Physiological and vegetative behavior of banana cultivars under irrigation water salinity

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of salinity levels of irrigation water on physiology and growth of banana cultivars during the vegetative stage. The experiment was carried out following a completely randomized design in split plots, with four levels of salinity in irrigation water (0.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 dS m-1) and four banana cultivars (Pacovan, Prata Anã, BRS Platina and Princesa) with three repetitions. Stomatal conductance, transpiration, relative water content, leaf water potential and proline concentration were evaluated at 150 days after transplanting (DAT), besides plant height, stem diameter and leaf area. All variables showed sensitivity to the increase of salinity level of irrigation water. The results of soil water extraction, relative water content in leaf (RWC), leaf water potential and proline content differed (p ≤ 0.05) among the cultivars. Prata Anã and BRS Platina cultivars were the ones with lowest sensitivity, while Pacovan and BRS Princesa cultivars showed larger variation of soil water extraction and RWC with the increase in irrigation water salinity (electrical conductivity), being considered the ones of highest sensitivity to salinity in this study. Banana crop growth as a consequence of physiological effects was inhibited by the increase in water salinity, mainly in “BRS Princesa” cultivar.