CAETANO, E. J. M.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2941350348045303; CAETANO, Edmilson Júnio Medeiros.
Abstract:
Salinity is one of the abiotic stresses that most limits the development of irrigated fruit growing
in semi-arid regions of Brazil. In this sense, it is extremely important to search for strategies
that minimize the effects of salt stress, such as the use of eliciting substances such as ascorbic
acid; however, the beneficial effects depend on the application method and the concentrations
used. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of application methods
and concentrations of ascorbic acid on the growth, physiology and production of sour passion
fruit irrigated with saline water. The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design,
in a 3 × 3 × 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to three application methods (soaking, spraying
and soaking + spraying), three concentrations of ascorbic acid (0; 0.8 and 1.6 mM) and two
levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw (0.8 and 3.8 dS m-1) with three
replications, totaling 54 experimental plots and one plant per plot. Regarding the results, foliar
spraying of ascorbic acid at a concentration of 0.8 mM mitigated the effects of saline stress on
the relative leaf water content, the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange and the
total production of sour passion fruit fruits. when irrigated with Cea of 3.8 dS m-1. Plants grown
with water of 0.8 dS m-1 and foliar application of 0.8 mM ascorbic acid achieved the greatest
growth in stem diameter and the greatest volume of pulp in the fruits.