Effect of Grafting Compatibility on Fruit Yield and Quality of Cantaloupe in a Mediterranean-Type Climate

Abstract

Grafting is effectively used worldwide to overcome abiotic and biotic factors impacting yield, including soil temperature. Field studies were conducted in 2020 and 2021 in a cool Mediterranean climate (average daily air temperature range of 12.8–17.1 °C) to identify suitable rootstock combinations for grafted cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) and evaluate fruit yield and quality. Cantaloupe cultivars Sugar Rush (SR), Goddess (G), and Athena (A) were compatible with interspecific hybrid squash (Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata) rootstock cultivars Super Shintosa (SS) and Carnivor (CN) but were incompatible with ‘Carolina Strongback (CS)’ (Citrullus amarus) and ‘Pelop (P)’ (Lagenaria siceraria) rootstocks. Nongrafted cultivars exhibited vine decline at harvest in 2020 but not in 2021, and grafting tended to delay harvest by 15–18 days. Overall, while grafting with interspecific hybrid squash rootstocks may have delayed fruit harvest, fruit quality was not compromised. Further, yield was increased for ‘Goddess’ and ‘Athena’, but not ‘Sugar Rush’. ‘A/CN’ had the highest fruit yield/ha and number per plant. The grafted treatments of each cantaloupe cultivar with interspecific hybrid squash rootstocks met the U.S. fancy grade criteria.

Study on the Applications and Regulatory Mechanisms of Grafting on Vegetables

“…These factors could potentially affect the expression of genes linked to flavonoid metabolism, modify the activity of enzymes controlling flavonoid biosynthesis in the scion, and ultimately result in variations in flavonoid metabolism within the fruit. Numerous studies have revealed that employing pumpkin as the rootstock for grafted melon adversely affects the fruit's flavor and aroma [39,53,54]. Melon rootstocks, owing to their enhanced affinity for melon scions, exhibit superior grafting compatibility and minimizes this effect on fruit quality post-grafting [42,55].…”

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated that using a rootstock such as pumpkin for grafting can promote melon fruit enlargement and increase melon production [39,54,72,73]. A separate investigation revealed that the quality of individual fruits from grafted watermelon plants with a strong affinity between scion and rootstocks increased by 55%; in contrast, those combinations with low affinity exhibited diminished fruit quality and yield [74,75].…”