Physiology and yield of piel de sapo melon (Cucumis melo L.) under water deficit in semi-arid region, Brazil

Alberto Soares De Melo,Vandeir Gouveia Dias,Francisco Vanies Da Silva Sá,Marcos Eric Barbosa Brito,Pedro Roberto Almeida Viégas,Wellison Filgueiras Dutra,Alexson Filgueiras Dutra

doi:10.14393/bj-v36n4a2020-48168

Abstract

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a crop of great socioeconomic importance in regions with semiarid climate, as found in Northeast Brazil. In this region water deficit is a usual condition as well as the main reduction factor of plant productivity. Due to this phenomenon, irrigation techniques are used to make available the amount of water needed for plant production. Therefore, this research evaluated the physiology and fruit production changes of ‘Juazeiro’ Piel de sapo melon plants under different water replacement rates. ‘Juazeiro’ melon was grown under four reference evapotranspiration replacement rates (40, 60, 80 and 100% of ETo) distributed randomly in blocks with 5 replicates. The plants were cultivated in the field, in an experimental area located in the Brazilian Northeast region, under hot and dry semiarid climatic conditions, and during the growing cycle the ‘Juazeiro’ hybrid melon plants were evaluated for leaf area, biomass accumulation, gas exchange, photochemical efficiency of photosystem PSII and production of fruits per plant. Application of water replacement rates of 100% ETo leads to highest growth, net photosynthesis, and fruit yield of 'Juazeiro' melon. Water replacement at 80% ETo can be used for ‘Juazeiro” melon under semiarid climatic conditions, but with small losses in fruit yield. Water replacement below 80% ETo leads to drastic reductions in growth, gas exchanges, quantum efficiency of photosystem II and fruit yield, which impairs melon production in semi-arid climate environments.

Highlights

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important socioeconomic fruit cultivated in the world
According to Pereira Filho et al (2015), melon plants growth, development, and fruit production are greatly affected by climate conditions, mainly by water stress
Leaf area decline is related to the beginning of leaf senescence and shading caused by the upper branches (MEDEIROS et al, 2012)

Summary

Introduction

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important socioeconomic fruit cultivated in the world. Melon fruit production was 29.6 million tons and this production is distributed among China, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, India, United States, and Brazil. These countries account for 70% of the world production (FAO, 2017). 94.7% of this production was obtained in the semi-arid region of Northeast, mainly in the states of Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, the largest producers in the country (IBGE, 2014). Especially due to irregular rainfall, melon fruit production has been dropping in the last few years in this region. According to Pereira Filho et al (2015), melon plants growth, development, and fruit production are greatly affected by climate conditions, mainly by water stress

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