Screening of Sour Passion Fruit for Reaction to Bacterial Spot and Passion Fruit Woodiness Disease

The development of resistant varieties is a promising strategy for bacterial spot disease (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. passiflorae-Xap) and passion fruit woodiness disease (PWD; Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus-CABMV) control in sour passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims). This study aimed at evaluating the reaction of 12 sour passion fruit half-sib progenies to both mechanically inoculated Xap and CABMV, under protected cultivation. The bacterial spot and PWD severity degrees observed reveal the existence of variability within progenies. MAR20#2005 and BRS GA1 revealed the lowest bacterial disease severity scores while MAR20#41, MAR20#2005, and Rosa Intenso 1 showed the lowest PWD severity scores. MAR20#41 presented the lowest disease incidence in all evaluations, demonstrating a slow increase in the number of plants with symptoms over time. Also, MAR20#41 stood out as the progeny with the greatest number of plants presenting resistance to PWD at the end of the study. Among the progenies selected, MAR20#2005 was the most promising for presenting the lowest severity scores for both bacterial spot and PWD.