Perennial Edible Fruits C2P50

Passifloraceae

Passiflora antioquiensis Karst
Common names: banana passion fruit (English); curuba antioquena (Spanish).

Origin: South America (Andes).

Distribution: South America.

Cultural requirements: Cool high-altitude areas in Tropics.

Description: Vine. Propagation by seed. Fruit ellipsoid, 4-5 cm long, solitary; external color yellow or red, internal orange.

Utilization: Arils eaten fresh, in beverages, desserts. Flavor sweet; moderate appeal. Little potential for expanded cultivation.

References: Martin and Nakasone 1970, Popenoe 1924.

Passiflora edulis Sims
Common names: purple passion fruit, purple granadilla (English); maracuyá, granadilla, parcha (Spanish); grenadille violette (French); maracujá, maracujá comun (Portuguese).

Origin: Brazil.

Distribution: Pantropic; warm subtropics.

Cultural requirements: Cool tropical or subtropical climate with well-distributed medium rainfall and light well-drained soils. Not tolerant of frost or wind. Will not set fruit if mean temperature too high.

Description: Vine. Propagation by seed, cuttings, grafting. Fruit production in 1-2 years from seed, less than 1 year from vegetative propagation. Flowers around March and September in Hawaii. Most vines self-incompatible, require cross-pollination. Fruit spherical, 5-9 cm long, solitary; external color purple, internal yellow to orange.

Utilization: Arils can be eaten fresh or in jellies, but used mostly as flavoring in beverages, desserts. Flavor sweet to subacid; high appeal. Good source of vitamins A and C. Potential good for increased cultivation if disease-resistant varieties developed. Cultivated in New Zealand, Hawaii, American Tropics.

References: Akamine et al. 1956, Fouqué 1974; Martin and Nakasone 1970, Popenoe 1939.

Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.
Common names: yellow passion fruit, yellow granadilla (English); granadilla, maracuyá, parcha (Spanish); grenadille (French); maracujá (Portuguese).

Origin: Australia (not certain).

Distribution: PantropIc; warm subtropics.

Cultural requirements: Cool tropical or warm sub-tropical climate with well-distributed medium rainfall. Adapted to a variety of soils if well drained. Tolerates heavy soils better than the purple granadilla does. Does not set fruit well if mean temperature too high.

Description: Vine Propagation by seed, cuttings, grafting. Fruit production in 1-2 years from seed, less than 1 year from vegetative propagation. Flowers around March and September in Hawaii. Most vines self-incompatible; cross-pollination necessary. Fruit spherical to ovoid, 6-10 cm in diameter; external color yellow, internal yellow to orange.

Utilization: Arils used in jellies, as flavoring in beverages, desserts. Flavor subacid to sour; high appeal. High vitamin A and C content. Good potential for expansion of commercial production; more widely adapted than purple granadilla. Cultivated in New Zealand, Hawaii, American Tropics.

References: Akamine et al. 1956, Fouqué 1974, Martin and Nakasone 1970, Popenoe 1939.

Passiflora laurifolia L.
Common names: water lemon, yellow granadilla (English); parcha, parcha de culebra (Spanish); maritambou, pomme d'or, pomme-liane (French); maracujá, maracujá comun (Portuguese).

Origin: West Indies. South America.

Distribution: Widely introduced into Tropics.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands. Sometimes used as rootstock for P. edulis because it is less susceptible to soilborne diseases.

Description: Vine. Propagation by seed, cuttings. Fruit ovoid, 5-8 cm long; external color yellow to orange, internal yellow.
Utilization: Arils eaten fresh, in beverages, desserts. Flavor subacid; limited appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.
References: Fouqué 1974, Martin and Nakasone 1970.

Passiflora ligularis Juss.
Common names: sweet granadilla (English); granadilla, parchita amarilla (Spanish); grenadille douce (French).

Origin: Central and South America.

Distribution: Introduced widely into Tropics but not
common outside Central and South America.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics

Passifloraceae