ISSN 1807-1929

Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola e Ambiental

Brazilian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering
v.27, n.1, p.42-50, 2023
Campina Grande, PB – http://www.agriambi.com.br – http://www.scielo.br/rbeaa

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v27n1p42-50

Potassium fertilization in the cultivation of sour passion fruit

under irrigation strategies with brackish water1
Adubação potássica no cultivo de maracujazeiro-azedo
sob estratégias de irrigação com água salobra
Francisco W. A. Pinheiro2 , Geovani S. de Lima2* , Pedro F. do N. Sousa3 , Weslley B. B. de Souza3 ,
Lauriane A. dos A. Soares3 , Hans R. Gheyi2 , Charles M. Felix3 & Francisco J. da S. Paiva2
1
Research developed at Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Agroalimentar, Pombal, PB, Brazil
2
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande/Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Agrícola, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
3
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande/Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Agrárias, Pombal, PB, Brazil

HIGHLIGHTS:
Potassium dose of 60% of the recommendation promotes greater polar diameter of sour passion fruit.
Regardless of irrigation strategy and K, the pH and titratable acidity of the pulp remain within the ideal range.
Salt stress in the vegetative and vegetative/fruiting stages stimulates the synthesis of flavonoids and anthocyanins.

ABSTRACT: In the Brazilian semiarid region, the occurrence of water sources with high salt concentrations stands out
as a limiting factor for the production of most crops under irrigated conditions. This research was conducted to evaluate
the physical and chemical quality of sour passion fruit as a function of brackish water irrigation strategies and potassium
doses. The experiment was carried out under field conditions using a randomized block design in a 6 × 2 factorial scheme,
consisting of six strategies of irrigation with brackish water (irrigation with water of 1.3 dS m-1 throughout the cycle – WS;
irrigation with water of 4.0 dS m-1 in the vegetative stage – VE; flowering stage – FL; fruiting stage – FR; in the successive
vegetative/flowering stages – VE/FL; vegetative/fruiting stages – VE/FR) and two potassium doses: 60 and 100%
(345 g of K2O per plant per year) of recommendation, with four replicates and three plants per plot. Irrigation with water
of 4.0 dS m-1 in the flowering stage or continuously in the vegetative and flowering stages reduced the yield and size of
sour passion fruit. Fertilization with 60% of K is recommended for the production of sour passion fruits with greater
polar diameter. It is feasible to cultivate sour passion fruit under irrigation with 4.0 dS m-1 of water in the flowering and
fruiting stages and fertilization with 60% of the K recommendation without losses in ascorbic acid and total soluble sugars.
Key words: Passiflora edulis, salt stress, bioactive compounds

RESUMO: No semiárido brasileiro a ocorrência de fontes de águas com níveis elevados de sais se destaca como fator
limitante para produção da maioria das culturas sob condições irrigadas. Desenvolveu-se esta pesquisa com o objetivo
de avaliar a qualidade física e química de frutos de maracujazeiro-azedo sob estratégias de irrigação com água salobra
e doses de potássio. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em condições de campo, utilizando-se o delineamento de blocos
casualizados em esquema fatorial 6 × 2, sendo os tratamentos constituídos de seis estratégias de irrigação com águas
salobras (SE - irrigação com água de 1,3 dS m-1 durante todo ciclo; irrigação com água de 4,0 dS m-1 na fase vegetativa
- VE; floração - FL; frutificação - FR; nas fases sucessivas vegetativa/floração - VE/FL; vegetativa/frutificação - VE/FR)
e duas doses de potássio 60 e 100% (345 g de K2O por planta por ano) da recomendação, com quatro repetições e três
plantas por parcela. A irrigação com água de 4,0 dS m-1 na fase de floração ou quando utilizada de forma contínua na
fase vegetativa e de floração reduziu a produtividade e o tamanho dos frutos de maracujazeiro-azedo. Adubação com
60% da recomendação de K proporcionou a produção de frutos de maracujazeiro-azedo com maior diâmetro polar.
É viável o cultivo de maracujazeiro-azedo sob irrigação com água de 4,0 dS m-1 nas fases de floração e frutificação e
adubação com 60% da recomendação de K sem perdas nos teores de ácido ascórbico e açúcares solúveis totais.
Palavras-chave: Passiflora edulis, estresse salino, compostos bioativos

