Physiological behavior of banana passionfruit <i>[Passiflora tripartita</i> var.<i> mollissima</i> (Kunth) Holms-Niels. & P.M.Jørg.] in two altitudinal conditions at Pasca municipality, Cundinamarca (Colombia)

Banana passionfruit (Passiflora tripartita var. mollissima) grows in the Andes. Given its biochemical and organoleptic properties, it has great potential for bioprospecting. There is little information about the plant’s ecophysiological characteristics that may be useful to optimize its productive system. Here, we sought to identify the physiological behavior of banana passionfruit plants growing in two altitudinal conditions through their distinct phenological phases. We established crops of this species in low (2,006 m) and high altitudinal areas (2,498 m) in Pasca municipality in Cundinamarca (Colombia), and we monitored the climatic characteristics. We evaluated the water potential, gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence in plants at different phenological stages, and we generated light photosynthetic response curves. We found that the higher altitude (2,498 m) area was colder, with higher photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and relative humidity, but less vapor pressure deficit. The high-altitude plants showed higher rates of photosynthesis, water potential, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and reduced transpiration compared to the low zone (2,006 m) plants, while at this lower altitude, the plants showed better PSII performance and a higher photosynthetic efficiency. Photosynthetic rates decreased along the phenological stages. During flowering and the early stages of fruit development, the transpiration rates decreased, the water use efficiency improved, while leaf water potential increased. The plants showed physiological responses and adaptation to the different ecophysiological conditions at the two altitudes, but the climatic characteristics of the higher elevation allowed the banana passionfruit plants to develop a higher physiological performance.