Growth, Development, and Yield Potential of Short-internode Muskmelon

Abstract

Abstract A short-internode (SI) muskmelon line was compared with a normal-internode (NI) cultivar in four seasons for growth and yield differences. Vines of both plant types were divided into leaves, petioles, and stems at 58, 72, and 86 days of age. Leaf dry weight and leaf area were generally the same for both plant types early in growth. NI plants had greater leaf and stem dry weights and leaf area at 72 days; however, only stem dry weights differed at 86 days. The leaf : stem and leaf area : leaf dry weight ratios were always greater for SI than for NI plants, but NI plants produced twice the number and weight of fruit as SI plants. Mean fruit weight for SI plants was slightly smaller than fruits of NI plants. Doubling the population of SI plants by either spacing plants 0.45 m within the row or planting two per hill reduced fruit number and total fruit weight per plant. Highest total fruit weight was obtained by spacing SI plants 0.90 m apart in a triangular fashion within double rows spaced 0.30 m apart on a mulch row. SI plants contained less K and more Mg in leaves and less N and Ca but more K in stems than NI plants. Both plant types had similar Mg levels in stems at each sampling. There were significant year effects and internode type × year interactions for fruit number, fruit weight, and elemental concentrations.