Propagation of Passion Fruit

Passion fruit belongs to family Passifloraceae, which contains twelve different genera and approximately five hundred species.

Some species are cultivated for their ornamental value, but of great commercial importance are two types: the purple, Passiflora edulis Sims and the yellow passion fruit, Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener.

Because of its more desirable flavour, the purple passion fruit is preferred for consumption as fresh fruit, whereas the yellow passion fruit is considered more suitable for processing.

It is very productive fruit and the total yield ranges from 10-12 tones per hectares annually.

Passion can be propagated from seed, which should be fresh -less than one year old, because seeds lose viability rapidly. Seed planted soon after removal from the fruit will geminate in 10 to 20 days.

Before that seeds are extracted from freshly harvested fruit, after fermentation for about three days.

Such seeds produce a germination better than 85% after the period of three months.

If for cuttings, the mature 30-35 cm long stem having 2-3 internodes of pencil thickness should be planted in nursery beds/polythene bags. Rooting takes place after about 30 days and the sprouted cutting can be transplanted to the main filed after three months.

In many countries, commercial production is based on seedlings of yellow or purple passion fruit.

Plants are usually placed about 15 cm deep. In sites of low fertility, some manure or a little fertilizer is mixed with the soil in the planting hole.

Passion fruit is very much suited to soils having high organic matter content and soils which are well grained. It grows best in sandy loam to clayey loam soil.

Passion fruit plants grow quickly and give fruit the first year after planting. Also the plant normally gives fruit for only three years, and new plants must then be pplanted. This enables very quick changes ion the supply side.
Propagation of Passion Fruit