Assessment of Different Substrates used for Seedling Production in Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa)

Abstract

Research has been conducted with the yellow passion fruit crop, with emphasis on different formulations of substrates for seedling production, with good results. The appropriate substrate should present good physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, enabling, thus, the rapid growth of the seedling, a good dry matter content in the aerial and root parts, among other characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different substrates on the viability and vigor of passion fruit seeds. Brs Giant yellow passion fruit seeds were used to this end (Passiflora edulis var. flavicarpa) directly from the fruits, which were collected in a property located in the municipality of Peixe in the southern region of the state of the Tocantins in Brazil. After the installation of the experiment, the process of evaluation and data collection was initiated. The highest values of root length and aerial part of seedlings were obtained when the seeds were sown in the moss substrate of Earthworm Humus, intermediate values in substrates 50% Wood Sawdust + 50% Washed Sand and 50% Black Soil + 50% Cattle Manure. It was also observed that the highest dry mass values of the root and shoot were obtained in the Earthworm Humus, intermediate values in substrates 50% Wood Sawdust + 50% Washed Sand, and 50% Black Soil + 50% Cattle Manure. The first emergency and emergence count of seedlings, due to the different substrates once again the substrate of Earthworm Humus stood out. Intermediate results were obtained in the substrates Washed Sand and 50% Black Soil + 50% Cattle Manure. The Earthworm Humus substrate of worm provided the highest values of viability and vigor in passion fruit seeds, followed by the mixture 50% Black Soil + 50% Cattle Manure. For the experiment, five types of substrates were evaluated: Washed Sand, Black soil, Wood Sawdust + Washed Sans + Black Soil + Cattle Manure, and substrate Earthworm Humus.