Antitranspirant Application Increases Grafting Success of Watermelon

Abstract

<jats:p>The one-cotyledon splice grafting method is commonly used for watermelon (<jats:italic>Citrullus lanatus</jats:italic>) because it is relatively rapid and there is less rootstock regrowth than with other grafting methods. However, plants must rely on moisture in the air for survival during at least the first 4 days after grafting. In 2015 and 2016, greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate if application of commercial stomata-coating and stomata-closing antitranspirant products, applied 1 day before grafting to both scion and rootstock seedlings, could increase the survival of watermelon transplants grafted using the one-cotyledon method. ‘TriX Palomar’ watermelon was grafted onto rootstock ‘Tetsukabuto’ (<jats:italic>Cucurbita maxima</jats:italic> × <jats:italic>C. moschata</jats:italic>) in Expt. 1, and onto rootstock ‘Emphasis’ (<jats:italic>Lagenaria siceraria</jats:italic>) in Expt. 2. The survival of grafted watermelon differed because of experiment (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.0003), antitranspirant treatment (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.0001), and experimental repeat (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.0001). The survival of ‘TriX Palomar’ grafted onto ‘Tetsukabuto’ was greatest for plants treated with the stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants (92% to 100%), followed by the stomata-closing antitranspirant (79% to 97%), water (72%), and the stomata-coating antitranspirant (50% to 60%). For ‘TriX Palomar’ grafted onto ‘Emphasis’, plants treated with the stomata-closing antitranspirant had the greatest survival (87% to 97%), followed by stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants (84% to 94%), the stomata-coating antitranspirant (50% to 67%), and water (53% to 68%). In Expt. 3, stomatal conductance (<jats:italic>g</jats:italic><jats:sub>S</jats:sub>) was similar for both ‘TriX Palomar’ and ‘Emphasis’ seedlings before treatment application, but differed because of the treatments 1 and 2 days after application. Stomatal conductance did not change for ‘TriX Palomar’ seedlings after application of the stomata-coating antitranspirant or water, or for ‘Emphasis’ seedlings after application of the stomata-coating antitranspirant. Stomatal conductance of ‘TriX Palomar’ seedlings decreased 57% to 62% after application of the stomata-closing antitranspirant and decreased 48% to 60% after application of the stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants. Stomatal conductance for ‘Emphasis’ seedlings increased 37% after water application, and decreased 58% to 68% after application of the stomata-closing antitranspirant, and decreased 42% to 45% after application of the stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants. The survival rate of grafted ‘TriX Palomar’ transplants was increased nearly 30% by application 1 day before grafting of the commercial stomata-closing antitranspirant or stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants in this study. Increase in grafting success is likely due to a reduction in transpiration that occurs when the stomata-closing antitranspirant is applied to the seedlings before grafting.</jats:p>

Foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles and grafting improves the bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) productivity grown in NFT system

“…Regarding the assimilation variables Mantoan et al (2016) concluded in work with Annona emarginata which is used as a standard for Atemoya, it had a balance between perspiration and the rate of CO2 assimilation to optimize the efficiency of water use, it presents adjustments in gas exchange and the photochemical process. Our results Table 2, concur with those obtained by Dabirian and Miles (2017) who found that there was a longer graft survival due to the reduction in stomatal conductance and the probable simultaneous reduction in perspiration. The results differ from those obtained by Ayala-Arreola (2010) the interaction of graft and nanoparticles affected the increase in the rate of perspiration, the rate of assimilation of CO2, and stomatal conductance.…”

Blue Light Improves Photosynthetic Performance during Healing and Acclimatization of Grafted Watermelon Seedlings

“…De novo carbohydrate synthesis through photosynthesis is vital for the grafting success [ 13 ]. During healing and acclimatization, environmental conditions may exert a considerable impact on the reactions involved in the photosynthetic process [ 14 ]. For instance, the photosynthesis of grafted seedlings may be interrupted by mechanical stress, water deficit in scion, or these two combined.…”

Plasma membrane H+‐ATPase activity and graft success of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) onto interspecific rootstocks of marang (A. odoratissimus) and pedalai (A. sericicarpus)

“…In particular, the PM H + ‐ATPase plays a crucial role in stomatal closure (Elmore & Coaker ), an important stress response to control water loss, which is critical for graft survival during the early stages of graft union establishment. In fact, reduced transpiration through application of stomata‐closing agents has been shown to improve graft success (Dabirian & Miles ). Therefore, the early recovery of PM H + ‐ATPase activity in grafted plants may not only reflect the return of an electrochemical gradient to sustain nutrient uptake and cellular homoeostasis, but also suggests restoration of the capacity to control water loss, leading to a higher chance of survival.…”