Some agronomic performances in the nursery of two varieties (yellow and purple) of passion fruit [Passiflora edulis L. (Passifloraceae)] grown on various substrates

Passiflora is one of the most like fruits. However, in Côte d'Ivoire, its cultivation is rare due to a lack of planting material. The soil generally used as a nursery substrate still doesn't give satisfactory results. This study aims to evaluate the influence of several substrates on germination and nursery growth of two passiflora varieties with a view to optimum production of planting material. Seeds of yellow and purple varieties were sown separately on five substrates: composted sawdust (S1), forest topsoil (S2), a mixture of forest topsoil and sawdust ash (S3), soil from UNA experimental plot (S4) and a combination of soil from UNA experimental plot and composted sawdust (S5) in polyethylene bags. The experimental set-up used was a split-plot with three replications. Main results showed that variety, substrate and variety-substrate interaction did not influence germination. Longest roots (16-18 cm) were induced on the forest topsoil (S2) and forest topsoil + ash (S3) substrates. While the highest number of roots was obtained with the two varieties grown on the S3 substrate (45.67 roots). The highest fresh weight was 3.1 g, corresponding to that of the purple variety harvested from the plot soil (S4). In conclusion, the best agronomic performances were induced by the S3 substrate with the purple variety.