Genetic gains in Passiflora for resistance to cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus using recurrent selection

In Brazil, the passion fruit woodiness disease is caused by the cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV). It is considered one of the most economically important diseases in the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims). This study aims to implement the recurrent selection to develop passion fruit cultivars resistant to CABMV and with good agronomic performance. The experiment was led in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, in a randomized block design with 90 full-sib families, three replications, and three plants per plot. The area below the mean disease progress curve (AUDPCM) was estimated, and the total production per plant (TPP) was evaluated. The estimate analysis of variance components and prediction of genetic gains were performed using the REML/BLUP procedure (Restricted Maximum Likelihood/Best Linear Unbiased Prediction). At the end of the evaluations, all plants presented symptoms of the disease, with different levels of severity. For families RS32 and RS33, the largest number of individuals selected for TPP was obtained. A AUDPCM values ranged from 468.75 to 1717.50 for individuals 438 and 604, respectively. In the selection for AUDPCM, families RS91 and RS84 stood out, with the highest number of resistant individuals selected. Genotypes 497, 582, 438, 495, 581, 92, 791, 506, 552, 183, 443, 669, 219, 724, 189, 378, 477, 244, 239, 126, and 174, are promising and can be used as parents to obtain progenies, to compose the next cycle of recurrent selection.

Automated summary

This study aimed to develop passion fruit cultivars resistant to cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV) through recurrent selection. The experiment showed promising genotypes that can be used as parents for future breeding cycles.