The genetic variability among yellow passion fruit genotypes was evaluated using RAPD as genetic markers of DNA. For that, genetic materials were collected in commercial populations from traditional production fields of the North Fluminense (Itaperuna, São Francisco do Itabapoana, Campos of Goytacazes, RJ-Brazil). The diversity among the cultivated species Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg. and species related P. alata, P. giberti, P. cincinnata, P. foetida, P. edulis. P. maliformis, P. mucronata, P. suberosa, P. malacophylla, was also estimated. For the study on yellow passion fruit, expressive genetic diversity was not verified; the populations were distributed according to its origin, and the individuals collected in São Francisco do Itabapoana presented major consistency in its grouping, once the formation of the groups a larger number of those individuals were allocated among the same group. For the interspecific study, it was verified that P. maliformis was in a different, but close group to P. mucronata. P. alata was allocated in an isolated group as well as P. giberti. For P. cincinnata and P. edulis (purple passion fruit), both were allocated in the same group, evidencing proximity between the same ones while P. foetida and P. suberosa formed a single group.
Passiflora spp.; breeding; variability; diseases resistance
