Passionfruit Pests and Diseases, University of Florida

From the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida

Passionfruit Pests and Diseases

Passion fruit are affected by several insect pests, mites, nematodes, and fungal and viral plant pathogens, which can cause significant harm to the plants and fruit (Fig. 1). The larvae of several butterfly (Lepidoptera) species can completely defoliate passion fruit vines if left uncontrolled.

Gulf fritillary caterpillar feeding on leaf.

Fig. 1

Gulf fritillary caterpillar feeding on leaf

Stink bugs may occasionally probe (puncture) the fruit and cause minor damage to the fruit crop. Spider mites also can cause serious defoliation leading to death if vines are in areas with few natural predators of the mites (Fig. 2). A number of insecticides and fungicides are registered for use on commercial passion fruit. However, it is critical which materials are chosen to apply and that the timing of those applications does not kill native pollinators and honeybees. Please contact your local UF/IFAS Extension office for more information and guidance.

Fig. 2
Spider mite damage.
Notice the recent damage on younger leaf compared to older damage.

Parasitic nematodes (microscopic worms) are more likely to attack the root systems of purple passion fruit than yellow passion fruit. Symptoms include wilting of the plant, poor growth, and stunted or malformed roots. In Florida, purple varieties are sometimes grafted onto yellow varieties to help mitigate some fungal and nematode root damage.

There are several significant pathogens that can damage or kill the entire plant and harm fruit quality and production (Fig. 3,4, and 5). A principal pathogen suspect in passion fruit plantings in south Florida is Fusarium solani, canker (Ploetz 1991). Symptoms of canker include sudden wilting of leaf canopy, which becomes chlorotic and remains attached along with affected fruit. Additionally, dying tissue around the base of the stem may eventually girdle the entire stem at the soil level, which can be associated with root rot, swelling of stem at the canker, and adventitious root growth. Discolored vasculature is visible usually less than 2 ft from the canker (Manicom et al. 2003).

Comparing a healthy stem of a yellow passion fruit rootstock, left, to a yellow seedling with canker

Fig. 3

Comparing a healthy stem of a yellow passion fruit rootstock
left, to a yellow seedling with canker, right, where there is swelling and outside bark dying.

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Bibliography

Bailey, Mark, et al. "The Passion Fruit in Florida." Horticultural Sciences Dept., UF/IFAS Extension, Original pub. Jan. 2021, EDIS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1406. Accessed 11 Feb. 2021.

Photographs

Fig. ¹ Bailey, Mark, and Joshua Anderson. "Gulf fritillary caterpillar feeding on leaf." Horticultural Sciences Dept., University of Florida, EDIS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1406. Accessed 19 Feb. 2021.
Fig. ² Anderson, Joshua. "Spider mite damage. Notice the recent damage on younger leaf compared to older damage." Horticultural Sciences Dept., University of Florida, EDIS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs365. Accessed 19 Feb. 2021.
Fig. ³ Anderson, Joshua. "Comparing a healthy stem of a yellow passion fruit rootstock left, to a yellow seedling with canker, right, where there is swelling and outside bark dying." Horticultural Sciences Dept., University of Florida, EDIS, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs365. Accessed 19 Feb. 2021.

Published 19 Feb. 2021 LR