S14 - Session O5 - Development and application of the propagation system of specific-virus-free plants of Passiflora spp. in Taiwan

Authors: Chin-Chih Chen, Chin-Chih Chen *

Passion fruit ( Passiflora spp.) is known as the "King of Juices" and is a highly economic fruit tree with multiple utilization values. In Taiwan, the variety of passion fruit "Tainung No.1" (TN1) had been released from Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute in 1981, it has the characteristics of self-compatibility and good flavor for both of fresh using and procession. Grafted seedlings can maintain its stable horticultural traits as a commercial planting. The grafed seedlings of TN1 passion fruit produced in Taiwan are not only for domestic demand, but also exported to Asian countries such as Vietnam, and now is the main variety in Asia. The particular one-year-cultivation technology of passion fruit in Taiwan is characterized by the annual replacement of healthy grafted plants throughout the field, which not only can effectively control the viral diseases and ensure the fruit harvest, but also create the economic benefits on the passion fruit seedling industry of Taiwan. Passion fruit is susceptible to viruses, fungi, and pests during the growing seasons. Above all the woodiness viruses cause lignification or deformity on fruits, and will reduce fruit juice rate and flavor, then cause a severely reduced on quality and yield. Virus is also a quarantine pathogen that is easy to be inspected during seedling trade. To ensure the quality and competitiveness of Taiwanese passion fruit seedlings, a complete production of healthy plants without specific viruses has been established. The relative technologies including (1) Virus detection technology that can monitor at least seven major passion fruit viruses in Asian region; (2) High throughput sampling methods and wide-spectrum detection techniques for efficiently detection; (3) The differentiate detection methods to identify the relative passion fruit viruses among Taiwan and other regions; (4) The certification system of healthy passion fruit seedlings established by the government which can control the healthy quality of grafted seedlings. Current systems of healthy passion fruit seedlings production and annual renew plants for field cultivation in Taiwan, which is the key technology for the sustainable development of Taiwan's passion fruit industry.