The Effect of Grafting onto Different Rootstocks on Plant Growth, Fruit, and Seed Characteristics in Kırkağaç Melons (Cucumis melo var. inodorus)

Grafting is a vegetative propagation technique that is increasingly popular in the Cucurbitaceae family, including melons. This study was carried out for two years (2021 and 2022) in the Research and Application greenhouses of Cukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of grafting on flower, fruit, and seed characteristics by grafting Kırkağaç melon plants onto different varieties of cucurbit rootstocks for hybrid varieties production. DA5 and SR31 scions, as well as self-grafted DA5, self-grafted SR31, Nun9075, Maximus, and Sphinx rootstocks were used. Ungrafted DA5 and SR31 were used as the control groups. According to the study results, in terms of analyzed plant parameters, Nun9075 combination and ungrafted DA5 line generally showed superior results. Nun9075 rootstock combiation and ungrafted DA5 scion had the highest fruit set; combination of Maximus rootstocks and ungrafted DA5 scion had the highest fruit yield, weight, height, diameter, seed cavity height, and diameter, while DA5/DA5 combination had the highest (8.07%) fruit flesh, rind thickness, and TSS values, but in combination of Sphinx rootstock and ungrafted SR31 scion yielded the lowest results. In terms of average seed yield SR31/SR31 combination (14.11 g/fruit) and combination of Maximus rootstock (15.27 g/fruit) increased seed yield, while Sphinx combination had the lowest number of full seeds.In combinations, where control plants were used as the female had the highest seed germination rates were observed. However in combinations where Maximus rootstock was used as the male, the seed germination rates where the lowest (41.39%), Maximus rootstock combination showed a fast germination. The highest seed emergence rate was observed in combinations where Nun9075 rootstock (77.58%) was used, while the lowest was obtained in combinations where Maximus rootstock (53.62% in 2021; 68.85% in 2022) was used. Maximus is among genotypes with very early seed germination.. Regarding flower parameters, Maximus rootstock combinations were found to be the most effective in terms of healthy pollen grain rate.