Effect of Saline Irrigation Water on Growth and Productivity of Five New Melon Lines

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 at Soil Salinity Dept., Soil, Water, and Environment Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt, , to investigate the response of five different genotypes of growing melon to three levels of saline irrigation water (500, 2000, 4000 mg/L). The included genotypes were Line Mass Matrouh, local genotype (G1), Line 22 (G2), Line 26 (G3), Line Ideal (G4) and Line New Matrouh (G5). Results indicated that traits of plant length and number of branches/plant were negatively significant affected by salinity treatment (2000, 4000 mg/L) during the two studied growing seasons. While date of flowering and number of fruits/plant were not affected by treatments of saline irrigation water across the two seasons. Line G3 recorded the highest mean value for average fruit weight/plant followed by Line G4. Fruit shape index, total soluble solids and fruit moisture content were also significantly positive affected by different levels of water saline. These results clearly indicated that the evaluated melon genotypes differed in their genetic traits. Among genotypes, G3 and G4 lines showed the highest tolerance to the saline water treatments (2000 , 4000 mg/L) , so we recommend to use these lines either in areas irrigated with saline water or to be integrated in breeding program to produce more salt tolerant hybrid of melon plant that can be used in cultivating areas irrigated with saline water.