Seed Germination and Seedling Production of Physalis peruviana Using Different Substrates and Growing Containers

The cultivation of Physalis peruviana has emerged as a promising alternative for small- and medium-sized producers due to its high added value and low production cost. However, information on the cultivation of this vegetable crop under Brazilian edaphoclimatic conditions is still scarce. Seedling production is one of the most critical stages for crop development, as this species does not establish well from seeds under field conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate seed germination and seedling growth of P. peruviana under different container volumes and substrate compositions. The experiment was carried out from February to March 2020 in a screened greenhouse environment, using a completely randomized factorial design. The treatments consisted of different container volumes and substrate compositions, including commercial containers of varying sizes and soil-based substrates formulated with mineral components and organic manures. Four replications were used, each consisting of seven plants. Seed emergence was favored by substrates containing well-composted cattle manure, whereas smaller container volumes reduced the emergence of P. peruviana. The greatest seedling growth, including higher stem base diameter, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, and shoot and root dry mass, was obtained in larger-volume containers filled with soil-based substrates enriched with well-composted cattle manure. Therefore, for the production of high-quality P. peruviana seedlings, the use of 400 cm3 polyethylene containers filled with a mixture of soil, sand, commercial substrate, and well-composted cattle manure in a 1:1:1:2 ratio is recommended.