Passiflora as a Multipurpose Fruit Crop for Temperate Climates

Eric T. Stafne Fruit Extension Specialist

Mississippi State Univeristy

Outline

I. History II. Geography III. Breeding IV. Potential uses V. Future

“The Flower of the Five Wounds”

The healthy, fortunate granadilla, Granadilla of which but by religious devotion It is said that one can see the expression of our redemption And its sacred mysteries, made visible in this plant, In its fruit, in its leaves, in its excellent flower, Of our Redeemer who died for all Column, Cross and Whip, Lance, Crown and Nail. Paul Contant (1628)

Floral Corona (crown of thorns)

Style (nails)

Stamen (wounds)

Petals and Sepals (Lances or Apostles) Tendrils

(whips)

Androgynophore (column or cross) – not shown

I. History

• Archaeological evidence (S.E. U.S.) of consumption

• Important food crop for Native Americans since Late Archaic period

• Increase consumption over time

History

• Algonkian (Virginia) and Creek (Florida)

• May have been domesticated • Europeans also consumed P.

incarnata

Early Description Here is a fruit by the natives called a Maracock that grows low and creeps in a manner among the corn. It is of the size of a Queen-apple, and has many blue kernels, like a Pomegranate. It blooms a most sweet and delicate flower and is a good summer cooling fruit. And in every field where the Indians plant their corn there are cart-loads of them. Strachey (1612)

II. Geography

• South America • Mississippi • Florida

Native Areas

• South America (95%) • Asia • Australia • North America

South America

• Native range, Brazil • Andean region • Passiflora edulis • P. edulis var. flavicarpa • Other species (P. caerulea, P.

antioquiensis, P. mollissima)

Distribution of Passiflora in the United States

SE U.S.

Mississippi

• Passiflora incarnata • P. lutea • Survives winter below ground • Herbaceous perennial

P. incarnata distribution in Mississippi

Florida

• Many native species (P. incarnata, P. lutea, P. multiflora, P. pallens, P. sexflora, and P. suberosa)

• R. J. Knight • ‘Byron Beauty’

III. Breeding

• Breeding potential • Fruit production • Ornamental traits • Phamacological properties • Obstacles • Progress

Breeding Potential

• Sufficient genetic variation • Wide geographic range • Large flowers (controlled

pollinations) • Short life cycle • Asexual propagation • Genetic engineering

Fruit Production

• Native and Non-native fruit • R. J. Knight – University of

Florida, Homestead • Interspecific crosses • P. incarnata potential, P. lutea

not • Introduction of temperate

climate genotypes

Commercial Species

• P. edulis – Granadilla or The Purple Passion Fruit

• P. edulis var. flavicarpa • P. quadrangularis – The Giant Granadilla • P. ligularis – The Sweet Granadilla • P. laurifolia – The Water Lemon • P. mollissima – The Banana Passion Fruit

More Edible Species

• P. actinia • P. alata • P. ambigua • P. coccinea • P. laurifolia • P. ligularis • P. maliformis • P. manicata

• P. membranacea • P. mixta • P. nitidia • P. quadrangularis • P. spectabilis • P. vitifolia

Interspecific Hybridization

• Common chromosome number • Induction of polyploidy • May require hand pollination • Overwinter in Georgia • No commercial success

Passiflora edulis Passiflora incarnata

P. incarnata fruit

P. edulis and P. edulis var. flavicarpa fruit

Ornamental Traits

• Interspecific hybrids – ‘Byron Beauty’ – ‘Lady Margaret’ – ‘Red Inca’ – ‘Incense’

• White-flowered genotypes • Attractant • Cold Tolerance

‘Byron Beauty’

‘Lady Margaret’

‘Red Inca’

‘Incense’

White-flowered P. incarnata

P. caerulea

Pharmacological Properties

• Sedative • Antispasmodic (in Europe) • P. edulis not same effect as P.

incarnata • P. lutea unknown • Antioxidants (P. lutea pigmentation)

Obstacles

• Self incompatibility • Pollen sterility • Weediness • Cost • Interest

Progress

• Small breeding efforts • Private breeders • Interspecific ornamental

hybrids • Promising fruit hybrids

IV. Potential Uses

• Economic fruit crop (Fresh and/or juice)

• Herbal remedy • Butterfly, bee, hummingbird • Home beautification and

enhancement

V. Future Work

• Expansion of growing area • Interspecific hybridization • Compatibility issues • Pharmaceutical products • Antioxidant activity • Cultural and management

strategies

Pertinent Literature • Gremillion, K.J. 1989. The development of a

mutualistic relationship between humans and maypops in the southeastern United States. J. Ethnobiol. 9:135-155.

• Hoch, J.H. 1934. The legend and history of Passiflora. Am. J. Pharm. 106:166-170.

• McGuire, C.M. 1999. Passiflora incarnata: A new fruit crop. Econ. Bot. 53:161-176.

• Vanderplank, J. 2000. Passion Flowers. 3rd Ed., MIT Press.

• Winters, H.F. and R.J. Knight, Jr. 1975. Selecting and breeding hardy passionflowers. Amer. Hort. 54:22-27.