Passiflora cincinnata Mast is a species with great potential due to high capacity of adaptation to the abiotic and biotic production factors of Semi-arid region of Brazilian Northeastern and considering the nutritional and medicinal of fruit characteristics. With objective to study the propagation and initial vegetative development of Passiflora cincinnata Mast seedlings, from herbaceous cuttings submitted to different commercial containers and substrates, a trial was conducted with a factorial experimental design (3 x 2), consisting of three types of containers and two substrates, arranged in randomized blocks, with four replications. 50 cm³ and 288 cm³ tubes containers and 573 cm³ black polyethylene bags were associated with two types of commercial substrates, Bioplant® and Vivatto®. To the characteristics of the shoot length, number of leaves per cutting and root system length, it was observed a container effect, occurring interaction between substrate and container for root fresh and dry mass weight, rooting percentage and percentage of rooted cuttings with emission of vegetative sprouting. There was a tendency of a superior potential of growth in Passiflora cincinnata cuttings cultivated at a higher volume containers using Vivatto® as substrate. It was observed that the rooting and rooting with sprouts were lower to 50 cm³tubes containers. The vegetative development evaluated through to sprout length, leaves number per cutting were higher in 573 cm³ black polyethylene bags, not being verified difference between substrates. To root fresh and dry weight major values were verified to 288 cm³ tubes container. To 50 cm³ tubes it was observed greater root growth when the Bioplant® substrate was applied.
Passifloraceae; passion fruit; production of seedlings; cuttings; growth