• Ref. 263833 – Received 09 May, 2022 This is an open-access article

* Corresponding author - E-mail: [email protected] distributed under the Creative
• Accepted 28 July, 2022 • Published 03 Aug, 2022 Commons Attribution 4.0
Editors: Ítalo Herbet Lucena Cavalcante & Walter Esfrain Pereira International License.
 Potassium fertilization in the cultivation of sour passion fruit under irrigation strategies with brackish water 43

Introduction Material and Methods

Sour passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is a fruit crop of great The experiment was carried out from August 2019 to May
socioeconomic importance and has stood out mainly among 2020, at the ‘Rolando Enrique Rivas Castellón’ Experimental
small and medium producers. Its fruits are intended mainly Farm, belonging to the Center of Science and Agri-Food
for consumption, either fresh or after processing (Lima et al., Technology - CCTA of the Federal University of Campina
2020a). Grande - UFCG in Santo Domingos (06º 48’ 50” S; 37º 56’ 31”
Despite the production potential, the Brazilian W, 190 m and mean altitude of 190 m), Paraíba, Brazil. The
semiarid region has climatic characteristics, such as high data regarding mean maximum and minimum temperatures,
evapotranspiration and low rainfall, which, associated with the precipitation, and relative humidity of air were collected daily
scarcity of good quality water, limit the expansion of irrigated at the Meteorological Station São Gonçalo, Sousa - PB and are
fruit crops in this region (Lima et al., 2015; Bezerra et al., 2018; shown in Figure 1.
Sá et al., 2018). The treatments were distributed in randomized blocks in
a 6 × 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to six brackish water
The high concentrations of salts present in irrigation water
irrigation strategies – IRS (irrigation with water of 1.3 dS m-1
can induce physiological changes that compromise growth,
throughout the cultivation cycle - WS; irrigation with water
development and the physicochemical quality of fruits (Silva
of 4.0 dS m-1 in the vegetative stage - VE; flowering stage - FL;
et al., 2019a; Pinheiro et al., 2022). Among the strategies that
fruiting stage - FR; in the successive vegetative/flowering stages
can reduce the impacts of salt stress, the use of brackish water
- VE/FL; vegetative/fruiting stages - VE/FR) and two potassium
in the stages in which the crop has greater tolerance (Lima
doses (60 and 100% of the K2O recommendation of Costa
et al., 2020a; Soares et al., 2021) and potassium fertilization
et al. (2008)), with four replicates, totaling 48 experimental
(Gurgel et al., 2010) stand out, because the tolerance of plants units, each plot consisting of three plants for data collection.
to salinity may vary between cultivars of the same species, The 100% potassium dose corresponded to 345 g of K2O per
with the phenological stage of the crop and with the duration plant per year.
of the exposure to salts (Silva et al., 2022). Pinheiro et al. The management strategies with electrical conductivity
(2022), in a study with sour passion fruit under brackish water (ECw) of 1.3 dS m -1 (low salinity) and 4.0 dS m -1 (high
irrigation strategies varying the phenological stages of the crop, salinity) were used in irrigation in the different stages of crop
concluded that the passion fruit ‘BRS GA1’ is sensitive to salt development: irrigation with low-salinity water throughout
stress in the vegetative and flowering stages continuously. the cultivation cycle - WS (1-253 days after transplanting -
In view of the above, this study was conducted with the DAT) and with high-salinity water in the stages VE – from
objective of evaluating the physical and chemical quality of the beginning of the emergence of secondary branches to the
sour passion fruit as a function of brackish water irrigation emergence of the floral primordium (50-113 DAT); FL - from
strategies and potassium doses. the emergence of the floral primordium to full development

STA – Start of treatment application; SH – Start of the harvest

Figure 1. Data of mean maximum and minimum air temperature, precipitation and relative air humidity during the experimental
period

Rev. Bras. Eng. Agríc. Ambiental, v.27, n.1, p.42-50, 2023.

