Grafting Can Modulate Watermelon Growth and Productivity under Egyptian Conditions

Abstract

This study was accomplished in a private farm at Al Salhia area, Sharqia Governorate, Egypt during the two successive spring-summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 to assess the effect of grafting methods and rootstocks on plant growth performance, fruit yield and fruit quality of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus [Thunb.] cv. Peacock wm60. Peacock wm60 plants were grafted onto five rootstocks (6001 F1, Super Shintoza F1, Ferro F1, bottle gourd cv. Local, and Peacock wm60 as self-grafted) either by splice and tongue approach. Non-grafted plants of Peacock wm60 were used as control. Grafting methods pronounced non-significant impact on watermelon vegetative and root growth and fruit yield and quality after transplanting in the field (scope of our study). Based on the data, watermelon propagation via grafting on the rootstocks of 6001, Super Shintosa and Ferro positively impacted on plant growth attributes and fruit yield and quality (fruit weight, rind sickness and TSS content) compared to grafting on local rootstock, self-grafted or direct seed plants. Rootstock of 6001 appeared superior to others on enhancing the measured parameters of plant growth, yield and fruit quality as well as root growth (roots dry weight). Local rootstock of bottle gourd impacted poorly on plant growth, yield and fruit quality compared to other rootstocks but superior to self-grafted or direct seed plants. The data concluded that, choice grafting method either splice or tongue approach for production watermelon seedlings depends on their results in the nursery before planting the grafted seedlings in the field because of differences between the methods on the plant behavior after transplanting were absent.