Effect of two wild rootstocks of genus Passiflora L. on the content of antioxidants and fruit quality of yellow passion fruit

Abstract

The nutritional importance of the fruit of passionfruit has prompted studies to assess its composition and antioxidant content and to evaluate it as a functional food in fresh fruit and concentrated juice markets. Currently, the use of wild species as rootstock has been recommended mainly for their positive effects such as tolerance to disease attack and maintenance of fruit quality of grafted cultivars. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of wild species of Passiflora gibertii N.E. Br. and Passiflora mucronata Lam as rootstock on the content of antioxidants and fruit quality of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and 25 replications, with a total of 100 experimental units. As a control treatment, plants of P. edulis from seed and grafted on the same species were used. Significant correlations were observed among the contents of β-carotene, ascorbic acid, luminosity values, chroma and hue angle. For the combination P. edulis/P. gibertti, the contents of β-carotene and ascorbic acid were highly correlated with luminosity, chroma and hue angle of fruit juice. A similar behavior was observed for the combination P. edulis/P. mucronata Lam. The content of β-carotene in the fruit showed no statistical differences (p < 0.05), indicating no significant rootstock effect on the variables evaluated. The results indicate a potential wild rootstock use for its positive effects on grafted plants while maintaining the commercial quality of the fruits of passionfruit crops.