44 Francisco W. A. Pinheiro et al.

of the floral bud (anthesis) (114-198 DAT); FR - from the Micronutrients were applied fortnightly using a Dripsol®
fertilization of the floral bud to the appearance of fruits with micro compound (Mg2+ = 1.1%; boron = 0.85%; copper (Cu-
spots (199-253 DAT); VE/FL - in the vegetative and flowering EDTA) = 0.5%; iron (Fe-EDTA) = 3.4%; manganese (Mn-
stages (50-198 DAT); VE/FR - in the vegetative and fruiting EDTA) = 3.2%; molybdenum = 0.05%; zinc = 4.2%) at the
stages (50-113 and 199-253 DAT). The ECw values (1.3 and 4.0 concentration of 1 g L-1, by foliar spraying on the adaxial and
dS m-1) of the brackish water irrigation strategies were based abaxial sides.
on a previous study conducted from November 2018 to July The spacing used was 3 m between rows and 3 m between
2019 (Lima et al., 2020a). plants, using the vertical trellis system with smooth wire n° 14.
Seeds of ‘BRS GA1’ sour passion fruit were used. It is a Formative pruning, pollination, and other cultural practices
genotype with oblong fruits, with a slightly flattened base and and phytosanitary control were carried out as described by
apex, weighing from 120 to 350 g, pulp yield around 40% and Pinheiro et al. (2022).
soluble solids content from 13 to 15 °Brix. It stands out for The irrigation water with electrical conductivity of 1.3 dS m-1
the homogeneity of the fruit, resistance to transport, bright came from an artesian well located in the experimental area
yellow external color, strong yellow color pulp (higher amount of CCTA/UFCG, whose chemical composition is presented
of vitamin C), longer shelf life and good pulp yield, with fruits in Table 2. The water with ECw of 4.0 dS m-1 was prepared
for industry and table (EMBRAPA, 2008). by dissolving iodine-free NaCl in well water. The irrigation
During the seedling formation period, irrigation was water with the highest salinity level was prepared considering
performed with water of low electrical conductivity (ECw = the relationship between ECw and the concentration of salts
1.3 dS m-1). At 61 days after sowing (DAS), transplanting was (Richards, 1954), according to Eq. 1:
performed to the area in the field. Brackish water irrigation
management started at 50 DAT (Pinheiro et al., 2022). C ≅ 640 × ECw (1)
Tillage practices consisted of plowing followed by
harrowing, aiming at breaking up soil clods and leveling the where:
area. The soil of the experimental area was classified as Entisol C - concentration of salts in irrigation water (mg L-1); and,
of loamy sand texture. Before transplanting the seedlings to ECw - Electrical conductivity of water (dS m-1).
the field, five soil samples (0-0.40 m layer) were collected
at random in the area and later mixed to form a composite After dissolving the NaCl to obtain an ECw level of 4.0 dS m-1,
sample, whose chemical and physical attributes (Table 1) electrical conductivity of water was verified with the help of
were determined according to the methodologies described a conductivity meter at 25 °C temperature and corrected, if
by Teixeira et al. (2017). necessary.
After opening the holes of 0.4 × 0.4 × 0.4 m, fertilization Irrigation was applied by a localized drip system, using
with 20 L of bovine manure and 50 g of single superphosphate 32-mm-diameter PVC pipes in the main line and 16-mm-
(18% P2O5 and 20% Ca2+) was performed, as recommended diameter low-density polyethylene pipes in the lateral lines,
by Costa et al. (2008). Nitrogen and potassium fertilizations with drippers with flow rate of 10 L h -1. Two pressure-
were performed monthly via fertigation, using urea (45% N) compensating drippers (GA 10 Grapa model) were installed
and potassium chloride (60% K2O) as sources of nitrogen and close to each plant, each 15 cm away from the stem. Plants
potassium, respectively; 65 g of N per plant were applied in were irrigated daily at 07:00 a.m., with water according to the
the crop formation stage and 160 g of N per plant were applied strategy adopted, and the depth to be applied was estimated
in the flowering and fruiting stages. At the 100% potassium based on crop evapotranspiration, according to a study
dose, 65 g of K2O per plant were applied in the vegetative stage conducted by Pinheiro et al. (2022).
and 280 g of K2O per plant were applied in the flowering and Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) was determined daily
fruiting stages. from climatic data collected at the São Gonçalo Meteorological

