The effects of new melon rootstocks on the plant growth, yield and quality in cantaloupe melons

In this study, plant growth parameters such as plant length, main shoot diameter, number of nodes; yield and some fruit characteristics (average fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit height, cavity diameter, cavity length, flesh thickness, flesh firmness rind thickness and TSS) were investigated in greenhouse hanging melon cultivation of Calinex Fı and Citirex Fı melon cultivars grafted on their roots and three types of interspecific hybrid pumpkin rootstocks. According to the research results, grafting on the pumpkin rootstocks in terms of the plant growth parameters examined increased plant growth according to the control; Calinet Fı has a stronger plant growth than Citirex Fı. In terms of yield, the effect of the rootstock was insignificant, while the yield of the Calinet Fı (4.44 kg/m2) was higher than the yield of Citirex Fı (3.80 kg/m2). The average fruit weight (1158.81 g) and fruit diameter (12.76 cm) in Calinet Fı were higher than the Citirex Fı (970.98 grams and 12.02 cm, respectively). Fruit height, flesh thickness and fruit hardness were not affected by rootstocks and cultivars. The thickness of the fruit rind was determined to be the thickest in the self-grafted application, and the most thin in the grafting application on the rootstock No. 3. The total soluble solid content was lower in the grafted applications than in the control, but the lowest TSS was higher than 10.32%.