The effectiveness of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizas in soilless culture of sweet melon

The effectiveness of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizas {Glomus mosseae, Glomus etlnicatum, Glomus fasciculatum ve Glomus Caledonium) on soilless production of muskmelon under KKTC conditions were investigated. The effects of four mycorrhiza species on plant development, yield and plant nutrient levels in leaves were examinated. Plants were cultivated on perlit medium and the study was realised in two steps: (1) plant development tests in pots in first step, and (2) yield and fruit quality tests in bag culture in second step. Both of trials, mycorrhizas infection ratio of roots was very high. In the first step, the plants that infected with G. caledonium were higher than other treatments in plant length and diameter. Number of leaves and root length of plant treated by G. fasciculatum and G. etunicatum was leader. Root, stem, leaf fresh and dry weights findings was high in plant that infected by G. etunicatum. In the second step, G. caledonium and G. fasciculatum; root, stem and leaf fresh weights, G etunicatum and G. fasciculatum ; stem dry weight, G. fasciculatum leaf dry weight, G. etunicatum took high values. In the point of fruit quality and yield G. fasciculatum was effective, the others differences were not important in statistical sense. Effects of treatments on fruits water soluble dry matter contents were not important in statistical sense. Keywords: mycorrhiza, muskmelon, soilless culture, plant growth, fruit yield