Multivariate strategies for selection of organic growing media to produce yellow passion fruit seedlings

Information about the selection of growing media for inexpensive organic passion fruit production systems is an important advance, considering the lack of reliable information. Thus, we evaluated different formulations of growing media for these systems to identify which provides better germinative vigor and root and shoot growth of Passiflora edulis Sims. The experimental design was completely randomized, composed of 40 growing media containing different proportions of coconut fiber, manure, organic compost, soil, and vermiculite. Germinative vigor and seedling growth parameters were evaluated at 60 days after sowing. The data were submitted to multivariate analysis and the groups formed were submitted to analysis of variance. Based on principal component and cluster analyses, five groups were identified with the best performance of the seedlings grown in the growing media of group 4, with emphasis on the formulations using coconut fiber and vermiculite in the proportion (volume) of 45% of each plus 10% organic compost (T11), and soil with coconut fiber in the proportion of 40% of each plus 20% organic compost (T4), which produced the best development of the seedlings’ aerial parts and roots. Therefore, group 4 growing media, in particular T11 and T4, are recommended for the production of yellow passion fruit seedlings. Graphical abstract