Water salinity and initial development of yellow passion fruit

Abstract

Considering the lack of information on salt tolerance of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seedlings, a study was carried out to evaluate the effects of water salinity on the vigor and initial growth in a completely randomized design with 8 levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw), varying from 1.0 to 8.0 dS m-1. Salinity delayed the germination process, but relative reduction was observed only above ECw 4.43 dS m-1. Seedling vigor and growth decreased with increasing salinity, however, water at 4 dS m-1 resulted in 85% of vigor and seedlings with more than 50% growth in comparison to the lowest salinity treatment. Based on soil salinity, the passion fruit may be considered as 'moderately tolerant' to salinity during the initial phase.