Abstract
ABSTRACT Brazilian watermelon productivity is not efficient when compared to the largest producer countries, due to abiotic and biotic factors. Some of the difficulties are because of a small number of studies on this crop in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of plant density and fruit thinning on two commercial watermelon hybrids (Talisman and Youlie), using trials which were carried out in two different seasons (April - July and August - November). The experiment was conducted in Uberlândia-MG and consisted of two managements of fruit position (A-basal and B-distal) and four plant densities (3,000, 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 plants/ha). In season 1, the distal management was the most productive in relation to all cultivation densities. The distal management shows higher productivity in both hybrids, with greater increase in mass, productivity and 0Brix content in hybrid Talisman, however with lower density, firmness and internal cavity compared to hybrid Youlie. Weather conditions determined the influence of fruit management on watermelon crop. Cultivation during the hottest period and with a better water supply (season 2), basal management (A) showed a performance similar to the distal management. At this time, hybrid Talisman surpassed hybrid Youlie concerning productivity, average mass, fruit density, firmness and internal cavity. In both seasons, higher densities are related to higher productivities. Hybrid Talisman showed higher productivity in cultivation from April to July (season 1) under distal fruit management.
Highlights
Densidade de plantas e desbaste de frutos na produção de híbridos de melancia, em diferentes épocas
Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da densidade de plantas e do desbaste de frutos em dois híbridos comerciais de melancia (Talisman e Youlie), a partir de ensaios realizados em duas épocas
Na época 1 o manejo distal é o mais produtivo em todas as densidades de cultivo
Summary
This study was carried out in two different seasons: between April and July (autumn-winter) and between August and November (winter-spring) in the same year, on the experimental farm of Bayer Vegetable Seeds, located in Uberlândia (18o54’41’’S, 48o15’21’’W, altitude 887 m), Southeast region of Brazil, in 2013. Superior densities resulted in linear reduction of fruit mass, which was reported in studies carried out by Bastos et al (2008), evaluating the effect of spacings from 0.3 to 1.2 m, between plants, on watermelon crop. This result was expected due to a higher competition for light, water and nutrients at higher densities. Hybrid Talisman stood out for productivity, average mass, fruit density, firmness and internal cavity, being 13; 14.6; 6.1; 12.8 and 11.6% superior to Youlie, respectively (Table 3). Higher temperature during this period favored photoassimilate accumulation, as well as water availability potentiated liquid
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