Effects of grafting and soil solarization on melon production in greenhouse

Effects of grafting and soil solarization on Fusarium wilt, flowering dates, early and total yields, brix, weight and number of melon fruits were investigated in a greenhouse of Bati Akdeniz Agricultural Research Institute located in Antalya in 2008 spring season. Trials were set in the split plot design with 3 replications. The main plots were solarization in which the grafting plots were placed. In this study, Citirex F1 cultivar was grafted on Ferro F1, Nun 9075, RS 841and RZ 6415 rootstocks. Non-grafted Citirex F1 plants and non-solarized plots were used as controls. Non-grafted Citirex F1 plants grown in the solarized plots provided the highest number fruits as well as early and total yields. Number of Fusarium wilt infected plants was higher in the non-solarized plots than the solarized plots. On the other hand, Citirex F1 plants grafted on RZ 6415 rootstock were the most heavily affected by the Fusarium wilt among plants grafted on the other rootstocks. Higher brix values were obtained from the non-grafted Citirex F1 plants than the plants grafted on different rootstocks. In conclusion; grafting was not a good option to grow melon on different rootstocks; however, solarization always provided better quality and higher yields in melon production regardless of the rootstocks used.