Growth, physiological, anatomical and nutritional responses of two phenotypically distinct passion fruit species (Passiflora L.) and their hybrid under saline conditions

•We examined the salinity tolerance mechanism of Passiflora species.•Most of the physiological, biometric, anatomical, nutritional traits were negatively affected by salinity.•P. mucronata exhibited better salt tolerance in comparison with P. edulis and P. edulis x P. mucronata.•PCA identified 18 informative traits for the discrimination of the passionfruit population for saline stress.•NIRS allowed the separation of most genotypes under saline conditions and in the control.