Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
8. International Mediterranean Scientific Research and Innovation Congress, Antalya, Türkiye, 22 - 23 Ağustos 2025, ss.278-283, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
Passiflora, commonly known as passionfruit, constitutes a broad taxonomic group comprising over 650 species worldwide. Despite its rich genetic diversity, the number of species with commercial significance remains limited due to self-incompatibility and various cultivation constraints. On a global scale, P. edulis, P. ligularis, P. incarnata, P. alata, P. setacea, P. caerulea, P. foetida, and P. vitifolia are widely utilized in diverse fields such as fresh fruit consumption, pharmaceutical product development, and ornamental horticulture. These species are rich in bioactive compounds, including alkaloids such as harman and harmol, flavonoids such as vitexin and apigenin derivatives, and various cyanogenic glycosides. These phytochemicals exhibit notable sedative, hypnotic, and anxiolytic effects, while certain species also provide cardiovascular and dermatological benefits.
In Turkey, Passiflora cultivation began with the introduction of P. edulis cultivars ‘Possum Purple’ and ‘Sweet Sunrise’ as part of a project aimed at adapting tropical fruit species to the ecological conditions of Antalya. In 2018, ‘Possum Purple’ was registered by BATEM, becoming the only officially certified Passiflora cultivar in the country. However, Passiflora production in Turkey faces several challenges, including misinformation regarding species and cultivars, unregulated seedling and seed importation, and insufficient technical knowledge among growers. Additional constraints include the lack of standardized propagation material and limited governmental support for tropical fruit crops. Enhancing the production of true-to-type planting material, expanding grower training programs, and increasing state subsidies could significantly contribute to the sustainable development of Passiflora cultivation. This study presents global and national insights into the utilization areas, phytochemical potential, and cultivation status of economically important Passiflora species, while also identifying key issues encountered in both seedling and fruit production and proposing targeted solutions to overcome these challenges.