Research Information System
International Symposium on Vegetable Grafting, Italy, 1 - 04 September 2011, vol.1, no.1, pp.106
In this study, rooting properties of some commercial rootstocks and bottle gourds (Lagenaria siceraria) collected from different places of Turkey was investigated when they were used as rootstocks for watermelon in slant cut grafting technique. In slunt cutting grafting technique, since scion is grafted on rootstock one of whose cotyledons and roots are cut (rootstock cutting), rooting properties of rootstock cutting is important. The study was conducted at two stages. At the first stage, cuttings were prepared by removing roots of gourd seedling and one cotyledon then they were planted in mixture of peat:perlite (2:1) under high humidity and low light conditions in a plastic tunnel. Rooting level (1-4 scale), root length, root thickness, root fresh weight, root dry weight were determined after 20 days. In addition to this, effect of Idole Buric Acid on rooting was investigated but rooting was not affected by IBA application. At the second stage, Crimson Tide watermelon cultivar was grafted on the gourd cuttings without root by slant cut grafting technique and they planted in mixture of peat:perlite (2:1). Survival rate of grafted plants placed in post graft care unit for 10 days were determined. Rooting level (1-4 scale), root length, root thickness, root fresh weight, root dry weight were determined 30 days after grafting. While significant differences were determined between gourd genotypes regarding rooting properties and survival rate, it was determined that local bottle gourd genotypes showed rooting capacities as much as commercial rootstocks did. Survival rate of grafted plants varied from 84 % to 100 %.