Utilization of grafting technique for sustaining cantaloupe productivity and quality under deficit irrigation water

Abstract

Background: Water use efficiency (WUE) is becoming a decisive factor for agricultural expansion to face water shortage. To meet the needs of high population density in Egypt, we have to use modern irrigation systems and new cultivation technologies. The current study is aiming to apply grafting technique for ameliorating the impact of deficit water on cantaloupe productivity and fruit quality. Two commercial cultivars (Ideal and Veleta) were grafted on two rootstocks (Cobalt and Strong-Tosa) and self-grafting. The seedlings were treated with three different irrigation levels: 100, 75, and 50% of Class A pan Evapotranspiration (ETc). Results: The results showed that moderate irrigation level (75% ETc) increased the early yield, fruits number, by 15.3 and 17.4%, respectively, compared to control irrigation treatment (100% ETc). No significant variation was found concerning total yield between 100 and 75% ETc, so this led to an increase in WUE of moderate irrigation level (75% ETc) by 34.3%, compared to control irrigation treatment (100% ETc). Increasing deficit levels up to 50% ETc reduced the total yield by 47.4%, but it increased the WUE by 8.8%, compared to the non-deficit irrigation level (100% ETc). Meanwhile, grafting both cultivars on Cobalt rootstock improved the fruit number, total yield, and WUE by 39.2%, 26.9%, and 24.1%, respectively when irrigated with the moderate irrigation level (75% ETc), as compared to the non-grafted plants which recorded the highest decrease when irrigated with deficit irrigation level (50% ETc). Conclusion: Finally, the combination treatments of Ideal/Strong-Tosa, Veleta/Cobalt, or Ideal/Cobalt irrigated with moderate irrigation level (75% ETc) increased the WUE by 97.3, 83.4, and 65%, respectively, compared to the control treatment (non-grafted plants of the same cv. at 100% ETc) and recorded higher flesh thickness, TSS and firmness.

Fruit characteristics of cantaloupe melon in protected environment subjected to irrigation frequencies and substrate volumes

“…The values obtained in this study for water use efficiency correspond to the application of 100% water use defined from the evapotranspiration data of the crop. However, authors such as Ezzo et al (2020) state that water use corresponding to 75% of crop evapotranspiration promotes increases in water use efficiency, pulp thickness, soluble solids content, and pulp firmness of cantaloupe melon fruits. This can be explained by the fact that plants tend to absorb as much water as possible from the soil when water deficit begins as a survival mechanism.…”

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and deficit irrigation on the yield and sugar content of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus)

“…Many studies suggest that an appropriate DI level improves the sugar content in a number of fruit crops, but the biochemical mechanism involved in the sugar assimilation within the watermelon plants need further studies (Sensoy et al 2007;Ezzo et al 2020). The sugar content of the watermelon is mainly determined by the sucrose content (Yativ et al 2010;Liu et al 2013).…”

“…The DI treatments started five days after pollination and were imposed by withholding water from the plots until the soil water potential was achieved. At the same time, the well-watered plots were controlled with 80% of the field capacity (-0.075 MPa), and the DI plots were controlled fruit (Jovanovic, Stikic 2018;Faghih et al 2019;Ezzo et al 2020;Ghannem et al 2021).…”

Enhancing melon growth and sustainability through spun-bonded polypropylene fabric wrapping

“…Melons are highly valued vegetable crops and are grown in outdoor fields and greenhouses across many countries [ 5 ]. The selling price of melons is significantly influenced by their weight, with values ranging from 20 to 80–150 baht per kilogram depending on the melon type and variety.…”