Germination and development of passion fruit seedlings under saline and water stresses

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of saline and water stresses on the germination of seeds and of saline stress on the development of seedlings of 'SCS437 Catarina' Passiflora edulis. The seeds were germinated on paper moistened with NaCl and PEG 6,000 solutions, at the osmotic potentials of 0.00, −0.25, −0.50, −0.75, −1.00, and −2.00 MPa. The produced seedlings were exposed only to NaCl. The seeds show tolerance to saline stress up to an osmotic potential of −0.75 MPa, while the seedlings present tolerance up to an osmotic potential of −0.50 MPa (10.96 mS cm−1). Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do estresse salino e hídrico na germinação das sementes, e do estresse salino no desenvolvimento de mudas de Passiflora edulis 'SCS437 Catarina'. As sementes foram germinadas em papel umedecido com soluções de NaCl e de PEG 6.000, nos potenciais osmóticos de 0,00, −0,25, −0,50, −0,75, −1,00 e −2,00 MPa. As mudas produzidas foram expostas apenas ao NaCl. As sementes apresentam tolerância ao estresse salino até o potencial osmótico de −0.75 MPa, enquanto as mudas demonstram tolerância até o potencial osmótico de −0.50 MPa (10.96 mS cm−1).