Photosynthetic characteristics and quality of five passion fruit varieties under field conditions

Abstract

Due to photosynthetic mechanisms respond very quickly to most stressors and due to strong concerns regarding the impact of climate change on future plant productivity, the purpose of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of in vivo photosynthetic efficiencies and fruit quality of five cultivars of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims. f. flavicarpa Degener). The experiments were conducted in the northern region of Espo ´rito Santo State using cultivars FB 200, FB 300, BRS Gigante Amarelo, BRS Sol do Cerrado, and BRS Ouro Vermelho. Analyses were performed 6 months after planting, when the plants were beginning reproduction and were repeated two times during the next 4 months until fruit ripening. Chlorophyll a fluorescence transient, total chlorophyll content, and gas exchange were measured in the leaves. Physical and chem- ical fruit attributes were also assessed. The lowest fluores- cence rates were identified in the FB 300, BRS Sol do Cerrado, and BRS Ouro Vermelho cultivars, which exhibited better capacities for quinone A (QA) reoxidation and better electron transfer efficiencies from Photosystem II to Photo- system I acceptors. Better photochemical performances (PItotal) and CO2 assimilations (A) resulted in higher fruit pulp yields, demonstrating the superior quality of the FB 300, BRS Sol do Cerrado, and BRS Ouro Vermelho cultivars.