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Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate different rootstocks for improving triploid seed production of the dessert watermelon, Citrullus lanatus . This 2-year study was conducted at two locations, in open fields at Antalya and Adana, Turkey, during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. The tetraploid watermelon line 'ST 101' was used as the female parent scion and the diploid line 'WL 92' as the male parent. Both parental lines were grafted onto three different rootstocks to determine the effect of grafting on seed yield and quality of triploid watermelon. Nun 9075, a Cucurbita interspecific hybrid ( Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata ), Argentario ( Lagenaria siceraria ), and citron watermelon PI 296341 ( Citrullus amarus ) were used as rootstocks. Nongrafted ST 101 and WL 92 were also crossed to be used as controls. The graft combinations and controls were compared for performance as measured by length, diameter and number of nodes of main stem, total yield, mean fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, seed yield, number of seed per fruit, weight of 1000 seeds, seed germination and emergence percentage, days to germination and emergence, and seed coat and embryo weight ratio. Nun 9075/ST 101 and Argentario/ST 101 graft combinations resulted in longer main stems; increased total yield; heavier, longer, and wider fruits; and higher seed yield and number of seeds per fruit as compared to PI 296341/ST 101 graft combination and the controls in both locations and years.
Highlights
The dessert watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai, is a widely produced vegetable crop, grown mostly in open fields with traditional production techniques.Seedless watermelons are produced by triploid plants obtained by pollinating a tetraploid female parent with pollen from a diploid male parent
Triploid watermelon seeds are difficult to germinate because triploid embryos are fairly weak in comparison with the thick seed coat inherited from the maternal tetraploid parent (Phat et al, 2015)
The longest main stems were obtained from Nun 9075/ST 101 and Argentario/ST 101 graft combination (312.7 cm and 293.6 cm, respectively), which are in the same statistical group
Summary
Seedless watermelons are produced by triploid plants obtained by pollinating a tetraploid female parent with pollen from a diploid male parent. Triploid seeds are quite expensive to produce in comparison with diploids (Khereba et al, 2008). As the Several studies reported that grafting improves yield and fruit quality such as color, texture, flavor, and aroma (Yetişir and Sari, 2003; Davis et al, 2008a, 2008b; Turhan et al, 2012; Edelstein et al, 2014; Elazar et al, 2016; Fredes et al, 2016; Kyriacou et al, 2017). Grafting improves fruit quality traits such as TSS, flesh firmness (Cushman and Huan, 2008), and texture (Liu et al, 2016) of seedless
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