Effects of root volume on physiological characteristics, fruit yield and quality of melon | 根域容积对甜瓜生理特性、果实产量和品质的影响

Chinese. 以伊丽莎白239为试材,研究了14（CK）、8、5L三种栽培容器对甜瓜有关生理参数、果实产量和品质的影响。结果表明：与对照相比,随着栽培盆容积的减小,叶绿素含量、光合速率、叶片含水量、单果质量、果实可滴定酸和蔗糖含量显著降低,糖酸比和口感显著增加。8L和5L容器栽培下单果质量分别降低了14%和20%。与对照相比,8L容器栽培下果实维生素C、果糖和葡萄糖含量显著增加,可溶性固形物和总可溶性糖含量无显著变化;5L容器栽培明显延迟了结实花的开放和果实发育期,降低了可溶性固形物和总可溶性糖的含量。以上结果说明,适当的根域限制（8L）可以改善甜瓜果实品质。然而,本研究8L和5L栽培容器处理均显著降低了果实产量,因此,甜瓜最适的栽培盆容积还需进一步研究。

English. Using melon cultivar ‘Elizabeth 239’ as material,effects of root volume [14 L (CK), 8 L,5 L] on physiological characteristics, fruit yield and quality of melon were investigated. Results showed that the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, leaf water content, single fruit weight, contents of titratable acidity and sucrose decreased significantly with the decrease of container volume when com- paring with control (14 L) but the soluble sugar/acidity ratio and taste value increased significantly. Compared with control, the single fruit weight decreased by 14% and 20% under 8 L and 5 L container treatment, respectively. In addition, the 8 L container treatment significantly increased the contents of vitamin C, fructose and glucose whereas no significant changes of the contents of soluble solids and total soluble sugar were observed. Meanwhile, the 5 L container treatment obviously delayed the fertile flower flowering and fruit development date, and significantly decreased the contents of total soluble solids and soluble sugars. Results indicated that appropriate root volume restriction (8 L) could improve the fruit quality of melon. However, the treatment of 8 L and 5 L root volume container significantly decreased the fruit yield of melon. The most suitable container volume for melon cultivation needs further investigation.