The generation of passion fruit interspecific hybrids is interesting to improve agronomic traits of Passiflora edulis commercial species in genetic breeding programs, in generation of new genetic materials to use as rootstock and as alternative ornamental plants. In this work, 17 interespecific hybrids were obtained and RAPD molecular markers were utilized to confirm the interspecific hybridizations. Genomic DNA samples of each supposed hybrid and its putative genitors were extracted and amplified using 12 decamer primers to obtain RAPD molecular markers. These markers have been analyzed concerning the presence of informative bands for confirmation of the crossed fertilization. The crossing between P. laurifolia x P. nitida; P. edulis f. flavicarpa GA2 x RC1 (GA2 x P. coccinea); P. caerulea x P. amethystina; P. glandulosa x P. galbana; P. coccinea x P. actinia; P. glandulosa x P. edulis f. flavicarpa GA2; P. sidaefolia x P. actinia; P. galbana x P. actinea; F1 (P. coccinea x P. setacea) x P. coccinea; F1 (P. coccinea x P. setacea) x P. mucronata; P. eichleriana x P. gibertii; P. galbana x P. edulis f. flavicarpa GA2; P. glandulosa x P. edulis edulis Cinza TO; P. glandulosa x P. sidaefolia; P. coccinea x P. setacea were confirmed. Thus, it was verified the genetic compatibility between these species, being possible to use them in breeding programs. RAPD markers have revealed themselves as excellent tools to verify the occurrence or not of crossed fecundation in Passiflora.
wild passion fruit; interspecific hybridization; genetic breeding
