Yield and Quality of Grafted Watermelon Grown in a Field Naturally Infested with Fusarium Wilt

Moreno, B.; Jacob, Cristián; Rosales, Merlín; Krarup, Christian; Contreras, Samuel

doi:10.21273/horttech.26.4.453

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Averaged over all the grafted treatments, the increase in marketable fruit number and weight reached 108.3% and 240.9%, respectively, and the total fruit number and weight increase was at 80.0% and 237.2%, respectively. These improved yield results were consistent with other studies on grafted watermelon production (Huitr on et al, 2007;Miguel et al, 2004;Moreno et al, 2016). Stable plant vigor throughout the growing season, improved nutrient and water uptake, and enhanced photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism may contribute to the yield increase of the grafted treatments (Huang et al, 2016;Lee et al, 2010;Liu et al, 2011).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Performance of Grafted Seedless Watermelon Plants with and without Root Excision under Inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Race 2

Zhao¹,

Liu²,

Sánchez³

et al. 2018

horts

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Fusarium wilt of watermelon can be effectively managed by grafting with resistant rootstocks. Excision and regeneration of grafted seedling roots is a common practice among cucurbit-grafting nurseries that has not been thoroughly examined. The objectives of this study were to compare the performance of grafted and nongrafted watermelon plants under both greenhouse and field conditions when inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON) race 2, and assess the effect of root excision on growth of grafted plants with Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata rootstocks. Two greenhouse experiments (Fall 2015 and Spring 2016) and one field trial (Spring 2016) of seedless watermelon ‘Melody’ were conducted in this study. In both greenhouse experiments, inoculated, nongrafted watermelon plants showed a significantly higher percentage of recovered Fusarium spp. colonies (70% to 75%) compared with grafted treatments (0% to 7.5%). Some plant growth measurements, including the longest vine length and aboveground fresh and dry weight, indicated less vigorous growth for nongrafted plants compared with the grafted treatments. Significantly higher percent recovery of Fusarium spp. below the graft union was observed in the grafted plants with root excision and regeneration treatment (3.7%) in contrast to the intact root treatment (0.5%), suggesting that the root excision method may possibly create entry points for FON infections. Overall, the root excision treatment showed little influence on aboveground growth and root characteristics of grafted plants. Yield of grafted watermelon with FON inoculation in the fumigated field trial was significantly higher than that of noninoculated, nongrafted ‘Melody’ (NGM) control as reflected by the increase of fruit number and size. Averaged over all the grafted treatments, the increase in marketable fruit number and weight reached 108.3% and 240.9%, respectively, and the total fruit number and weight increase was at 80.0% and 237.2%, respectively. However, grafted plants also exhibited greater levels of root-knot nematode infestation as indicated by the significantly higher root galling ratings. Results from this study demonstrated that grafting with squash rootstocks can effectively limit FON colonization in seedless watermelon plants, although more research in rootstock selection and testing is needed to optimize the use of grafted plants for improving plant growth and fruit yield.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Performance of Grafted Seedless Watermelon Plants with and without Root Excision under Inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Race 2

Zhao¹,

Liu²,

Sánchez³

et al. 2018

horts

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“…Such tests are, therefore, helpful in assisting the selection or breeding of rootstock-scion combinations, in order to maintain consumer satisfaction and improve our understanding of the relative contributions of various rootstock-scion combinations, across environments, to various fruit-quality components. It is important to evaluate and select suitable rootstock-scion combinations adapted to particular environments and growing conditions in order to ensure high fruit quality [5,24]. Therefore, in the near future, "custom-made-farming" should be considered before planting grafted watermelons, or other fruits and vegetables in a specific growing region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between Rootstock-Scion Combinations and Growing Regions on Watermelon Fruit Quality

et al. 2019

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Grafting of vegetable plants is done primarily to reduce the potential for damage caused by soil-borne diseases. Most of the watermelons (Citrullus) grown in the Mediterranean Basin, including in Israel, are grafted, mainly on interspecific hybrid pumpkin (Cucurbita) rootstocks. Biblical law (Leviticus 19:19) does not allow intergeneric grafting, so in recent years, great efforts have been made in Israel to find or breed watermelon rootstocks. Both interspecific and intergeneric grafting can have negative or positive effects on fruit yield and quality after harvest. The inconsistencies in fruit quality and shelf-life parameters can be attributed to differences in production environments. However, many farmers are grafting and planting the same rootstock-scion combination all over the country, regardless of local soil, water, and climactic conditions. We studied the effect of similar rootstock-scion combinations on watermelon yield and fruit quality in three regions of Israel differing in soil type and altitude. Fruit-quality parameters were evaluated after 4 days at 21 °C (local marketing simulation). Fruit quality was significantly affected, mainly by the growing region, based on factorial analysis, but also by rootstock-scion combination, regardless of rootstock vigor. Therefore, the best rootstock-scion combination needs to be found and adopted for each growing region. Grafting was essential for watermelon crop survival in contaminated soils and improved both plant performance and postharvest fruit quality, but was not a factor in non-contaminated soils.

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“…Fruit yields of four seeded and three seedless watermelon cultivars grown in F. oxysporum f. sp . niveum‐ infested Chilean fields were 136% to 159% higher when grafted on L. siceraria and C. maxima x C. moschata rootstocks than nongrafted watermelon 39 . Three Citrullus sp.…”

Section: Nematode and Disease Resistant Rootstocks For Cucurbitaceous Vegetable Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grafting for managing vegetable crop pests

Thies

2021

Pest Management Science

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Nematode and disease resistant rootstocks have been developed for many vegetable crops including tomato, eggplant, melon, watermelon, and cucumber and are being utilized by an increasing number of growers. Grafting commercially desirable vegetable scions on nematode and disease resistant rootstocks has been significantly stimulated by the need for an alternative to banned soil fumigation with methyl bromide, which had been the primary method for managing soil‐borne nematodes, diseases, and weeds. Rootstocks resistant to root‐knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and diseases including Fusarium wilt, Fusarium crown and root rot, Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, Southern blight, and sudden wilt have been developed and many are available commercially. New technologies such as transcriptomics, identification of differentially expressed genes, transgene rootstocks, and RNAi silencing are being used in the development of vegetable rootstocks which are resistant to pests, salt tolerant, and heat and cold tolerant. Overall, grafting has proven to be a successful and environmentally safe method for managing root‐knot nematodes and soil‐borne diseases by reducing infection, disease development, and inoculum build‐up in the soil, which is especially important for growth of healthy subsequent crops. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

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Yield and Quality of Grafted Watermelon Grown in a Field Naturally Infested with Fusarium Wilt

Cited by 12 publications

References 20 publications

Performance of Grafted Seedless Watermelon Plants with and without Root Excision under Inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Race 2

Performance of Grafted Seedless Watermelon Plants with and without Root Excision under Inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Race 2

Relationships between Rootstock-Scion Combinations and Growing Regions on Watermelon Fruit Quality

Grafting for managing vegetable crop pests

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