From Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 2: Edible fruits and nuts, PROSEA Foundation
by Soewarno Notodimedjo
Taxon
Passiflora quadrangularis L.
Protologue
Syst. nat. ed. 10 : 1248 (1759).
Family
PASSIFLORACEAE
Chromosome Numbers
2n = 18
Vernacular Names
Giant
granadilla (En). Barbadine, fleur de la passion (Fr). Indonesia: erbis,
markisa. Malaysia: timun belanda, timun hutan. Philippines: granadilla
(Tagalog), kasaflora, paróla (Ilokano). Thailand: sukhontharot
(Bangkok), mathuarot (Lamphun), taeng kalaa (Chiang Mai). Vietnam: chùm
bao dúa, dua gang tây.
Origin and Geographic Distribution
The
giant granadilla originated in South America and has been distributed
throughout the tropical lowlands. It is cultivated on a small scale in
South and Central America, Hawaii, South-East Asia and Australia, and
has become naturalized in moist habitats in these regions.
Uses
The fruit of Passiflora species is always used for its juicy pulp, but in Passiflora quadrangularis the
fruit flesh is also eaten, which is unique. Because of the bland taste
the flesh is mixed with other fruits in salads and stews; in Indonesia
the unripe fruit is cooked as a vegetable. However, the pulp of the
ripe fruit is the main product. It is enjoyed fresh or processed as
fruit juice or syrup. Other processed products are frozen sherbet and
canned nectar. The juice or nectar may be blended with that of sweet
orange, papaya and guava. Other products are cordials and squash.
Carbonated beverages made from the juice have a very distinct and
attractive flavour.
Properties
The
giant granadilla pulp is nutritious and contains, per 100 g: water 88
g, protein 0.9 g, fat 0.2 g, carbohydrates 10.1 g, ash 0.9 g, calcium
10 mg, phosphorus 22 mg, iron 0.6 mg, vitamin A 70 IU, niacin 2.7 mg
and vitamin C 20 mg. The energy value amounts to 170 kJ/100 g.
Botany
Robust
perennial climbing herb with fleshy tuberous roots; stems quadrangular
with 4 broad, acute wings. Leaves alternate; petiole trigonous, 5—8 cm
long, with 3 pairs of glands along the margin; stipules lanceolate, 2—5
cm x 1—2.5 cm, entire or glandulose-serrate; blades ovate to elliptic,
10—25 cm x 8—18 cm, entire, base cordate, apex acuminate, prominently
pinnately nerved; tendrils axillary, simple, 20—35 cm long. Flowers
solitary in the leaf axils, pendulous, fragrant, showy, 10—12 cm in
diameter; calyx tubular at base, lobes 5, ovate, 3—5 cm x 1.5—2 cm,
spreading widely, thick, spongy; petals 5, linear-oblong to elliptic,
4—5 cm x 1.5—2 cm, spongy, with dense pattern of red dots; corona with
2 outer layers of sinuous threads, 5—7 cm long, white reddish-purplish;
internally several rows of papillae; stamens 5, with large anthers;
ovary on gynophore, 1-locular, many-ovuled; styles 3—5 with large
stigmas. Fruit a fleshy berry, ovoid-oblongoid, 10—30 cm x 10—18 cm,
yellowish-green; pericarp up to 4 cm thick; cavity filled with numerous
seeds surrounded by translucent juicy arils; mesocarp and arils are
edible. Seeds flat, obovoid, up to 1 cm long, dark brown.
Ecology
Giant
granadilla is a truly tropical plant. Fruiting is said to be poor at
sea level and elevations of 200—500 m are recommended; at high
elevations growth is slow. The species is less cold-tolerant than Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Degener. The vine prefers a moist soil rich in humus.
Agronomy
Giant
granadilla can be propagated from seeds and by stem cuttings. The
latter are used to clonally propagate outstanding mother plants. Seed
is obtained from ripe and healthy fruit; it germinates after 2—4 weeks.
When the seedlings have two leaves and are 4—5 cm tall, they are
transferred to polybags. The seedlings can be ready for planting in the
field within 4 months. Spacing is usually 4 m x 5 m. Trellises are
constructed after planting.
One month after planting the vines start
to climb the trellis. Crop care includes weeding, fertilization,
pruning and pest control. Fertilizers are applied every 4 months. Vines
are pruned to attain full exposure of the shoots and to stimulate the
growth of new flowering shoots.
Flowers are produced 9 months from
planting and ripe fruits are harvested 60—80 days later. Fruitset is
often poor outside the region of origin unless the flowers are
hand-pollinated. In South-East Asia fruit is available throughout the
year. Flowering occurs on vigorously growing shoots, at nodes some
distance from the shoot tip. Hence there tends to be a main flowering
season following the period of maximum extension growth towards the end
of the rainy season. A vine produces 16—50 fruits per season, depending
very much on vigour and spacing.
Apart from woodiness caused by a
virus, no other serious diseases have been reported to attack the giant
granadilla. However, grease spot (caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas passiflora), bacterial spot (caused by Xanthomonas passiflora) and brown spot (caused by the fungus Alternaria passiflorae)
may become serious diseases incidentally. Pruning to eliminate dense
foliage and facilitate spray penetration is an important preventive
measure.
Prospects
A
better insight into the potential and actual yield level of the giant
granadilla is needed to more accurately assess its prospects.
Postharvest handling of the delicate fruit, processing and marketing
also need attention.
Literature
Anonymous, 1985. Yang asam segar buah Markisah [The refreshing acid fruit of the giant granadilla]. Trubus 16(90): 6—12.
Chan
Jr., H.T., 1980. Passion Fruit. In: Nagy, S. & Shaw, R.E.
(Editors): Tropical and subtropical fruits: composition, properties and
uses. The AVI Publishing Company, Westport, Connecticut. pp. 300—315.
Haddad,
G.O. & Figueroa, R.M., 1973. Estudios de la floracion y
fructificacion en parcha granadina (Passiflora quadrangularis L.)
[Studies on flowering and fruiting in Passiflora quadrangularis L.].
Agronomia Tropical 22(5): 483—496.
Martin, F.N. & Nakasone, H.Y., 1970. The edible species of Passiflora. Economic Botany 24: 333—343.
Seale,
P.E. & Sherman, G.D., 1960. Commercial passion fruit processing in
Hawaii. Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Hawaii.
Circular 58.
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