Grafting for Sustainable Growth Performance of Melon (Cucumis melo) Under Salt Stressed Hydroponic Condition

ULAŞ F., Aydın A., ULAŞ A., YETİŞİR H.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, cilt.8, sa.1, ss.201-210, 2019 (ESCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 8 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2019
  • Doi Numarası: 10.14207/ejsd.2019.v8n1p201
  • Dergi Adı: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, CAB Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.201-210
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Commercial rootstock, salinity tolerance, nutrient solution, grafting, melon, GAS-EXCHANGE, NUTRIENT-UPTAKE, TOMATO PLANTS, DIFFERENT ROOTSTOCKS, MINERAL-COMPOSITION, SALINE CONDITIONS, WATER RELATIONS, FRUIT-QUALITY, YIELD, TOLERANCE
  • Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The aim of the present study was to find out whether grafting could improve salinity tolerance of melon plants, and whether possible induction of tolerance to salinity was linked with the defense of the photosynthetic apparatus. The climate chamber experiment was carried out to determine main stem length, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), fresh weight of shoot and root, and root length. Under climate chamber conditions, two melon cultivars [galia type Citirex F1) and standard type (Kirkagac Manisa Altinbas)] were grafted onto two different commercial Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata hybrid rootstocks (Kardosa and Nun 9075) and grown in 8 L pots filled continuously with aerated nutrient solution under two different salt levels (1 and 8 dS/m) with three replications. The results indicated that grafted and un-grafted plants were significantly (P<0.001) affected by different salt levels. Grafted plants had better growth performance than un-grafted plants under both control and saline conditions. The SPAD value of the un-grafted plants significantly decreased as salinity stress increased, while root fresh weight of the grafted plants significantly increased under salinity stress. Under saline conditions the highest shoot fresh weight, and SPAD value were recorded in graft combination Nun 9075/ Citirex. These results suggest that the use of salt tolerant Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata hybrid rootstocks can improve crop performance in melon under salt stress, whereas the appropriate scion/ rootstock combinations under saline conditions will be investigated for fruit yield and quality parameters in further studies.

The aim of the present study was to find out whether grafting could improve salinity tolerance of
melon plants, and whether possible induction of tolerance to salinity was linked with the defense of
the photosynthetic apparatus. The climate chamber experiment was carried out to determine main
stem length, leaf chlorophyll index (SPAD), fresh weight of shoot and root, and root length. Under
climate chamber conditions, two melon cultivars [galia type Citirex F1) and standard type (Kirkagac
Manisa Altinbas)] were grafted onto two different commercial Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata
hybrid rootstocks (Kardosa and Nun 9075) and grown in 8 L pots filled continuously with aerated
nutrient solution under two different salt levels (1 and 8 dS/m) with three replications. The results
indicated that grafted and un-grafted plants were significantly (P<0.001) affected by different salt
levels. Grafted plants had better growth performance than un-grafted plants under both control and
saline conditions. The SPAD value of the un-grafted plants significantly decreased as salinity stress
increased, while root fresh weight of the grafted plants significantly increased under salinity stress.
Under saline conditions the highest shoot fresh weight, and SPAD value were recorded in graft
combination Nun 9075/ Citirex. These results suggest that the use of salt tolerant Cucurbita maxima
x C. moschata hybrid rootstocks can improve crop performance in melon under salt stress, whereas
the appropriate scion/ rootstock combinations under saline conditions will be investigated for fruit
yield and quality parameters in further studies.