Guangxi Introduces New Passion Fruit Variety Weighing up to 120 Grams

During a recent gathering in Nanning dedicated to promoting passion fruit products and advanced cultivation techniques, the Guangxi Passion Fruit Industry Association introduced an impressive new passion fruit variety, Zhuangmi No. 5. This novel cultivar boasts a remarkable weight of up to 120 grams and has demonstrated the potential to yield over 22.5 metric tons per hectare.

Zhuangmi No. 5, formerly known as Zhuangxiang Mibao, is the result of a collaborative effort between the Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Guangxi Dingtian Agricultural Co. Ltd., under the leadership of Mou Haifei’s dedicated breeding team. The fruit’s smooth skin is golden yellow or orange and adorned with a starry pattern. Single fruits are more than 20% heavier than ordinary passion fruit, with weights typically between 90 and 108 grams and even reaching up to 120 grams. The flesh is reportedly plump and juicy, sweet, and slightly sour, with an appealing texture. The soluble solid content ranges from 16.3% to 19.7%, the total acid content is only 1.65–2.05% and the vitamin C content is 26.6–32.0 milligrams per 100 grams.

Farmers in Guangxi commenced the cultivation of edible passion fruit in the mid-1980s. By the early 1990s, with support from the World Bank, substantial strides had been made in this field by importing seven juice production lines from the European Union and significantly expanding the cultivation area.

With a planting area now covering 28,800 hectares and an output of 361,000 metric tons, Guangxi province is China’s largest passion fruit producer. Passion fruit from Guangxi are renowned for their superior quality. The purchase price at origin is as high as 20–30 Chinese yuan ($2.74–4.11) per kilogram, while the consumer price can reach 40–60 yuan ($5.47–8.21) per kilogram. With its attractive appearance and delightful flavor, the recently introduced Zhuangmi No. 5 is anticipated to fetch prices more than double those of standard passion fruit.

Image: people.com.cn

This article was based on a Chinese article. Read the original article.