Abstract
An investigation was undertaken to determine the fruit and juice metric traits of fresh fruits obtained from two yellow passion fruit genotypes grown in south-eastern Nigeria in two seasons. The passion fruit genotypes (Conventional and KPF-4) received 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 t ha-1 poultry manure (PM) rates in 2014 and 0, 10, 20 t ha-1 PM, 5 t ha-1 PM + 200 kg ha-1 NPK 15:15:15, 10 t ha-1 PM + 200 kg ha-1 NPK and 400 kg ha-1 NPK in 2016. Ten ripe and freshly dropped fruits in 2015 and 2017 were picked and taken to the laboratory. Fruit and juice metric traits (such as fruit length, circumference, pulp weight, juice volume and weight) were measured. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance following the procedure for split-plot experiment in completely randomized design. KPF-4 significantly (p<0.05) produced longer, wider and heavier fruits than the Conventional in 2015 whereas in 2017 all the fruit metric traits did not significantly (p>0.05) differ between the genotypes. Juice volume (682 ml) and pulp fresh weight (942 g) in 2015 were significantly highest in the Conventional when they received 20 or 40 t ha-1 PM. Application of 10 t ha-1 PM + 200 kg ha-1 NPK in 2016 enhanced the production of highest juice volume (723 ml) and pulp fresh weight (770 g) in the Conventional. Juice percentage and fruit metric traits of yellow passion fruit could be enhanced with the application 20 t ha-1 PM, considering lesser cost of PM procurement, or combined application of 10 t ha-1 PM + 200 kg ha-1 NPK.
Highlights
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Degener) belongs to the Passifloraceae family
Fruit volume and rind fresh weight were higher with the KPF-4 fruits than the Conventional fruits
There was 7.7%, 22% and 38% increase in fruit circumference, fruit volume and rind fresh weight of fruits produced with 40 t ha-1 poultry manure application compared with the fruits produced without poultry manure
Summary
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Degener) belongs to the Passifloraceae family. Edible varieties include the yellow and purple passion fruit. The major varieties that are grown worldwide include yellow Edulis) and giant variety called giant granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis) (Ferreres et al, 2007). The crop, which is a vine, is cultivated majorly because of the edible pulp and juice. The fresh ripe passion fruits can be sold directly but the pulp and juice can be consumed raw or as frozen pulps, jams, yoghurts (da Silva et al, 2015). Passion fruit juice is utilized in some fruit markets and smoothie outlets and stores in Nigeria (Field survey, Personal communication). The crop is relatively known by few farmers in southeastern Nigeria
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