Genetic improvement of passionfruit to achieve improved disease resistance

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to present the final results of all activities conducted under HAL Project PF04001 'Genetic improvement of passionfruit to achieve improved disease resistance'. The report provides a summary of project findings, a description of technology transfer activities, and recommendations arising from the outcomes of the project. The overall objective of this project was to develop improved disease management strategies for the Australian passionfruit industry through breeding and
improvements in our understanding of fungal and viral diseases of passionfruit. This project targeted three areas; 1) breeding of rootstocks and scions with improved virus and cold tolerance, 2) the investigation of defence enzymes in passionfruit and the use of defence activators and 3) understanding the role of infection by single and multiple viruses and examining the use of PWV mild-strain cross-protection.