Agronomic descriptors and ornamental potential of passion fruit species

Resumo

Brazil is one of the origin centers of Passiflora genus, which has great variability. The passion fruit has multiple and diversified use, being little explored as an ornamental plant in the country. The present work had the objective of characterizing four passion fruit genotypes (two hybrid materials from University of Brasília experimental field of genetic improvement of passion fruit, and two cultivars of passion fruit - BRS Sertão Forte and BRS Mel do Cerrado, all them from Brazil) based on official and validated morphoagronomic descriptors for identification of morphological aspects and ornamental potential, under field conditions, in Federal District. The experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design, with 4 treatments, 4 replicates and 6 plants/plot. The plants were analyzed weekly for the characteristics of the branches, leaf limbus, petiole and flowers, with 24 measurements of each structure in the 4 treatments. Digital photographic records were made. The flowers showed striking size and color, the colored branches, and leaves of varying sizes and shapes. All materials studied showed commercial ornamental potential to be explored as new options for ornamental climbing plants.