Passiflora edulis, commonly known as passion fruit, is a vine species of passion flower. The fruit is a pepo, a type of botanical berry, round to oval, either yellow or dark purple at maturity, with a soft to firm, juicy interior filled with numerous seeds.
The plant is native to the region of southern Brazil through Paraguay to northern Argentina. It is cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical areas for its sweet, seedy fruit. This is both eaten and juiced, with the juice often added to other fruit juices to enhance aroma.
Etymology
The passion fruit is so called because it is one of the many
species of
passion flower, the English translation of the Latin genus name,
Passiflora.
Around 1700, the name was given by missionaries in
Brazil as an educational aid while trying to convert the indigenous inhabitants to
Christianity; its name was
flor das cinco chagas or "flower of the five wounds" to illustrate the
crucifixion of Christ, with other plant components also named after an emblem in the Passion of Jesus.
Description
Passiflora edulis is a
Perennial plant vine; tendrils are borne in leaf
axils, and have a red or purple hue when young. There are two main varieties: a purple-fruited type,
P. edulis f.
edulis, and the yellow-fruited
P. edulis f.
flavicarpa.
Usually the vine produces a single flower 5–7.5 cm wide at each node.
The fruit produced is a pepo and entirely fleshy (making it botanically a berry) and is spherical to ovoid.
Phytochemicals
Several varieties of passion fruit are rich in
polyphenol content.
Yellow varieties of the fruit were found to contain
prunasin and other cyanogenic glycosides in the peel and juice.
Varieties
Several distinct varieties of passion fruit with clearly differing exterior appearances exist.
The bright yellow
flavicarpa variety, also known as yellow or golden passion fruit, can grow up to the size of a
grapefruit, has a smooth, glossy, light, and airy rind, and has been used as a
rootstock for purple passion fruit in Australia.
The dark purple
edulis variety is smaller than a
lemon, though it is less acidic than yellow passion fruit, and has a richer aroma and flavour.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the region of southern
Brazil through
Paraguay to northern
Argentina.
Cultivation
Passion fruit is widely grown in
tropical and
subtropics regions of the world.
In the
United States, it is cultivated in
Florida,
Hawaii, and
California.
It generally has to be
hard frost, although certain cultivars have survived light frosts after heavy pruning of affected areas.
Pollination
The flower of the yellow-fruited form of the passion fruit plant is
self-sterile, while that of the purple-fruited form is
self-compatible.
In California, it is reported that
pollination of flowers is most effective when done by the
carpenter bee.
There are three types of yellow passion fruit flowers, classified by curvature of style.
To help assure the presence of carpenter bees, some gardeners place decaying logs near the vines, which provide shelter for the bees.
Diseases
Viruses
Passion fruit woodiness virus is one of the most well-known viruses to the passion fruit. It belongs to the
Potyvirus group and can attack a plant at any age from nursery to mature plants. Some features include yellow leaves that display distortion in the leaf length and shape. As well as affecting the leaf, this virus influences fruit shape and size. Affected fruits become stone-like and much smaller than normal, with many fruits becoming scabbed and cracked. The virus is spread by sap-sucking insects such as aphids and mites. Woodiness can also spread through vegetation propagation such as infected scions or contaminated tools. There is no chemical control for this virus once the plant is infected, but the use of clean planting material can reduce its dissemination.
One of the most serious viruses pertaining to vegetation is the cucumber mosaic virus. In the passion fruit, this virus appears with yellow mottling on leaves starting at random points on the vine and diminishing in intensity towards the tip. Expanding leaves typically become twisted, curl downward, and develop a "shoestring" appearance as a result of a restriction of the leaf surface. It is mobile and can spread easily through interactions with other plants such as brushing between leaves. This virus is naturally transmitted through aphids and can also be transmitted mechanically through seedlings. Varietal resistance is the primary management tool, and eliminating weeds and infected perennial ornamentals that may harbor the virus is critical. Once the plant has been infected, there is no possible management or control for the virus.
Phytoplasma
Overshooting is the term used when
Phytoplasma, a specialized
bacterium, attacks the
phloem of a plant.
Phytoplasma infection is characterized by
chlorotic small leaves, shortening of internodes, excessive lateral shoots and abnormal flowers. Although there have been reports of this disease within the passion fruit plant,
many infected plants are affected without visible signs of disease. Although
Phytoplasma can be spread through
grafting, it can be inhibited by periodic inspection of plant nurseries and areas that have had past infections.
Overshooting responds to treatment with
tetracycline, a common
broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Bacteria
Bacterial leaf spot, which causes vein clearing, forms bright yellow colonies causing infection and leaf wilt and, eventually, deterioration of fruit pulp, especially of young fruits. Under favorable conditions for the bacteria, infection occurs through natural openings or wounds from other pathogens that affect leaf inter-cellular spaces. Fertilizers or a copper chloride and
mancozeb mixture can control the intensity of the disease, but are not a cure.
The bacterial grease-spot of the passion fruit is caused by Pseudomonas syringae.
Fungal diseases
Collar rot disease is caused by the fungus
Fusarium solani. It is characterized by
necrotic lesions at the collar region, browning of the stem at soil level, and dark discoloration of the stem. The rotting stem interferes with food and water transport within the plant, leading to withering of the plant until death. Infection occurs mostly through contaminated soil and infected plants which cause the plants to survive for only a few weeks. There are no chemical controls. Management includes planting seedlings in unaffected areas and using clean tools.