Table 1. Chemical and physical attributes of the soil (0-40 cm layer) of the experimental area

pH - Hydrogen potential; OM - Organic matter: Walkley-Black wet digestion; Ca2+ and Mg2+ - Extracted with 1 M KCl at pH 7.0; Na+ and K+ - Extracted with 1 M NH4OAc at pH 7.0;
Al3+ + H+ - Extracted with 0.5 M CaOAc at pH 7.0; ECse - Electrical conductivity of saturation extract; CEC - Cation exchange capacity; SARse - Sodium adsorption ratio of saturation
extract; ESP - Exchangeable sodium percentage; 1,2 - Referring to field capacity and permanent wilting point, respectively

Table 2. Chemical attributes of the well water used in the experiment

EC - Electrical conductivity; SAR - Sodium adsorption ratio

Rev. Bras. Eng. Agríc. Ambiental, v.27, n.1, p.42-50, 2023.

 Potassium fertilization in the cultivation of sour passion fruit under irrigation strategies with brackish water 45

Station, located in the municipality of Sousa - PB, and the Table 3. Summary of the analysis of variance for equatorial
data were used to determine ET0 by the Penman-Monteith diameter (ED), polar diameter (PD), flavonoids (FLA),
method. Crop coefficients of 0.4 (1-113 DAT), 0.8 (114-198 anthocyanins (ANT), and hydrogen potential (pH) of ‘BRS
DAT) and 1.2 (199-253 DAT) were adopted, according to the GA1’ sour passion fruit cultivated under different brackish
recommendation of Nunes et al. (2017). water irrigation strategies and potassium fertilization
During the experimental period, the cultural practices and
phytosanitary treatments recommended for the crop were
carried out, controlling weeds, monitoring the appearance of
pests and diseases, and adopting adequate control measures
when necessary.
The harvest was conducted between 199 and 253 DAT.
The fruits were collected by individually removing the plant, DF - Degrees of freedom; CV (%) - Coefficient of variation; *- Significant at p ≤ 0.05 by
cutting the peduncle when the fruit color changed from green F test; ** - Significant at p ≤ 0.01 by F test; ns - Not significant

