Effects of Deficit Irrigation and Grafting on Yield and Fruit Quality of Iranian 'Khatooni' Melon

A field experiment to determine deficit irrigation and grafting effects on yield and some qualitative traits of 'Khatooni' melon fruit was conducted during 2011. The experimental layout was a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four irrigation levels (120, 100, 80 and 60% water requirement of melon with 3-days irrigation interval) and two grafting levels (grafting on 'Shintozwa' hybrid rootstock and non grafting as control) in three replicates. Water requirement of melon in different stages of fruit growth and development was measured by a profile probe set. Results indicated that maximum marketable single fruit weight (2.48 Kg), thickness of flesh (3.4 cm), diameter of fruit (12.95 cm), marketable fruit yield (9.74 Kg/plant, 108.25 t/ha) and marketable fruit number (4) was related to ungrafted melon plants with 60% irrigation level. The sweetest fruits were obtained from grafted melon plants under 80% deficit irrigation.