The fungus called fusarium wilt commonly occurs in adult plants and is caused by Fusarium oxysporum. The pathogen has ability to survive for long periods, penetrating roots, invading the xylem, and preventing the transport of water and nutrients to other organs of the plant. Once infected, this disease causes leaves to yellow and browning of the vascular system until they wilt and die. It occurs in any type of soil infecting all plants. Management of crops includes planting clean seedlings, uprooting and burning infected plants, and using sterilized tools.
The anthracnose, a canker caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes, is a pathogen of the passion fruit creating dark and sunken lesions of the trunk.
Uses
Nutrition
Raw passion fruit is 73% water, 22%
carbohydrates, 2% protein and 0.7%
fat. In a reference amount of , raw passion fruit supplies 97
and is a rich source (20% or more of the
Daily Value, DV) of
vitamin C (33% DV) and a moderate source (10–19% DV) of
riboflavin and potassium. No other
are in significant content.
Culinary
Passion fruit has a variety of uses related to its favored taste as a whole fruit and juice.
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In Australia and New Zealand, it is available commercially both fresh and tinned. It is added to fruit salads, and fresh fruit pulp or passion fruit sauce is commonly used in , including as a topping for pavlova (a regional meringue cake) and ice cream, a flavouring for cheesecake, and in the icing of Mille-feuille. A passion-fruit–flavored soft drink called Passiona has also been manufactured in Australia since the 1920s. It can be used in some alcoholic cocktails.
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In Brazil, the term maracujá applies to passion fruit (maracujá azedo, or "sour") and granadillo (maracujá doce, or "sweet"). Passion fruit mousse is a common dessert and passion fruit pulp is used to decorate the tops of cakes. Passion fruit juice, ice pops, and soft drinks are also consumed. When making a caipirinha, passion fruit may be used instead of lime.
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In Cambodia, the red and yellow passion fruit grown in the Mondulkiri Province are used to produce wine and liquor.
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In Colombia and Costa Rica, it is used for juices and desserts.
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In the Dominican Republic, where it is locally called chinola, it is used to make juice and fruit preserves. Passion-fruit-flavored syrup is used on shaved ice, and the fruit is also eaten raw, sprinkled with sugar.
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In East Africa, passion fruit is used to make juice, and is commonly eaten as a whole fruit.
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In Hawaii, where it is known as lilikoi, fresh passion fruit pulp is eaten. Lilikoi-flavored syrup is used as a topping for shave ice, soft drinks, a glaze, and to marinate meat and vegetables. It is used as a flavoring for , cheesecakes, cookies, dessert bars, ice cream and mochi. Passion fruit is also used in jam or jelly, as well as a fruit curd known as "lilikoi butter".
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In India, the government of Andhra Pradesh started growing passion fruit vines in the Chintapalli (Visakhapatnam) forests to make fruit available within the region.
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In Indonesia, where it is known as markisa, both edulis and flavicarpa varieties are cultivated and consumed differently. The former is normally eaten as is, while the latter is more commonly strained to obtain its juice, which is cooked with sugar to make passion fruit syrup used in drinks and desserts.
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In Mexico, passion fruit is used to make juice or is eaten raw with chili powder and lime.
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In Paraguay, passion fruit is used principally for its juice, to prepare desserts such as passion fruit mousse, cheesecake, ice cream, and to flavor yogurts and cocktails.
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In Peru, passion fruit has long been a staple in homemade ice pops called "marciano" or "chupetes". Passion fruit is also used in several desserts, especially mousses and cheesecakes. Passion fruit juice is also drunk on its own and is used in ceviche variations and in , including the Maracuyá sour, a variation of the Pisco sour. Granadilla, or "sweet", can be eaten raw.
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In the Philippines, passion fruit is commonly sold in public markets and in public schools. Some vendors sell the fruit with a straw to enable sucking out the seeds and juices inside.
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In Portugal, especially the Azores and Madeira, passion fruit is used as a base for a variety of and mousses.
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In Puerto Rico, where the fruit is known as " parcha", it is used in juices, ice cream or pastries.
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In South Africa, passion fruit, known locally as granadilla (the yellow variety as guavadilla), is used to flavor yogurt, , such as Schweppes' "Sparkling Granadilla", and numerous cordial drinks (in cordial flavors, it is referred to as passion fruit). It is often eaten raw or used as a topping for cakes and tarts. Granadilla juice is commonly available in restaurants. The yellow variety is used for juice processing, while the purple variety is sold in fresh fruit markets.
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In Sri Lanka, passion fruit juice, along with faluda, is a common refreshment. Passion fruit cordial is manufactured both at home as well as industrially by mixing the pulp with sugar.
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In Suriname, where it is known as markoesa, there are three varieties. The red and orange varieties are sold by markets and eaten as a fruit because of their natural sweet flavor. The sour yellow variety, widely grown in the coastal region, is used to make jam and juices with added sugar, either uncooked for instant use or cooked into a thick syrup for refrigerated storage. The juice is also used to flavor cocktails.
In culture
Passion fruit flower is the
national flower of
Paraguay.
In 2006, singer-songwriter
Paula Fuga released the popular song "Lilikoi, the Hawaiian language word for passion fruit; the song is featured on an album also named after the fruit.
See also
-
Banana passionfruit
-
Passiflora incarnata
-
Passiflora quadrangularis
Explanatory notes
External links