to partially yellow, and before detaching from the mother

The equatorial diameters of the fruits (Figure 2A) of
plant (Costa et al., 2008). After harvesting, the fruits were
plants subjected to the irrigation strategy with low-salinity
packed in boxes and separated by paper, which also covered
water throughout the cultivation cycle (WS), fruiting (FR),
the boxes, to avoid friction and mechanical damage to them.
and vegetative and fruiting stages (VE/FR) were statistically
To determine the postharvest quality, the fruits were
higher than those of plants that received the high salinity of
washed in chlorinated water to remove impurities or residues
ECw = 4.0 dS m-1 in the flowering stage or continuously in the
of agricultural pesticides. The physical characterization of the
vegetative and flowering stages. A comparison between plants
fruits was carried out through the equatorial (DE) and polar
that received irrigation with ECw of 4.0 dS m-1 in the vegetative,
(DP) diameters, with the determinations made in 20 fruits
flowering and vegetative/flowering stages showed that there
per plant. The DE was measured in the median region in the
were no significant differences among them. The reduction
width direction and the DP in the direction from the base to
in fruit size is a consequence of energy expenditure for the
the apex of the fruit, using a digital Vernier caliper.
maintenance of metabolic activities, i.e., the maintenance of
After pulping, the fruit-pulp was evaluated for
ionic and osmotic homeostasis, through the accumulation
concentrations of flavonoids (FLA), anthocyanins (ANT),
of sugars, organic acids, and ions in the vacuole (Lima et al.,
soluble solids (SS), total soluble sugars (TSSg), ascorbic acid 2020b; Lacerda et al., 2022).
(AA), titratable acidity (TA), and hydrogen potential (pH). Another factor that may have contributed to the decrease
Concentrations of anthocyanin and flavonoids, and soluble in fruit diameters was the period of stress to which the plants
solids (refractometry) were determined according to the were subjected, considering that in the vegetative stage there
methodology proposed by Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL, 2008). was no contribution from precipitation, and in the flowering
Soluble sugars were measured using the colorimetric method stage, rains started from 138 DAT and were poorly distributed
(Somogyi, 1952). Ascorbic acid concentration was determined throughout the cycle. It is important to highlight that in the
by the titration method until the solution acquired a blue color, VE/FL stages the precipitations were concentrated over 26
and the results were expressed as mg vit. C 100g-1). Titratable days. Dias et al. (2021), when evaluating the production of
acidity was determined in triplicate and the results obtained West Indian cherry cv. BRS 366 Jaburu under irrigation with
were converted into a percentage of citric acid, according to saline water and potassium-phosphorus fertilization in two
the methodology of IAL (2008). Hydrogen potential was production cycles, in the second year of cultivation, found that
determined directly using a digital pH meter previously ECw from 0.6 dS m-1 led to a decrease in polar diameter of fruit.
calibrated with buffer solutions of pH 7.0 and 4.0. The polar diameter of sour passion fruit was also
The obtained data were evaluated by analysis of variance, significantly influenced by the brackish water irrigation
after data normality and homogeneity test (Shapiro-Wilk test). strategies (Figure 2B). Plants grown under the strategies
Tukey test at p ≤ 0.05 was applied for brackish water irrigation WS, FR and VE/FR stood out with the highest PD compared
strategies and potassium doses, using the statistical program to those subjected to salt stress in the vegetative/flowering
SISVAR (Ferreira, 2019). stages. However, when comparing the PD values of plants
under the strategies WS, VE, FL, FR and VE/FR, there were
Results and Discussion no significant differences among them. Irrigation with high-
salinity water (4.0 dS m-1) continuously in the vegetative and
According to the summary of the analysis of variance flowering stages was harmful to fruit formation. Salt stress
(Table 3), brackish water irrigation strategies significantly compromises reproductive processes in plants, due to the
affected the equatorial diameter (ED) and polar diameter (PD), possible accumulation of toxic ions (Na+ and/or Cl-), and
concentrations of flavonoids (FLA) and anthocyanin (ANT), reduces the supply of assimilates to reproductive tissues due
and hydrogen potential (pH). Except for equatorial diameter, to decreases in leaf area and water restriction and/or hormonal
potassium doses significantly influenced all variables analyzed. imbalances (Khan et al., 2017).
The interaction between the factors (IRS × KD) significantly Regarding the effects of potassium doses on the polar
affected the FLA and ANT concentrations and pH of ‘BRS diameter of sour passion fruit (Figure 2C), plants subjected
GA1’ sour passion fruit. to fertilization with 60% of the recommendation of

Rev. Bras. Eng. Agríc. Ambiental, v.27, n.1, p.42-50, 2023.

