Improving yield and fruit quality traits in sweet passion fruit: Evidence for genotype by environment interaction and selection of promising genotypes

Author(s):Show less -

Chavarria-Perez, Lourdes Maria ^[1] ; Giordani, Willian ^[1] ; Gracas Dias, Kaio Olimpio ^[1] ; Costa, Zirlane Portugal ^[1] ; Massena Ribeiro, Carolina Albuquerque ^[1] ; Benedetti, Anderson Roberto ^[1] ; Cauz-Santos, Luiz Augusto ^[1] ; Pereira, Guilherme Silva ^[2] ; Bachega Feijo Rosa, Joao Ricardo ^[1] ; Franco Garcia, Antonio Augusto ^[1] ; Carneiro Vieira, Maria Lucia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Genet, Escola Super Agr Luiz de Queiroz, Piracicaba - Brazil

^[2] North Carolina State Univ, Bioinformat Res Ctr, Raleigh, NC - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 15, n. 5 MAY 14 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Breeding for yield and fruit quality traits in passion fruits is complex due to the polygenic nature of these traits and the existence of genetic correlations among them. Therefore, studies focused on crop management practices and breeding using modern quantitative genetic approaches are still needed, especially for Passiflora alata, an understudied crop, popularly known as the sweet passion fruit. It is highly appreciated for its typical aroma and flavor characteristics. In this study, we aimed to reevaluate 30 genotypes previously selected for fruit quality from a 100 full-sib sweet passion fruit progeny in three environments, with a view to estimating the heritability and genetic correlations, and investigating the GEI and response to selection for nine fruit traits (weight, diameter and length of the fruit; thickness and weight of skin; weight and yield of fruit pulp; soluble solids, and yield). Pairwise genetic correlations among the fruit traits showed mostly intermediate to high values, especially those associated with fruit size and shape. Different genotype rankings were obtained regarding the predicted genetic values of weight of skin, thickness of skin and weight of pulp in each environment. Finally, we used a multiplicative selection index to select simultaneously for weight of pulp and against fruit skin thickness and weight. The response to selection was positive for all traits except soluble solids, and the 20% superior (six) genotypes were ranked. Based on the assumption that incompatibility mechanisms exist in P. alata, the selected genotypes were intercrossed in a complete diallel mating scheme. It is worth noting that all genotypes produced fruits, which is essential to guarantee yields in commercial orchards. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/09100-5 - Phenotypic evaluation of a selected population of the sweet passion fruit, based on fruit quality and production
• Grantee: Lourdes María Chavarría Pérez
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 16/12977-7 - Genomic selection implementation in maize using a statistical-genetics model that accounts for genotype-by-environment interaction, additive and non-additive genetic effects
• Grantee: Kaio Olimpio das Graças Dias
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 10/06702-9 - Analysis of linkage disequilibrium in sugarcane
• Grantee: João Ricardo Bachega Feijó Rosa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 18/09069-7 - Mapping of genomic regions and identification of putative candidate genes associated with common bean response to root-knot nematode (Meloidogine incognita)
• Grantee: Willian Giordani
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/04216-9 - Chloroplast genomes of Passiflora: structure, evolutionary inferences and gene transfer to the nucleus
• Grantee: Luiz Augusto Cauz dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)