Researches on the Behaviour of Certain Genotypes of Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansf. at the Thermic and Hydric Stress Conditions

Abstract

Seven genotypes of Citrullus lanatus (‘De Dăbuleni’, ‘Dulce de Dăbuleni’, ‘Oltenia’, ‘Dochița’, ‘L-276’, ‘L-170’ and ‘Georgel’), in three technological variants (V1- irrigated according plant needs for normal growth and development; V2- 50% of standard irrigation; V3- not irrigated), were tested for the resistance to the thermic and hydric stress, at RDIVFG Vidra. Drought tolerance is determined by anatamo - morphological characteristics of the species (strong root system, leaf sections covered with hairs). In order to obtain rich quality productions watermelon must be cultivated in irrigation conditions in all phenological phases of plants (Ciofu et al., 2003). The yielding capacity of the Citrullus lanatus is influenced by the genotype and the technological conditions (Dumitru et al., 1997). The extreme weather conditions of 2012 created the conditions for genotypes’ testing towards the thermal and hydric stress. In these conditions, the phenological phases of plants, yielding capacity and fruits’ quality (the soluble dry matter content) were influenced by the technological variant, for all seven genotypes of Citrullus lanatus.