46 Francisco W. A. Pinheiro et al.

fertilization, potassium levels in the soil were not considered

adequate for the sour passion fruit crop, being classified as
low (Table 1). Despite the low levels of K in the soil, under the
edaphoclimatic conditions of the semiarid region of Northeast
Brazil, the dose of 100% of K (Costa et al., 2008) may have
been excessive for the crop. Another aspect that may have led
to a decrease in fruit size was the K source used in the present
study, since potassium chloride has a high salt index (116) and
may have caused a reduction in the levels of Ca2+ and Mg2+
in plants, due to the existence of competition between these
cations (Dias et al., 2021).
For the flavonoid concentrations - FLA (Figure 3A) of
sour passion fruit, plants fertilized with a dose of 60% of the
K recommendation obtained the highest value (1.25 mg 100g-1
pulp) when they were subjected to irrigation with water with
the highest level of electrical conductivity (4.0 dS m-1) in the
vegetative stage, being statistically superior to those under the
other irrigation strategies (WS, FL, VE/FL, FR, VE/FR). Plants
grown under fertilization with 100% of the recommendation of
Costa et al. (2008) stood out with the highest FLA when they
were irrigated with water of 4.0 dS m-1 in the flowering stage,
differing significantly from plants irrigated with low-ECw
water (WS) along the crop cycle and subjected to salt stress in
the vegetative, fruiting, vegetative/flowering and vegetative/
fruiting stages. When comparing the FLA concentrations
between the K doses, the best results were obtained when plants
received 60% of K in the vegetative and vegetative/fruiting
stages and 100% in the flowering stage (Figure 3A).
The antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds is mainly
due to their reducing properties and chemical structure (Silva
et al., 2019b), characteristics that play an important role for
them to be recognized as antioxidant agents, due to their
action as singlet oxygen reducers, acting on lipid oxidation
reactions, as well as on metal chelation (Dastmalchi et al.,
2008). Thus, the increase in flavonoid concentrations obtained
in plants under salt stress in the VE and FL stages may have
occurred because flavonoids are phenolic compounds that have
antioxidant properties and their function in plants is related to
stress response, since flavonoids can mitigate oxidative damage
caused by salt stress conditions.
The anthocyanin concentrations in sour passion fruit
were also influenced by the interaction between the factors
- IRS × KD (Figure 3B). Plants fertilized with 60% of
the K recommendation stood out with the highest ANT
Bars with different letters indicate significant difference among treatments by Tukey test concentrations when they were irrigated with water of 4.0 dS m-1
(p ≤ 0.05); WS - Irrigation with low-salinity water throughout the cultivation cycle (1-
253 days after transplanting - DAT); salt stress in VE - Vegetative stage (50-113 DAT); in the vegetative stage, being statistically superior to those that
FL - Flowering stage (114-198 DAT); FR - Fruiting stage (199-253 DAT); VE and FL - received the strategies WS, FL, FR, VE/FL and VE/FR. Plants
Vegetative and flowering stages (50-198 DAT); VE/FR - Vegetative and fruiting stages
(50-113 and 199-253 DAT) grown under fertilization with 100% K obtained the highest
Figure 2. Equatorial diameter - ED (A) and polar diameter - PD ANT concentrations when they received water of 4.0 dS m-1 in
(B) of ‘BRS GA1’ sour passion fruit as a function of the different the fruiting stage. When comparing the effects between doses,
brackish water irrigation strategies and PD as a function of higher ANT concentrations were found in plants grown under
potassium doses (C) 60% K doses in the strategies WS, VE and VE/FR.
Anthocyanins are pigments that have antioxidant capacity,
Costa et al. (2008) obtained a higher PD compared to the defense mechanism and biological function, and their
values of those that were under 100% K recommendation. In production may have been induced in the fruits of plants
relative terms, plants fertilized with 100% K had a reduction of subjected to stress in the VE and VE/FR stages as a form of
6.81 mm (7.24%) in PD compared to those that received 60% protection, since the synthesis of anthocyanins is induced by
of the recommendation. It is noteworthy that, at the time of stress due to oxidation, because changes in metabolism due to

Rev. Bras. Eng. Agríc. Ambiental, v.27, n.1, p.42-50, 2023.

 Potassium fertilization in the cultivation of sour passion fruit under irrigation strategies with brackish water 47

