Propagation Studies in Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.) Using Cuttings

Abstract

Passion fruit is a high value export oriented crop, which is gaining popularity among farmers. One of the constraints in expansion of this crop is availability of quality planting material. Passion fruit is propagated through seed, cutting and grafting. Among these methods, cuttings encourage the production and multiplication of true to type planting material. Therefore, a study was conducted at the Fruits Crops Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, during August 2019 - November 2019 to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of NAA and number of nodes on the rooting of cuttings and survival percentage. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with twenty treatments and two replications. Experiment consisted of two factors, viz. NAA concentration (200 ppm, 400 ppm, 600 ppm, 800 ppm and control) and number of nodes (one node, two node, three node and four node), following quick dip method. The study revealed that there was significant variation among the treatments. When the effect of number of nodes alone was considered, four noded cutting had the maximum survival percentage, and higher root and shoot parameters. Improved survival percentage, and enhanced root and shoot characteristics were noticed with the increasing NAA concentration. From the present study, it was concluded that combined effect of more number of nodes and higher NAA concentration had profound effect on survival percentage, shoot length, root length, number of leaves and leaf area and four noded cuttings dipped in 800 ppm NAA, for 3-5 seconds was found to be the best successful propagule for passion fruit.