GROWTH AND POST-HARVEST FRUIT QUALITY OF WEST INDIAN CHERRY UNDER SALINE WATER IRRIGATION AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION

The study was conducted to evaluate the growth and physicochemical quality of West Indian cherry cv. BRS 366-Jaburu, as a function of saline water irrigation and potassium fertilization. The research was conducted under greenhouse conditions in Campina Grande-PB. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement, which consisted of two levels of irrigation water electrical conductivity - ECw (0.8 and 3.8 dS m(-1)) and four levels of potassium of 50, 75, 100 and 125% of the recommendation, in which the dose of 100% was equivalent to 19.8 g of K2O per plant year(-1), with three replicates and one plant per replicate. Water salinity of 3.8 dS m(-1) inhibited the absolute and relative growth in diameter of the rootstock and scion of West Indian cherry plants, in the period from 100 to 465 days after transplanting The interaction between saline levels and potassium doses was significant for hydrogen potential, soluble solids and anthocyanins levels in BRS 366-Jaburu West Indian cherry fruits, with the highest values obtained in plants fertilized with 125, 125 and 50% of the K2O recommendation and under water salinity of 3.8, 3.8 and 0.8 dS m(-1), respectively. Increasing doses of K did not attenuate the effects of salt stress on the relative growth in rootstock stem diameter, fruit polar diameter and anthocyanin contents of West Indian cherry. Soluble solid contents in West Indian cherry pulp increased with application of K2O.