Studies on correlation and genetic divergence in passion fruit (Passiflora.spp) genotypes

R. SHRAVANI; NAGARAJAPPA ADIVAPPAR; B. S. SHIVAKUMAR; K. RAJASHEKHARAPPA; M. S. NAGARAJA

doi:10.61475/JFS.2025.v38i3.26

R. SHRAVANI Department of Fruit Science, Keladi Shivappa Nayak University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga - 577 204, India
NAGARAJAPPA ADIVAPPAR Department of Fruit Science, Keladi Shivappa Nayak University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga - 577 204, India
B. S. SHIVAKUMAR Department of Fruit Science, NRM, College of Forestry, Ponnampet Keladi Shivappa Nayak University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga - 577 204, India
K. RAJASHEKHARAPPA Department of Fruit Science, Keladi Shivappa Nayak University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga - 577 204, India
M. S. NAGARAJA Department of Agricultural Statistics, Colloge of Horticulture, Mudigere Keladi Shivappa Nayak University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga - 577 204, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61475/JFS.2025.v38i3.26

Keywords: Cluster analysis, Correlation, Divergence, Fruit yield, Passion fruit

Abstract

Passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) is a perennial, woody vine recognized for its distinctive flavour, high nutritionalcomposition and economic significance, leading to its widespread cultivation across tropical and subtropical regions. However, in India, commercial production still depends largely on narrow genetic base, with ‘Kaveri’ being the onlyreleased hybrid available for cultivation. Hence, correlation and divergence studies were carried out by involving 50genotypes and two checks viz Kaveri and JJ-51to identify the diversified genotypes and the traits to be considered whiledeveloping a variety. The experiment was laid out in augmented design in farmer’s field in Ranganathpura village in Shivamogga district, during 2024-25. Fruit yield per vine was significantly and positively correlated with traits viz., fruitdimensions, pulp weight and juice content at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Among the traits studied, fruit weightcontributed maximum genetic divergence (27.90%). The genotypes were classified into eight clusters of which cluster II waslargest which contains 30 genotypes. The greatest inter-cluster distance (102.00) was observed between cluster VI andcluster VII. The highest intra-cluster distance (57.32) was in the cluster II. Cluster IV,V,VI,VII and VIII exhibited greatestgenetic diversity. Thus selecting the genotypes from this cluster would yield a broad range of segregating progeny.