diameter and length of the fruit; thickness and weight of skin; weight and yield of fruit pulp; soluble solids, and yield). Pairwise genetic correlations among the fruit traits showed mostly intermediate to high values, especially those associated with fruit size and shape. Different genotype rankings were obtained regarding the predicted genetic values of weight of skin, thickness of skin and weight of pulp in each environment. Finally, we used a multiplicative selection index to select simultaneously for weight of pulp and against fruit skin thickness and weight. The response to selection was positive for all traits except soluble solids, and the 20% superior (six) genotypes were ranked. Based on the assumption that incompatibility mechanisms exist in P. alata, the selected genotypes were intercrossed in a complete diallel mating scheme. It is worth noting that all genotypes produced fruits, which is essential to guarantee yields in commercial orchards.