Fruit Characterization of Passiflora ligularis in Different Andean Regions of Ecuador

Granadilla (Passiflora ligularis) is a fruit species native to the Ecuadorian Andes. This study identifies agromorphological variables of interest that allow the selection of elite individuals from native populations in the provinces of Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, and Loja, these being the provinces where P. ligularis crops are grown. Fruits from 50 genotypes (10 fruits of each phenotype were characterized) collected from different farms were analyzed, evaluating 19 variables between fruit and seed. Fruit weight (55.5–112.5 g), polar and equatorial fruit diameter (5.60–7.52 cm, 5.61–7.18 cm), fleshy ring weight (4.9–12.3 g), seeded pulp weight (26.9–56.6 g), total seed weight (4.9–10.6 g), the number of seeds per fruit (93–307), seedless pulp weight (20.2–50.9 g), seed perimeter (1.84–2.08 cm), pH (4.28–5.28), and °Brix (10.25–16.10) differentiated the genotypes of P. ligularis. Spearman’s correlation analysis (p ≤ 0.05) among quantitative morphoagronomic variables showed that there were positive correlations among the distance of the polar diameter of the fruit (PD), the total seed weight (TSW) (r = 0.82), and the weight of the peel or epicarp (SHW) (r = 0.70). The weight of the fleshy ring (FRW) correlated with the weight of the fruit (W) (r = 0.80) and the weight of the pulp with seeds (WPWS) (r = 0.80). The weight of the pulp with seeds (WPWS) correlated with the weight of the fruit (W) (r = 0.94) and the weight of the seedless pulp (PW) (r = 0.96). The cluster analysis of the quantitative variables of the fruit classified the genotypes into four groups, without taking into account the collection area. The descriptors W, PD, ED, WPW, PW, TSW, NS, SP, pH, and °Brix allow differentiation of P. ligularis genotypes. Therefore, the superior phenotypic traits (size and weight) observed in the CAR14 and LY001 genotypes should be used as breeding options for crop improvement.