The effect of grafting Watermelon (citrullus vulgaris shr.) on several rootstocks, on plant growth, fruit production, quality and resistance to fusarium wilt
1994
Ben-Dief, M.
The effect of Citrullus lanatus L. Early M (9-107) F1 : (R1), Citrullus Lanatus L. New friend F1: (R2), Cucumis metuliferus: (R3) and Lagenaria sicessaria (R4) as rootstocks on growth yield and fruit quality, resistance to Fusarium wilt of two watermelon varieties: Crimson Sweet and Galaxy were recorded in the present study: 1. Higher number of leaves and plant height were observed on watermelon grafted on various rootstocks than the non grafted control. 2. Non grafted watermelon gave less yield per plant in Kg than grafted on rootstocks, but the watermelon plants grafted on rootstocks R1, R2 and R3 showed a higher leaf number, plant height and higher fruit yield than the rootstock R4 (Lagenaria Siccsaria) which showed better response to the grafting and the highest percentage of grafting success. 3. The rootstocks did not affect the dimensions and the pH of the fruits, but affected the total soluble solids (T.S.S.) and the titrable acidity of the juice, however, the non grafted control showed higher total soluble solids. 4. The thickness of the flesh (cm) of the grafted plants was higher than the non grafted control. 5. Watermelon varieties grafted on the four different rootstocks showed higher resistance to Fusarium than on intact watermelon wilt. and the grafting was effective in minimising the incidence of the disease, even though it had no significant effect on increasing size or fruit quality. 6. The time of inoculation at two different stages before or after grafting did not affect growth yield and fruit quality of the grafted plants. Grafted watermelon on non inoculated rootstocks showed better disease resistance than on the inoculated ones.
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