Identity and Phenotypic Variability of a Passion Fruit Cultivar in Lucban, Quezon Province, Philippines

The passion fruit cultivar in Lucban, Quezon, Philippines is poorly described. To address this knowledge gap, this study characterized the phenotypic features and variability that exists in the plantation of passion fruit in Lucban. A total of 68 morpho-agronomic descriptors (32 quantitative and 36 qualitative) were used for the characterization. The results showed that the distinguishing characteristics of the cultivar were light green branch color, long and wide leaf with trilobate division and nectaries on the petiole, campanulate hypanthium, wavy corona filament, nectaries on the sepal, white color of the perianth and corona ring filaments with deep purple color at the base, and yellow peel and pulp color. Based on these characteristics, this study confirmed that the identity of the passion fruit cultivar is Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener. Some notable variants were observed – including purplish green branches, scarce anthocyanin on the reproductive parts, and fruit with oval fruit shape and lenticels arranged in a striated pattern. The scaled principal component analysis identified nine principal components (PCs) that explain at least 80% of the total variation in quantitative characters, whereas three PCs explain about 78% of the total variation in qualitative characters. Further characterization using molecular markers could be done to supplement the results of this study. Nevertheless, the results are significant for reintroduction, pre-breeding, and ex situ conservation of passion fruit germplasm.