Vol. 79 No: 6

Title:
Effects of grafting and cytokinin-induced fruit setting on colour and sugar-content traits in glasshouse-grown triploid watermelon

Authors:
S. LOPEZ-GALARZA, A. SAN BAUTISTA, D. M. PEREZ, A. MIGUEL, C. BAIXAULIL, B. PASCUAL, J. V. MAROTO and J. L. GUARDIOLA

pp: 971-976

Abstract:
The effect on fruit quality of grafting and fruit set treatments, was determined in the triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thun.) Matsum. and Nakai) cultivar ´Reina de Corazones` grown in a heated greenhouse. Grafting the scion onto ´Shintoza` (Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata) rootstock and setting fruit through application of the synthetic cytokinin CPPU [1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea] retarded the accumulation of sugar and development of the flesh colour of the fruit, compared to fruit from non-grafted, pollinated plants. The effects of grafting and of CPPU application on sugar accumulation were additive. At commercial maturity, the fruit of grafted and/or CPPU-treated plants had lower total soluble solids and sugar concentrations, and lower sucrose to hexose ratios, than fruit from control plants. Fruit from CPPU-treated plants also had a weaker red colour than fruit set by pollination. Despite this loss of quality, fruit from grafted plants, set with CPPU and grown in a heated greenhouse, had a total soluble solids concentration similar to fruit from pollinated, non-grafted plants, grown outdoors.

Full text: JHSB Subscribers     ISHS members & other users
(PDF 602567 bytes)

Translate:

Go back to previous page