The hydrogen potential (pH) in the pulp (Figure 3C) from

sour passion fruit plants subjected to fertilization with 100%
K and irrigation with water of 4.0 dS m-1 in the VE, FL and
VE/FR stages was higher than those that received 60% K.
However, plants subjected to salt stress in the VE/FL stages
and without stress (WS) fertilized with 60% K had higher pH
than those which received 100% of the recommendation. It is
worth pointing out that the pH values obtained, regardless of
the irrigation strategy and potassium dose, are within the ideal
range recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock
and Food Supply for quality of passion fruit pulps, because
a pH lower than 4.5 is desirable to prevent the proliferation
of microorganisms and pH values higher than 4.5 require
longer periods of sterilization of the raw material in a thermal
processing, resulting in higher energy consumption and higher
processing cost (Monteiro et al., 2008; Lima et al., 2020b).
Lima et al. (2020b), when evaluating the effects of irrigation
with water of increasing salinity on the physicochemical
composition of fresh fruits of ‘BRS 366 Jaburu’ West Indian
cherry, observed a decrease in pH of 3.02% per unit increment
in ECw.
There was significant effect of the brackish water irrigation
strategies on titratable acidity (TA), total soluble sugars (TSSg),
ascorbic acid (AA), and soluble solids/ titratable acidity
ratio (SS/TA) of ‘BRS GA1’ sour passion fruit, at 253 days
after transplanting (Table 4). Potassium doses significantly
influenced TA, TSSg, AA, and SS/TA. The interaction
between the factors (IRS × KD) significantly affected the
titratable acidity, total soluble sugars, and the ascorbic acid
concentrations of ‘BRS GA1’ sour passion fruit.
For the titratable acidity (Figure 4A) of the sour passion
fruit pulp, plants fertilized with 60% K and subjected to high-
salinity water in the stages VE/FL stood out with the highest
value, differing statistically from those grown under the
strategies WS and VE. For plants grown under fertilization
with 100% of the K recommendation, there were no significant
differences between the brackish water irrigation strategies,
except for VE/FL and WS. When comparing TA as a function
of K doses, better results were obtained in plants fertilized with
60% compared to those that received 100% in the flowering
(FL) and fruiting (FR) stages. For the other irrigation strategies,
there were no significant differences between them. It is worth
pointing out that in all treatments evaluated, the TA levels
exceeded the minimum value established for passion fruit pulp,

Table 4. Summary of the analysis of variance for soluble

Bars with the same uppercase letters indicate no significant differences between potassium
doses in the same brackish water irrigation strategy, and bars with the same lowercase
solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), total soluble sugars (TSSg),
letters for the same potassium dose indicate no significant differences between the brackish ascorbic acid (AA), and soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio
water irrigation strategies (Tukey test, p ≤ 0.05); WS - Irrigation with low-salinity water
throughout the cultivation cycle (1-253 days after transplanting - DAT); salt stress in
(SS/TA) of pulp of ‘BRS GA1’ sour passion fruit cultivated
VE - Vegetative stage (50-113 DAT); FL - Flowering stage (114-198 DAT); FR - Fruiting under different brackish water irrigation strategies and
stage (199-253 DAT); VE/FL - Vegetative and flowering stages (50-198 DAT); VE/FR - potassium fertilization
Vegetative and fruiting stages (50-113/199-253 DAT)
Figure 3. Flavonoids - FLA (A), anthocyanins - ANT (B) and
hydrogen potential (C) of ‘BRS GA1’ sour passion fruit pulp as
a function of the interaction between brackish water irrigation
strategies and potassium doses

the accumulation of ions (Na+ and Cl-) in plant tissues lead to

an excessive production of reactive oxygen species, which can DF - Degrees of freedom; CV (%) - Coefficient of variation; *- Significant at p ≤ 0.05 by
cause oxidative stress in plants (Parvaiz & Satyawati, 2008). F test; ** - Significant at p ≤ 0.01 by F test; ns - Not significant; 1 Data transformed into √x

Rev. Bras. Eng. Agríc. Ambiental, v.27, n.1, p.42-50, 2023.

48 Francisco W. A. Pinheiro et al.

Bars with the same uppercase letters indicate no significant differences between potassium doses in the same brackish water irrigation strategy, and bars with the same lowercase
letters for the same potassium dose indicate no significant differences between the brackish water irrigation strategies (Tukey test, p ≤ 0.05); WS - Irrigation with low-salinity water
throughout the cultivation cycle (1-253 days after transplanting - DAT); salt stress in VE - Vegetative stage (50-113 DAT); FL - Flowering stage (114-198 DAT); FR - Fruiting stage
(199-253 DAT); VE/FL - Vegetative and flowering stages (50-198 DAT); VE/FR - Vegetative and fruiting stages (50-113/199-253 DAT)
Figure 4. Titratable acidity - TA (A), total soluble sugars - TSSg (B), ascorbic acid - AA (C), and soluble solids/titratable acidity
- SS/TA (D) of ‘BRS GA1’ sour passion fruit pulp as a function of the interaction between brackish water irrigation strategies
and potassium doses

