Spacing and Genotype Affect Fruit Sugar Concentration, Yield, and Fruit Size of Muskmelon

Abstract

<jats:p>Muskmelon (<jats:italic>Cucumis melo</jats:italic> L.) genotypes, Birdsnest 1 [`Qalya' (BN1)], Birdsnest 2 (BN2), and `Mission' (V) were used to determine the effects of differing plant architecture and spacing on fruit sugar concentration and yield. The BN1 and BN2 genotypes possessed a highly branched growth habit specific to birdsnest melon types, but not characteristic of standard indeterminate vining types (e.g., `Mission'). Experiments were conducted at both the Hancock and Arlington Experimental Farms in Wisconsin, where plant response to two within-row spacings [35 cm (72,600 plants/ha) and 70 cm (36,300 plants/ha)] in rows on 210-cm centers was examined. Genotypes were grown in a randomized complete-block design with four replications at each location and evaluated for primary lateral branch number, fruit number per plant and per hectare, average fruit weight, yield per plant (g), yield per hectare (t), and fruit sugar concentration. Yield, fruit number, and sugar concentration were higher for all genotypes at Arlington than at Hancock. The main effect of genotype was significant for all traits examined. Genotypes BN1 and V had higher mean fruit weight, yield per plant and per hectare, and fruit quality (fruit sugar concentration) than did BN2. Spacing affected all traits, except primary branch number and fruit sugar concentration. Fruit number and yield per plant and average fruit weight were higher with wider spacing, but yield (t·ha<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup>) and fruit number per hectare were lower.</jats:p>

Variance component analysis of plant architectural traits and fruit yield in melon

“…Spearman (rank) correlations between environments indicated that the interactions between family and environment were mostly due to changes in magnitude and not in the direction of the response in different environments (Table 1). These data are also consistent with those of Kultur et al (2001) in melon, and Serquen et al (1997) and Fazio (2001 in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) who reported that environmental effects (e.g., growing location and planting density) and G 9 E interactions are comparatively unimportant in determining branching patterns in diverse plant types.…”

“…Plant competition (i.e., within row spacing) is a major factor that can affect melon productivity (Bhella 1985;Davis and Meinert 1965;Knavel 1988;Maynard and Scott 1998;Mendlinger 1994;Zahara 1972). The plant spacing used in the present study (7,143 plants/ha), allowed for optimum plant development under Wisconsin conditions for the architectural types examined (Kultur et al 2001). Thus, the differences observed among the genotypes examined herein are likely unrelated to environmental effects due to plant competition (for nutrients and space).…”

“…In contrast, fruit weight, predominantly crown fruit set, and early maturing fruit were mainly affected by G 9 E interactions due to changes in the direction of the response (L = low %, L 9 F = high %, and r s B 0.5). The comparatively heavy soil at Arlington contains higher organic matter (3.1% OM), nutrient content, and water-holding capacity than the sandy soil at Hancock (0.6% OM) (Kultur et al 2001). Such differences in soil conditions produced plants that grew more rapidly (*29's) and larger (*1 m vs. *3 m in diameter) at AR than at HCK (by visual inspection).…”

“…Thus, it is likely that soil differences between locations contributed dramatically to the observed variation in fruit development (Tables 3 and 4). Source-sink relation differences among genotypes (e.g., fractal vs. vining) likely also contributed to the variation in the genotypic performance (i.e., changes in rank) across environments for fruit concentration, maturity characteristics, and total yield (Hughes et al 1983;Kubicki 1962;Kultur et al 2001;McGlasson and Pratt 1963). These results indicate that breeding for high yielding melon cultivars with early, basally concentrated yield will require multiple location testing of progeny derived from complex breeding strategies (e.g., advanced selfing and backcrossing).…”

Diallel cross analysis for maturity and yield-related traits in melon (Cucumis melo L.)

“…The significant genotypes 9 environment (G 9 E) interaction observed for yield and acceptable yield was an indication of the lack of stability across environments, and suggests that high-yielding hybrids must be evaluated in more than one environment. Several researchers have also reported that environmental conditions and the G 9 E interaction can dramatically affect melon fruit development (Bhella 1985;Kultur et al 2001;Zalapa et al 2006). For example, in the present study, heavy rain during the spring of the second year led to the compaction of the soil and delayed the planting date, resulting in a dramatic decrease in yield.…”