EFFECT OF GRAFTING AND NITROGEN APPLICATION ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF GRAFTED AND NON-GRAFTED MELON

Non-grafted and grafted melon plants of cultivar ‘Khatooni’ were evaluated for yields and fruit quality under three nitrogen (N) rates (75, 150 and 225 kg ha-1) in open field conditions.
The hybrid ‘Ferro RZ’ (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne × C. moschata Duchesne) was used as rootstock.
Increasing N fertilization rate from 75 to 150 kg ha^-1 increased marketable yield by 27%, whereas increasing N rate from 150 to 225 kg ha^-1 decreased melon production by 11%. Marketable yield was higher by 19% in grafted than in non-grafted plants.
Increasing N fertilization rates from 75 to 150 kg ha^-1 increased above-ground dry biomass with the highest value recorded with 150 kg ha^-1 of N. Nitrogen and total soluble solid (TSS) contents increased in response to an increase in N fertilization with the highest values recorded on plants receiving 150 kg ha^-1. In contrast, dry matter, TSS contents in fruits harvested from non-grafted plants were significantly higher by 8.8% than grafted plants.

I International Symposium on Vegetable Grafting

N. Salar, R. Salehi, M. Delshad

Cucurbita rootstocks, grafting, scion, nitrogen

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1086.28