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Growth and Yield of Watermelon as Influenced by Grafting

M. A. Salam
Agriculture Research Station (BARI) Pahartali, Chittagong,

A. S. M. H Masum
Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Gazipur

S. S. Chowdhury
Agriculture Research Station (BARI) Pahartali, Chittagong,

Monoranjan Dhar
Agriculture Research Station (BARI) Pahartali, Chittagong,

M. A. Saddeque
Agriculture Research Station (BARI) Pahartali, Chittagong,

M. R. Islam
Ministry of Establishment, Bangladesh Secretariat

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to determine the effect of grafting on the growth, yield and control of wilt disease of watermelon. Grafting of watermelon on bottle gourd root stock significantly reduced the wilt disease in the field. Grafting also produced higher number of fruits per plant 15.25) and larger fruit 130.30 cm) which ultimately produced higher yield 156.92 t/ha- 1 ) than non grafted plants. The grafts produced 3.5 times higher yield than non grafts.

Keywords: Watermelon, Grafting, Fusarium wilt

Location: Chittagong

Start Date: 01-08-1998

End Date: 30-12-1998

Program Area: Variety and Species

Commodity: Water melon

Objectives:

To determine the influence of grafting on the growth and yield of watermelon.

Methodology:

The experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Station, Pahartai, Chittagong during the period from August to December 1998. The popular watermelon variety "Top Yield" was used in this study. Watermelon graft on bottle gourd rootstock and watermelon seedling were used as the treatment of the experiment. The field experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design. Bottle gourd and watermelon seeds were sown in the prepared seed bed on 1st August 1998 for raising rootstock and scion for grafting. The grafting operation is done at the opening stage of first true leave of both the stock and scion on August 9, 1998. The grafted plants were kept in a humidity chamber prepared by polyethylene film covered with gunny chat to make a condition warm, moist and low light intensity. Hardening of the grafts after union was done for 1 0-1 5 days before field plantation. The grafts were planted in prepared bed with 2 m apart on the August 31, 1 998. For control treatment watermelon seedling of same age were prepared in poly bag and transplanted on the same day. The crop was fertilized with 10,000, 250, 100, 200 kg of cowdung, urea, TSP and MP respectively . Full quantity of cowdung, TSP and MP applied in the pit. Urea as top dressed in three equal splits and applied at 1 5, 30 and 45 days after planting. Other intercultural operations were done as and when necessary . Data on different growth and yield parameters were collected and analyzed as per standard statistical procedure. Percentage of wilted plants were presented on total plant basis.

Source of Information: Online Journal of Biological Sciences 2 (5): 298-299, 2002

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The result showed that the growth of the vine and flowering behaviour was not significantly influenced by grafting. However, both the length of vine and number of lateral branches produced in the grafted plants were higher than those of the non grafts. The root system of bottle gourd is much pronounced than that of watermelon which might facilitate the uptake of more nutrient resulting better growth of the grafted plant. Result regarding the node order of 1st male and female flower reveals that the non graft produced both the male and female flower on the lower node than that of the grafted ones.Similarly the earliest flowering was observed in the watermelon seedling and the grafted plants were late flowering. The growth of watermelon was interrupted in the early stage due to grafting injury which might causes the delay in flowering. Number of fruit per plant, fruit length. percent of wilted plants in the field and the yield of watermelon was significantly influenced by the grafting. The weight of individual fruit was not influenced by grafting operation. However, fruit produced in the grafted plants were heavier in weight than that of non grafts. Significantly highest number (5 .25) of fruits /plant was obtained from grafted plants. This might be due to the higher vegetative growth of the plant s in the grafts. The total soluble solid percent (TSS%) of fruit produced in the grafted plants were significantly higher than that of non grafts. The yield of fruit per plant in the grafted was significantly higher than that of non-graft. The higher yield per plant in the grafted plant was mainly contributed by higher number of fruit per plant

Knowledge Management: Journal