Prediction Model of Pumpkin Rootstock Seedlings Based on Temperature and Light Responses

Abstract

Temperature and light are the key factors that affect the quality of pumpkin rootstock seedlings’ growth process. Responses to temperature and light are an important basis for optimizing the greenhouse environment. In order to determine the quantitative effects of temperature and light on the growth and development of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata cv. RTWM6018) rootstock seedlings, relationships between temperature, light, and pumpkin rootstock seedlings growth were established using regression analysis. The results indicated that the daily average temperature had a significant negative correlation with the development time of pumpkin rootstock seedlings, and the shoot dry weight of pumpkin rootstock seedlings increased within a certain range of the daily light integral (DLI). We established a prediction model of pumpkin rootstock seedling quality indicators (hypocotyl length, stem diameter, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, root shoot ratio, and seedling quality index) based on thermal effectiveness and photosynthetic photon flux density (TEP). The coefficient of determinations (R2) of the hypocotyl length and seedling quality index prediction models of pumpkin rootstock seedlings, based on accumulated TEP, were 0.707 and 0.834, respectively. The hypocotyl length and seedling quality index prediction models of pumpkin rootstock seedlings, based on accumulated TEP, were y1 = 0.001 x2 − 0.180 x + 13.057 and y2 = 0.008 x0.722, respectively, which could be used for predicting the growth of pumpkin rootstock seedlings grown under different temperature and light conditions.