The expansion of fruit cultivation in Northeast Brazil may sometimes be restricted because areas of high potential are supplied with poor quality water. Considering the potential of soursop (Annona muricata L.) cultivation in the region and the inexistence of data on grafted seedlings of this specie under saline stress, this study was conducted to evaluate effects of irrigation water salinity on 'Crioula' type as the scion and 'Morada' as the rootstock. The irrigation water with electrical conductivity varying from 0.5 to 5.5 dS m-1 was prepared maintaining the equivalent proportion of 7:2:1 among Na:Ca:Mg, respectively; a completely randomized block design was used, with four replications and 54 plants per plot. The variables appraised were: germination, formation of rootstock (number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter, shoot and root dry matter, leaf area and number of graftable plants) and the number of alive grafts. The percentage of germination was not affected by salinity but the velocity of emergence and accumulation of dry matter reduced with the increase in salinity of irrigation water. In seedling formation, water with salinity up to 1.5 dS m-1 of electrical conductivity may be used.
Annona muricata; salinity; electrical conductivity; irrigation water
