Effect of some growth regulators on yield and quality of sweetmelon and muskmelon

Abstract

SUMMARYThis study was carried out at Elminia University farm in two years (1978 and 1980) to evaluate the effect of some growth regulators on the production of sweetmelon and muskmelon. It was found that plants treated with some growth regulators were earlier and yielded better than untreated ones, except that in the first trial (1978), the total yield of plants treated with indole acetic acid (IAA) was less than that of the control. The highest early and total yields of both sweetmelon and muskmelon resulted from spraying ethrel on the foliage. Fruit weight and length and flesh thickness were increased by some growth substances compared with the control for both crops. Also, percentage of total soluble solids and ascorbic acid concentration increased markedly as a result of growth-regulator treatments for sweetmelon and muskmelon. Generally, two sprays of ethrel solution produced the most consistent effects on yield and yield quality in the two trials with both sweetmelon and muskmelon.