FLOWERING AND FRUCTIFICATION OF WILD PASSION FRUIT Passiflora Setacea D. C. GROWN IN JABOTICABAL, SP

Pass (flora species have flowering behavior varying along the year and, consequently with variation in production and harvest time, as observed in yellow passion fruit (Pass (flora edulis sims). Studying wild species constitutes a very important alternative to diversify crop species, especially Pass (flora setacea due to great national and international market potential, Nevertheless, studies with this species are scanty mainly concerning flowering and fructification. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the seeding, germination, flowering and storage conditions of Passiflora setacea wild passion fruit grown in Jaboticabal, SP. Flowering and fructification were assessed by fructification perceptual through natural and artificial pollination, from August to October, while disease occurrence was assessed in the field after planting. Physical fruit characteristics were evaluated by fruit mass (g), longitudinal and transversal diameter (cm), peel thickness (cm) and pulp yield (%). Chemical characteristic was determined by soluble solid content (SS). It was verified that Passiflora setacea presents flowering precocity related to yellow passion fruit, flowering all the year in Jaboticabal, SP conditions. Pass (flora setacea has good level of foliar disease resistance, resistance to early death and presents different levels of plant compatibility, allowing its use in genetic improvement programs. It was also stated that fruit physical characteristics attend to industry requests.