| heal.abstract |
The effect of grafting and post-grafting temperature on the plant development of two watermelon cultivars at transplantation and on subsequent fruit quality was studied. Watermelon cv. Sugar Baby and Crimson Sweet were self-rooted or grafted onto rootstock RS 841 F1 (Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata) or bottle-gourd [Lagenaria siceraria f. clavata] (year 1), plus L. siceraria f. pyrotheca (year 2). After grafting, plants were held at 8°C or 16°C (minimum) until transplantation (28-29 days), at which stage growth was compared with that of the self-rooted control held under the same conditions. Plants were planted in the field and fruit quality assessed at harvest. At the time of transplantation in year 1, plants at 16 ° C were taller and had a higher total fresh weight than those at 8 ° C. The grafted plants of both cultivars were taller and had a higher leaf area and fresh weight than the self-rooted plants, irrespective of rootstock. In year 2, the grafted plants of both cultivars had better development (height, leaf area, leaf number, fresh weight) than self-rooted plants. The plants of Crimson Sweet × L. siceraria f. pyrotheca were taller than those of the other two scion-rootstock combinations, irrespective of temperature. Mean fruit weight at harvest was higher in grafted plants than in self-rooted plants, and sugar content varied with scion-rootstock combination. Grafting of watermelon results in better plant growth by the time of transplantation, whereas the scion-rootstock combination affects fruit quality. A minimum temperature of 16 ° C is indicated during the post-grafting stage. |
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