EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND ZINC ON THE GROWTH OF YELLOW PASSION FRUIT SEEDLINGS

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the effects of simultaneous application of triple superphosphate and zinc sulphate on growth of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) seedlings. A nursery experiment for seedling formation was conducted at the Department of Agricultural Production of the Mato Grosso do Sul State University, Cassilândia Unit (UEMS/UUC), Brazil. Four doses of phosphorus (0 mg dm-3, 150 mg dm-3, 300 mg dm-3 and 450 mg dm-3) and three doses of zinc (0 mg dm-3, 5 mg dm-3 and 10 mg dm-3) were tested. The phosphorus was used as triple superphosphate, and the zinc as zinc sulphate. A randomized block design was used, in a 4 x 3 factorial scheme with four replications and five plants per plot. The following traits were evaluated 92 days after sowing: height, root length, number of leaves per plant, dry matter of shoots and roots, and total dry matter. The application of triple superphosphate affected significantly height of plants, leaf number, shoots dry matter, and total dry matter. The zinc sulphate favored the variables height, shoot dry matter, and total dry matter. It was concluded that the use of triple superphosphate and zinc sulphate provided a better quality in the production of the yellow passion fruit seedlings.

KEY WORDS: Passiflora edulis f. Flavicarpa; passion fruit; propagation; seedling.