The objective of this study was to estimate the genotypic and phenotypic correlations among 25 morphological and agronomic characteristics of leaves, flowers and fruits of passion plants. Seventeen germplasm accessions were evaluated in a randomized block design with two replications and ten plants per plot. The data were standardized and phenotypic (r p) and genotypic (r g) correlation coefficients were estimated. Ninety phenotypic correlations (30%) were significant by t-test and 83% of correlations were above 0.60. The results showed a high genotypic correlation among the following characteristics: a) androgynophore length vs. leaf width (r g = -0.61); b) peel thickness vs. petiole length (r g = 0.98); c) pulp yield without seed vs. petiole length and petal width, both with r g -0.88; d) total soluble solids vs. fruit width (r g = -0.72), and e) weight of fruit vs. fruit width and peel weight (r g = -0.88 and 0.91, respectively). Although the genotypes are not originated from a single population, indirect selection to aforementioned characteristics is easily, because the genotypic correlation was higher than the phenotypic.
Passiflora edulis Sims; plant breeding; germplasm; indirect seletion
