ABSTRACT - The objective for this work was to evaluate the growth of sweet passion fruit seedlings (Passiflora alata Dryand.) under different base saturation levels in representative soils of Minas Gerais. The experiment was carried in the greenhouse of the Agriculture Department of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA). The statistical design used was randomized blocks in a factorial scheme (2 x 4) + 2, with four repetitions. The treatments involved two soil classes (Distrophic Red-Yellow Latosol - LVAd and Distrophic Red Latosol - LVd), four base saturation levels (40, 60, 80 and 100%) and two more additional treatments, LVAd without liming and LVd without liming. After 150 days, the stem length, number of leaves, dry matter of shoots and roots and the ratio roots/shoots were evaluated. It was concluded that the largest growth occurred in the LVd, with or without liming. The sweet passion fruit tolerates soils with low base saturation levels. The increase of base saturation levels reduced vegetative growth of plants in the LVd but had no influence in the LVAd, until 150 days.
base saturation; passion fruit; Passiflora alata; latosol
