Evaluation of different rootstocks for improving growth and yield of watermelon

Abstract

Grafting method of propagation is a standard practice in developed countries to increase plant tolerance to several biotic and abiotic stresses and to improve fruit yield of watermelon. The technique is still remained unexplored especially for watermelon cultivation in Bangladesh. Hence, an experiment was conducted at the research field of Horticulture Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur during late winter to early summer season of 2020-21 to find out the suitable rootstock as a grafting agent compatible better with watermelon and to study the effect of such rootstocks on the growth, yield and sweetness of watermelon. The seedlings of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) cv. Black Jumbo F₁ was grafted onto four different rootstocks namely, Bottle gourd, Sweet gourd, Ash gourd and Snake gourd using the single cotyledon hole insertion method. The result indicated that grafting improved growth and development of watermelon influencing the length of main stem and numbers of lateral stems. Grafted plant showed significantly lower prevalence of plant wilting in watermelon over non-grafted plants. As such, the plant survival at fruit maturity stage (70 Days after planting) was higher in grafted treatments than non-grafted treatment. The result indicated that grafting of watermelon onto bottle gourd and sweet gourd rootstock significantly influenced vegetative and reproductive growth, decreased the wilt disease, which ultimately contributed to higher numbers of fruit/plant, greater fruit size and higher yield. However, fruit quality in terms of TSS was statistically similar under different grafting and non-grafting treatments. Grafting of water melon onto bottle gourd or sweet gourd could be suggested as an alternative effective method to control plant wilting and improve growth and yield of watermelon.

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 48(2): 237-247, June 2023