which is 2.5% (Brasil, 2018). These results are in agreement The increase in the concentrations of total soluble sugars
with those presented by Lima et al. (2020b), who also found (TSSg) in plants subjected to salt stress in the VE, FR, and
an increase in the TA of West Indian cherry subjected to VE/FR stages and fertilization with 60% K recommendation
irrigation with water of 3.8 dS m-1. According to these authors, (Figure 4B) occurs due to the reduction of the plant’s capacity
the increase in TA is related to changes in the metabolic and to absorb soil water, compromising the transport via phloem
physiological processes of plants caused by salt stress, which and, consequently, generating a dilution effect of these sugars
increases the synthesis of organic acids such as citric and malic. (Simões et al., 2019). Lacerda et al. (2021), when evaluating the
As for the concentrations of total soluble sugars in sour fruit quality of West Indian cherry cv. Flor Branca, subjected
passion fruit (Figure 4B), plants subjected to fertilization with to irrigation with water of different salinity levels (ECw: 0.3 to
60% K and irrigated with water of 4.0 dS m-1 in the fruiting 4.3 dS m-1) and nitrogen-potassium fertilization combinations,
(FR) stage obtained the highest values. Conversely, the lowest between 630 and 750 DAT, observed that ECw of 3.3 dS m-1
TSSg concentrations were verified in plants that received water increased the concentrations of total soluble sugars.
of 4.0 dS m-1 in the vegetative and flowering (VE/FL) stages Regarding the ascorbic acid concentrations (Figure 4C),
continuously. For plants fertilized with 100% K, higher TSSg in plants fertilized with 60% K recommendation, the highest
concentrations were obtained with the strategies WS and VE/ concentration (20.24 mg 100g-1 pulp) was obtained in plants
FL. When analyzing the effects of K doses considering each irrigated with water of 4.0 dS m-1 in the flowering stage,
irrigation strategy, it was observed that fertilization with 60% significantly differing from the other brackish water irrigation
K resulted in higher TSSg concentrations in plants subjected to strategies (WS, VE, FR, VE/FL, and VE/FR). However,
salt stress in the VE, FR, and VE/FR stages. For plants fertilized irrigation with high-salinity water in the fruiting stage resulted
with 100% K, higher TSSg concentrations were obtained under in the lowest AA concentration (5.25 mg 100g-1 pulp). Plants
the strategies WS, FL, and VE/FL. grown under fertilization with 100% of the K recommendation

Rev. Bras. Eng. Agríc. Ambiental, v.27, n.1, p.42-50, 2023.

 Potassium fertilization in the cultivation of sour passion fruit under irrigation strategies with brackish water 49

obtained the highest AA concentration when they received 3. The highest concentrations of flavonoids and anthocyanins
water of 1.3 dS m-1 throughout the cultivation cycle. At this in sour passion fruit are obtained with 60% of K recommendation
dose, the lowest AA concentration (7.67 mg 100g-1 pulp) was and irrigation with water of 4.0 dS m-1 in the vegetative stage.
also observed in the fruiting stage. 4. It is feasible to cultivate sour passion fruit under
When comparing the effect of K doses considering each irrigation with water of 4.0 dS m-1 in the flowering and fruiting
irrigation strategy, higher AA concentrations were found in stages and fertilization with 60% of the K recommendation
plants fertilized with 60% K, in the stages of VE, FL, and VE/ without losses in ascorbic acid and total soluble sugars.
FR compared to those that received 100% K. Conversely, plants
that received 100% K obtained the highest AA concentrations Acknowledgments
when subjected to the strategies WS, FR, and VE/FL compared
to those fertilized with 60% K. The AA concentrations obtained To Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e
in this study are higher than those found by Dias et al. (2011), Tecnológico (CNPq) for providing the financial support (Proc.
who studied the post-harvest quality of yellow passion fruit CNPq 429732/2018-0) and research productivity grant (Proc.
under irrigation with saline water (ECw ranging from 0.5 to CNPq 309127/2018-1) to the second author.
4.5 dS m-1) and observed a linear decrease in AA levels with
the increase in ECw levels. Literature Cited
The decrease in ascorbic acid concentrations may be related
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