DESENVOLVIMENTO INICIAL E TOLERÂNCIA DE CULTIVARES DE MAXIXE IRRIGADO COM ÁGUA SALINA - DOI: 10.7127/rbai.v12n100737

The objective was to study the initial development and tolerance of gherkin cultivars to saline stress. The experiment was carried out in a protected environment (greenhouse) of the Agricultural Science and Technology Center (CCTA) of the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), located in the municipality of Pombal, Paraiba, from August to September 2014. Two cultivars were studied gherkin (C1 - C2 Straight Jaiba and Northern) and five levels of irrigation water salinity (S1 - 0.6 (control); S2 - 1.2; S3 - 1.8; S4 - 2.4 and S5 - 3.0 dS m-1), arranged in a factorial scheme, 2 x 5, under a completely randomized experimental design with four replications. The plants were harvested in trays for 20 days after sowing, during which the emergence, growth, phytomass accumulation and salinity tolerance index were evaluated. The increase of saline concentration in the irrigation water decreases the emergence and the initial growth of the gherkin plants. The cultivar Liso Jaiba is more tolerant than the cultivar Do Norte in the initial growth stage when irrigated with water up to 3.0 dS m-1. Waters with salinity of up to 2.8 dS m-1 can be used for the production of gherkin seedlings, assuming losses of up to 20% in growth.