Response of watermelon plants grafted onto different cucurbit rootstocks to sub-optimal growing temperature [electronic resource]

Includes bibliographic reference

This study was conducted to examine the relative tolerance of grafted watermelon to sub-optimal growing temperature conditions.
Watermelon cv. Aswan scions were grafted onto different rootstocks, namely Giada, Shintoza, StrongToza, and Ferro. Grafted
and un-grafted seedlings were grown in the field under low temperature during Jan.-Apr. to be compared to those growing under
normal warm season conditions (Mar.-Jun.). Results indicated significant decrease in growth, yield, chlorophyll, and carotenoids
in all grafted plants, in different degrees, depending on the graft combination. In this regards, plants of Aswan/Ferro recorded
more than double the marketable yield of un-grafted ones under sub-optimal temperature, indicating the relative tolerance of
Aswan/Ferro to cold stress. While, un-grafted plants exhibited the highest decline in all growth and yield parameters.
Leaf proline content and the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) were higher under cold stress than the control.
It is concluded that grafted watermelon plants were relatively tolerant to sub-optimal temperature than un-grafted ones which
could enable the production of out of season crop.

Summary in Arabic