TITLE:
Rootstocks effect on plant nutrition concentration in different organ of grafted watermelon
AUTHORS:
Halit Yetisir, A. Erhan Özdemir, Veysel Aras, Elif Candır, Ömer Aslan
KEYWORDS:
Watermelon; Grafting; Rootstocks; Plant Nutrition Partitioning
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.4 No.5,
May
28,
2013
ABSTRACT:
In this study carried out in 2009 and 2010 growing
seasons, effect of rootstocks on plant nutrition partitioning in grafted
watermelon onto four gourd rootstocks was investigated. Ferro, RS841 (Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata) and Argentario and Macis (Lagenaria hybrid) were used
as rootstocks. Crimson Tide and Crisby watermelon cultivars were used as scion.
Grafted and ungrafted seedlings were produced by a commercial seedling company.
Plants were grafted by one cotyledon grafting techniques. Experiment was
conducted in Alata Horticultural Research Station inMersin. The grafted plants were planted under low tunnel in early spring and
regular cultural practices for watermelon were applied. Plant nutrition
concentrations were determined in leaf, fruit rind, fruit flesh and seeds. Leaf
sample was taken at flowering stage, rind, flesh and seed sample were taken
from fully mature fruit. Nitrogen concentration was determined by modified
Kjheldahl methods. Phosphorous concentration was determined by vanadomolybdophosphoric
acid method. K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu concentration of samples were
determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plant nutrient concentration
in leaf, rind, flesh and seed were significantly affected by rootstocks.
Increase in concentration of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in leaves was not observed in
grafted plant. Ungrafted plant had higher concentration of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in
their leaves. Ca concentration in rind of fruits from grafted watermelon was
higher than ungrafted control plant except Crimson Tide/Macis and Crimson
Tide/Argentario graft combinations. Plant
nutrition content of fruit flesh was significantly affected by rootstocks and
scion. Magnesium, Fe, Zn and Mn concentration of seed was not significantly
influenced by rootstocks and scion while other plant nutrient content was
significantly affected rootstocks and scion.