Fenologia e produtividade de Physalis peruviana L. sob níveis salinos, no semiárido paraibano.

Abstract

Physalis peruviana L. is a species of fruit of great nutritional value and economic potential that is being incorporated without a picture of the small fruits in Brazil, standing out as a promise of source of income for small family farmers. However, its consumption is still restricted to some regions of Brazil due to lack of clarification about its productive cycle and favorable conditions of climate and soil. The aim of this study was to characterize the phenological phases, physiological activities and productive performance of Physalis peruviana L. under saline stress in a protected environment in the semi-arid region of Paraíba. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment, at the experimental farm of the Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal campus. The seedlings were transplanted to 12 L plastic pots, filled with soil, sand and manure (2:1:1), and moisture maintained based on drainage lysimetry. The treatments consisted of the application of water of different electrical conductivities (0.3, 1.2, 2.1 and 3.0 dS m-1). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five replicates of three plants per treatment. Phenological stages were evaluated by determining stem diameter, plant height and number of leaves, leaf area, number of lateral branches, floral buds, flowers and fruits per plant, as well as mean weight and diameter longitudinal and transverse of the fruits and productivity. The physiological variables analyzed at 60 days were: intercellular CO2 concentration, stomatal conductance, transpiration, photosynthetic rate, intrinsic water use efficiency, instantaneous carboxylation efficiency, electrolyte extravasation, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression and the means were compared by the Scott-Knot test at the 5% probability level using the statistical program Sisvar 5.3. It was concluded that P. peruviana fulfills its productive cycle at approximately 115 days after transplanting (DAT), with the vegetative phase comprising a period of 32 DAT and from then on, the reproductive phase that lasted until the 120 DAT, with possibility of later cycles. Fruit harvesting started from 65 DAT, whose productivity in protected environment conditions was 734.74 kg ha-1. P. peruviana L. plants were tolerant to saline irrigation water levels of up to 3.0 dS m-1, with no impairment in phenological and physiological characteristics up to 60 DAT, except for the extravasation variables of electrolytes and chlorophyll a and b.