Rootstock effects on seed yield and quality in watermelon

Watermelon grafting has been conducted to meet various objectives such as soil-borne diseases control, tolerance against agronomic predicaments, improving yield and quality etc. This research was conducted to investigate rootstock effects on seed yield and quality in watermelon. The work conducted at field experimental areas and laboratories of Department of Horticulture of the University of Cukurova, one watermelon cv. Crimson sweet scion was used onto three different rootstocks (Cucurbita - NUN-9075, Lagenaria – Argentario and citron watermelon – PI296341). Observations and measurements started from seed to seed. That is from seed sowing, grafting, main stem length, diameter, number of nodes, biomass, pollen production and development, fruit yield and quality, and seed yield and quality. NUN-9075/CS and Argentario/CS graft combinations resulted in higher stem length, plant biomass, fruit yield and quality as well as higher seed yield, seed emergence and germination percentage. There was no significant difference observed between graft combinations in pollen viability, pollen germination and normal pollen production at 0.05 significant level. No significant difference between graft combinations observed in accelerated ageing (AA) and the seed germination was not very much decreased after AA of 192 h. NUN-9075 followed by Argentario rootstocks are recommended as the best rootstocks used in this study.