The yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.), original from tropical America, is largely cultivated in Brazil, however the diseases such as the scab are responsible for great losses in yield and fruit quality. The aim of this study was to compare the selection strategies in yellow passion fruit progenies for vigor and resistance to scab (Cladosporium cladosporioides). Seventy - five half sib progenies were evaluated in November 2006, for vigor and scab incidence, according notes criteria varying from one to five. The experiment was designed in completely randomized blocks, with three replications and four plants for plot. The selection was simulated for resistance to scab and vigor, by three methods of selection indexes, involving the two characters. The selections based on indexes did not provide satisfactory results, while the gains expected by combined selection were superior to the obtained by the direct and indirect selection. However, the index of Pesek & Baker and Mulamba & Mock provided satisfactory total gain. The combined selection provided genetic gain superior to the selection indexes, characterized as promising in the selection of progenies with small scab incidence.
Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa; quantitative genetics; selection methods
