Effect of temperature on passion fruit emergence and seedling vigor

Abstract

Abstract: Seedlings for commercial growing of passion fruit are preferentially acquired through seeds. Success in germination and seedling emergence, in turn, is influenced by the genetic constitution of the progenies and the thermal conditions imposed on the growth environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the emergence and vigor of seedlings of passion fruit cultivars exposed to different temperatures. The experiment was conducted in a germination chamber at the Unidade de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão / Pomar Campus of the Department of Plant Science of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV). The study was carried out in 5 × 3 factorial arrangement, with five temperature ranges (5-15, 10-20, 15-25, 20-30 and 25-35 °C) and three varieties of passion fruit (BRS Sol do Cerrado, BRS Gigante Amarelo and FB-200 Yellow Master) in a completely randomized design with six replications of 25 seeds per plot. The variables analyzed were the percentage, the speed index, and the average time of emergence, shoot length, total length, and seedling dry matter. The cultivars BRS Sol do Cerrado and BRS Gigante Amarelo exhibited seedling emergence of over 95% in the temperature ranges of 20-30 °C and 25-35 °C. Alternating temperatures from 20-30 °C stimulates seedling emergence, seedling growth, and greater accumulation of seedling dry matter.