Passion fruit and butterflies: Biodiversity and Plant Health

Due to the large number of passion fruit species in Brazil it is considered one of the main centers of genetic diversity. Different species of passion fruit have great commercial potential including cultivation as ornamental plants either as landscaping solutions for large and medium-sized areas such as gardens fences walls and pergolas or as pot plants that are used on balconies or indoors. In view of this great potential Embrapa and partners have been working on the development of ornamental passion fruit cultivars. The first registered hybrids were BRS Estrela do Cerrado BRS Rubiflora and BRS Roseflora with predominantly red flowers. To broaden the spectrum of flower colors the BRS Rosea Púrpura with pink flowers and the BRS Céu do Cerrado with blue flowers were registered.