Effects of Grafting with Different Rootstocks on Fruit Yield and Quality of Muskmelon Under Continuous Cropping

Grafting is a promising approach to control melon fusarium wilt disease. However, there is a potential risk of deterioration in the quality of melon fruit due to scion&ndash:rootstock interactions. Using two primary muskmelon cultivars, &lsquo:ZheTian 105&rsquo: (ZT105) and &lsquo:ZheTian 401&rsquo: (ZT401) in Zhejiang Province as scion, and taking one squash (interspecific hybrids between Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata) &lsquo:Sizhuang No.12&rsquo: (SZ12) and four melon, &lsquo:YongZhen No 9&rsquo: (YZ9), &lsquo:XiaTe&rsquo: (XT), &lsquo:ZhenTian No 1&rsquo: (ZT1), and &lsquo:T1-151&rsquo: (T1) as rootstock, the yield and fruit quality including total soluble solid content (SSC), flesh texture, and flavor of grafted melon were measured, compared with non-grafted melon. The results indicated there was no significant difference in single fruit weight among the grafted melon and non-grafted melon plants, while the yield of most grafted melon plants was significantly higher than that of the non-grafted ones. No significant differences were observed in SSC and flesh texture among the grafted and non-grafted melon plants. The fruit of the &ldquo:ZT401/SZ12&rdquo: combination exhibited peculiar odors reminiscent of pumpkin flavor, negatively affecting edibility, whereas the fruit of the &ldquo:ZT105/SZ12&rdquo: combination did not. Considering both yield and fruit quality, the results indicated that the squash rootstock &ldquo:SZ12&rdquo: and the melon rootstocks &ldquo:ZT1&rdquo: are suitable for grafting with the muskmelon cultivar &ldquo:ZT105&rdquo:, while the melon rootstocks &ldquo:ZT1&rdquo: and &ldquo:T1&rdquo: are appropriate for grafting with the muskmelon cultivar &ldquo:ZT401&rdquo:. The results of this research are of considerable significance for the sustainable cultivation of the cultivars &ldquo:ZT105&rdquo: and &ldquo:ZT401&rdquo:, particularly under continuous cropping conditions.