Optimized cutting of yellow passion fruit and its potential for unstaked or trellised cultivation

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate types of cuttings, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations, and potting media on the rooting of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) cultivars, and to compare the initial performance of flowering-competent cuttings cultivated in a trellising system or in a nonstaking method on ground covered with plastic mulch. The passion fruit cultivars evaluated were BRS Gigante Amarelo, Isla Redondo Amarelo, and FB 200 Yellow Master were evaluated. The assessed treatments were: softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings; five concentrations of IBA (0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 mg L-1); and the pine bark or phenolic foam potting media. Initial growth, fruit yield, and bacteriosis severity were evaluated in the field in flowering-competent cuttings and seedlings, both in the trellising system and in the nonstaking method on mulched ground. For the evaluated cultivars, a high rooting rate (>90%) was observed for both softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings grown in phenolic foam or decomposed pine bark for potting media, regardless of the IBA concentration. In the espalier system, 14 months after transplanting, fruit yield was 45% higher for cuttings than for seedlings. Unstaked plants had a low number of flowers and fruit set, and a great damage by bacteriosis according to the used cultivar. The evaluated cultivars can be propagated either by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings, in phenolic foam or decomposed pine bark, without IBA application. Flowering-competent cuttings have the potential to anticipate the production in the trellised cultivation of yellow passion fruit.

Estudos sistemáticos, concepções e atualizações em Ciências Agrárias

“…É aconselhável dar preferência aos substratos que apresentam boa porosidade, drenagem e pH adequado. Jesus et al (2020), ao avaliarem estacas de três cultivares comerciais de Passiflora edulis ('BRS Gigante Amarelo', 'Redondo Amarelo' da Isla e 'FB 200 Yellow Master'), recomendaram o uso de substratos feitos de casca de pinus ou espuma fenólica.…”