Post-Harvest Fruit Quality Changes in Grafted and Ungrafted 'Crimson Tide' Watermelon Variety

In this study, changes in the post-harvest fruit quality of 'Crimson Tide' watermelon variety grafted onto Nun9075 and ungrafted 'Crimson Tide' were investigated. Watermelons were grown at the Alata Horticultural Research Institute, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey, and stored at 4 degrees C and 90-95% relative humidity for 5 weeks. The total soluble solid and titratable acid contents, weight loss, fungal decay, physiological disorders, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, total phenolic substance and sugars were evaluated. Quality analyses were determined at weekly intervals throughout the storage period. The results demonstrated that weight loss of grafted and control fruits were found to be very low (1%) during the storage. Fungal and physiological disorders were not observed in grafted or control watermelon fruits during storage. Total soluble solid, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic substance contents of the 'Crimson Tide' variety grafted onto Nun9075 were higher than in the control fruits.