SOMATIC HYBRIDIZATION OF THE PASSIFLORA SPECIES, P-EDULIS F FLAVICARPA DEGENER AND P-INCARNATA L

Somatic hybrid plants have been produced following electrofusion of me sophyll protoplasts of P. edulis f. flavicarpa and P. incarnata. These hybrids exhibited morphological characteristics intermediate between those of the two parental species. Further evidence of hybridity has b een provided by isozyme analysis, ploidy determinations and molecular characterization (RAPD analysis). These somatic hybrid plants have bee n used in first generation backcrossing experiments with both P. eduli s f. flavicarpa and P. incarnata; descriptions are provided of the flo ral and fruit characteristics, as well as seed production.