Reaction of Sour Passion Fruit Lineages and Hybrids to Bacterial Spot Caused by Xanthomonas axononopodis pv. passiflorae Under Protected Cultivation and Field Conditions

Passion fruit is infected by many plant pathogens, including Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. passiflorae, causing bacterial spot disease. This disease has been impaired orchards all over Brazil, resulting in low yield and production. In addition, it results in premature death of plants in the field. This study aimed to analyze the reaction of sour passion fruit genotypes to bacterial spot in leaves under protected cultivation (Experiment 1) and the bacterial spot severity in fruits under field conditions (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 was carried out as a randomized block design (RBD) with subdivided plots, composed of 24 treatments (genotypes), three replications, five plants per plot, and five evaluation dates. Bacterial spot incidence and severity were evaluated using a 0 to 5 grading scale. Evaluations were carried out at a 7-day interval after disease symptoms first appeared. Genotypes differed for mean disease severity and incidence. The bacterial spot disease evaluations showed that genotypes MAR20#46 P3 R4 X Rosa Claro R4 and MD 16 P3 X MAR20#39 P1 R4 presented the lowest scores for the disease incidence in the leaves. S2L AP R1, MAR20#19 ROXO R4 X ECRAM P3 R3, and MD 16 P3 X MAR20#39 P1 R4 were the genotypes with the lowest disease severity scores. Experiment 2 consisted of a RBD with 24 treatments, three replications, and seven plants per plot. Severity assessments were monthly performed on five fruits per plot, totaling three evaluation dates. In this experiment, the percentage of total fruit area with necrotic lesions was measured using a 1 to 4 grading scale. Bacterial spot severity assessments in fruits identified interactions between genotypes and evaluation dates (p ≤ 0.05). The lineages S2L MAR 20#15 R4 and S2L MAR20#19 R2 showed the lowest mean severity scores of bacterial spot in fruit. The genotypes with the lowest mean scores were selected to continue the breeding program.