Transplant Age Has Little Influence on Yield of Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

Abstract

and within-row plant spacing was 90 cm. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete-block design with three replications. Each experimental unit was five rows wide by 13.9 m long. Fertilizer and pesticides were applied according to standard recommendations, and overhead sprinkler irrigation was used to supplement rainfall.A subsample of plants was taken the day of transplanting each year to determine leaf count, vine length, and shoot dry weight of the various transplant ages. Shoot dry weight was determined after oven-drying at 60C for 72 h. Yields were determined by harvesting the center three rows of each plot during six harvests each year. At each harvest, individual fruit were weighed and enumerated. Single degree of freedom contrasts were conducted for linear and quadratic effects of transplant age on yield at each harvest interval. An orthogonal contrast was used in 1993 to compare the yields of the seeded control to that of all transplants.At the time of transplanting, differences in growth and development of the various-aged transplants were substantial. Mean leaf counts per plant, along with standard errors, were 3.8 ± 0.2, 6.4 ± 0.2, 9.6 ± 0.2, and 11.8 ± 0.2 for 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-week-old plants, respectively. Vine lengths at transplanting during 1993 averaged 7.5 ± 0.4, 19.6 ± 0.8, 34.8 ± 1.1, and 48.0 ± 1.6 cm for the 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-week-old transplants, respectively. Shoot dry weight during 1993 averaged 0.1 ± 0.0, 0.8 ± 0.1, 1.4 ± 0.2, and 1.6 ± 0.1 g/plant for the 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-week-old plants, respectively. The 6-and 8week-old transplants had started to flower by the time of transplanting each year.Despite growth and developmental differences among transplants at planting, transplant age had little effect on early or total yield of muskmelon as indicated by cumulative 1992 and 1993 yield data (Fig. 1). However, transplants of all ages produced a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) earlier yield than the seeded control during 1993. Yields overall were higher during 1993 than in 1992. Fruit counts per unit land area (mean of 12,906 and 21,760 fruit/ha in 1992 and 1993, respectively) and individual fruit weight (mean of 2.8 kg/fruit both years) were similar among the various transplant ages.These results agree with those for squash (NeSmith, 1993) and watermelon (Vavrina et al., 1993) and indicate that transplant age at planting (within reason) does not influence

Root Distribution and Yield of Direct Seeded and Transplanted Watermelon

“…Early yields (i.e., first harvest) were greater for transplanted watermelons in both years, which has been reported previously for cucurbit crops (Elmstrom, 1973;Hall, 1989;NeSmith, 1993NeSmith, , 1994NeSmith, , 1997. The reason for less total yield of direct seeded watermelons in 1996 is not clear.…”

“…3.3 a z 9.6 a 2.7 6.2 ------6.0 a 8.0 a Transplant 6.7 b 8.6 a ------------6.7 a 8.6 a 1996 Direct-seeded ------2.9 a 10.9 a 1.4 9.4 4.3 b 10.4 a Transplant 6.7 10.1 0.8 b 7.7 b ------7.5 a 9.9 a Advanced physiological age of transplanted seedlings does not always cause increased early or total yields as compared to direct seeded crops (Cooksey et al, 1994;Leskovar and Cantliffe, 1993). Also, advanced physiological age of different aged transplants has been shown to have no yield advantage for cucurbit crops (NeSmith, 1993(NeSmith, , 1994Vavrina et. al., 1993).…”

“…Many vegetable growers across the United States use transplants to enhance stand establishment. Some advantages of using transplants as compared to direct seeding of crops include more efficient use of costly hybrid seed, avoidance of unfavorable environments such as cool soils, increased crop uniformity, and enhanced earliness of crop productivity (Liptay et al, 1982;NeSmith, 1994NeSmith, , 1997Orzolek, 1991Orzolek, , 1996. Transplanted seedlings can experience check or shock under field conditions, however, their successful use depends largely on the ability of the plants to resume growth rapidly following transplanting (McKee, 1981a(McKee, , 1981b.…”

“…While several studies have compared yields and above-ground growth of transplants and direct seeded cucurbit crops (Hall, 1989;NeSmith, 1993NeSmith, , 1994NeSmith, , 1997, few have examined root growth (Eigsti, 1971;Elmstrom, 1973). In fact, minimal research has focused on development of transplant root systems following planting and the role of seedling roots in stand establishment (Leskovar and Stoffella, 1995;Nicola, 1998).…”

Developmental Consequences of Cold Temperature Stress at Transplanting on Seedling and Field Growth and Yield. II. Muskmelon

“…Twenty-six-day-old noncold-stressed plants yielded more than 17-dayold noncold-stressed transplants. NeSmith (1994) reported similarly that muskmelon transplant age did not affect early or total yields. In another study, NeSmith (1993) found that 30-day squash transplants yielded more than 10-day old transplants.…”