Saline water irrigation and foliar application of H2O2 change ionic homeostasis of sour passion fruit

Qualitative and quantitative scarcity of water sources is a reality in the Brazilian semi-arid region and restricts the expansion of irrigated areas in this region, where high levels of soluble salts are common. Thus, it is extremely important to seek strategies to enable the production of fruit crops such as sour passion fruit. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of NPK, Na+ and Cl- in leaf and stem tissues of sour passion fruit cv. BRS Rubi do Cerrado as a function of irrigation with saline water and exogenous application of hydrogen peroxide. The experiment was carried out in drainage lysimeters under greenhouse conditions in Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. The design was completely randomized in split plots, with five levels of electrical conductivity of water - ECw (0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0 dS m(-1)) considered plots and four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H2O2 (0, 15, 30 and 45 mu M) considered subplots, with three repetitions. Sodium content in the leaves decreased when the H2O2 concentration of 45 mu M was applied. N/P and N/Na ratios in the leaves of sour passion fruit cv. BRS Rubi do Cerrado decreased with the increase in irrigation water salinity from 2.76 and 2.03 dS m(-1), respectively. Chloride content in the leaves of sour passion fruit increased as a function of irrigation water salinity, regardless of H2O2 application.