Cell Size and Pretransplant Nutritional Conditioning Influences Early Vine Growth and Yield of Transplanted Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 594e-594
Author(s):  
Charles J. Graham

Research is needed to better understand the influence of cell volume and fertility on watermelon transplant size and field performance in order to determine the most economic production practices. `Jubilee' watermelon transplants were grown using a 4 x 4 factorial experimental design consisting of 4 cell volumes (30.7, 65.5, 147.5, and 349.6 cm3) and 4 fertility rates (0, 1/4, 1/2, and full-strength Hoagland's solution). Transplant shoot dry weight significantly increased as cell volume and fertility increased. Increasing cell volume linearly increased watermelon number/ha and tons/ha for early and total harvest in 1995. The average weight per watermelon significantly increased for early-harvested fruit but not for total harvest as cell volume increased in 1995. Soluble solids concentration linearly increased with increasing cell volume for early and total harvests in 1995. Cell volume had no significant influence on the harvest parameters measured in 1997. In 1995, increasing fertility linearly increased watermelon number/ha and tons/ha for early harvests. Increasing fertility increased the soluble solids concentration linearly for early-harvested watermelons in 1997 but not in 1995. Fertility rate had no significant influence on any of the other harvest parameters measured in 1995 and 1997. The growing conditions and disease pressure in 1997 reduced melons/ha, yield, and soluble solids content when compared to 1995 values. The half-strength Hoagland's solution produced the greatest number of watermelons/ha, tons/ha, and the highest soluble solids concentration in 1995 and 1997. Pretransplant nutritional conditioning had no significant effect on total `Jubilee' watermelon production in Louisiana for 1995 and 1997.

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 652b-652
Author(s):  
P.M. Perkins-Veazie ◽  
J.K. Collins ◽  
N. Maness ◽  
B. Cartwright

High populations of melon aphid (aphis gossypii) reduce cantaloupe plant growth and yield; effects on subsequent fruit quality are unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate fruit quality from plants with high and low aphid populations. Up to 50% of melons from plants having high aphid populations were unmarketable due to surface sooty mold. Melons from plants with high or low aphid populations, but not cultivars, were similar in flesh quality. The internal color of `Perlita' and `Sweet Surprise' was a more yellow hue while that of `TAM Uvalde' was more orange. `Sweet Surprise' melons were lower in percent soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity, but were higher in mg fructose/ml juice compared to the other cultivars. A trained taste panel of 30 people evaluated melons from 2 cultivars showing little damage from melon aphid infestations and from 2 cultivars exhibiting high damage. All melons had similar taste qualities with acceptable sweetness, flavor, odor and texture. These results show that high aphid populations deleteriously affect cosmetic appearance, but not flesh quality, of melons.


2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 518-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua H. Freeman ◽  
G.A. Miller ◽  
S.M. Olson ◽  
W.M. Stall

As triploid watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) increase in popularity, production has shifted away from seeded watermelons. To achieve successful fruit set in triploid watermelons, a diploid watermelon cultivar must be planted as a pollen source. Three diploid cultivars in 2005 and seven diploid cultivars in 2006 were evaluated at one and three locations, respectively, to determine their effectiveness as pollenizers. Each cultivar was planted within plots of the triploid watermelons ‘Tri-X 313’ (2005) and ‘Supercrisp’ (2006) with buffers on all sides of the plots to contain pollen flow within individual plots. Performance of pollenizers was based on triploid watermelon yield, soluble solids concentration, and incidence of hollowheart. In 2005, there were no significant differences in total weight, fruit per acre, average weight, or soluble solids concentration among pollenizers. In 2006, significant differences in yield were observed, and plots with ‘Sidekick’ as a pollenizer yielded the highest but were not significantly different from ‘Patron’, ‘SP-1’, ‘Jenny’, or ‘Mickylee’. In 2006, there were no significant differences in fruit per acre, soluble solids concentration, or incidence of hollowheart between pollenizers. The experimental design was successful in isolating pollenizers and there was minimal pollen flow outside of experimental plots as indicated by minimal fruit set in control plots.


HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 597f-597
Author(s):  
Daniel I. Leskovar ◽  
Charles S. Vavrina

The effect of cell volume and age of `Texas Grano 1015Y' onion transplants on survival, growth, and yield were evaluated. Transplant ages and cell volume were 5, 7, 9, and 11 weeks (W) and 6.5 cm3 and 20.0 cm3 in Florida; and 6, 8, 10, and 12W, and 4.0 and 7.1 cm3 in Texas. In Florida, total yields were unaffected by transplant age and cell volume, but jumbo size bulbs increased with increasing age from 5 to 9W in 6.5 cm3 cells. Bulb size increased significantly for 11W transplants only in 20.0 cm3 cells. In Texas, survival was reduced for 6W compared to ≥8W transplants. At planting, root count increased linearly with age. Cell volume did not affect root count, plant height, or leaf number, but shoot dry weight was greater in 7.1 cm3 compared to 4.0 cm3. Total jumbo and large size yields were highest for ≥10W in 7. 1 cm3 and ≥8W in 4.0 cm3 cells. Total yields were unaffected by cell size but seedlings in 4.0 cm3 had a 16% decrease of jumbo size compared to 7.1 cm3. The use of 10 and 12W transplants produced in small cell sizes may be viable for onion establishment.


HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 848-850
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Jamieson ◽  
Katherine A. Sanford

Clones of `Blomidon' strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) exhibiting a range of June yellows symptoms were grown in field plots to measure effects on productivity and fruit characteristics. Self-pollinated seedlings grown from these clones were evaluated for symptom expression as an additional measure of severity of June yellows. Large differences in yields were recorded among clones, ranging from 1.9 to 14.7 t·ha–1 in 1994 and 8.4 to 28.3 t·ha–1 in 1995. Clones with severe symptoms produced smaller fruit than clones with slight symptoms in 1994 but not in 1995. Small differences existed for the titratable acidity of the fruit but not for soluble solids concentration. The frequency of normal green seedlings among selfed progeny ranged from 48% to 98% and was negatively correlated with symptom severity ratings of the parent clones. Severity ratings and selfed seedling abnormality rates were good predictors of fruit yield. No clones of `Blomidon' were free of June yellows.


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 732b-732
Author(s):  
D. J. Makus

`Jersey Giant' asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.), grown in an Enders silt loam mineral soil near Booneville, Ark., was given an application of 80 kg/ha of Supplemental nitrogen (N, as NH4N O3) either prior to or after the Cutting season in 1993. Neither N treatment affected spear objective Color, Pigments, soluble solids concentration (SSC), or yield. Supplemental N decreased spear Ca and K levels. Green asparagus had higher levels of total-N, K, S, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Al, Mn, and Cu, but lower levels of NO3 than did white asparagus. As the Cutting season progressed, spear SSC, S, Ca, NO3 (NO3 in White spears only), Zn, Mn, and Cu (Cu in white spears Only) levels decreased, While spear K and Al (Al in white spears only) increased on a dry weight basis. Fall residual soil NO3 levels were not affected by N application, but organic matter was lower in soil which received early supplemental N.


1978 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Pearman ◽  
S. M. Thomas ◽  
G. N. Thorne

SummaryEight amounts of nitrogen ranging from 0 to 210 kg N/ha were applied to two tall and one semi-dwarf variety of winter wheat in the spring of 1975 and 1976. The tall varieties were Cappelle-Desprez and Maris Huntsman; the semi-dwarf variety was Maris Fundin in 1975 and Hobbit in 1976. Interactions between varieties and nitrogen were few and small compared with the main effects. All varieties produced their maximum grain yields with 180 kg N/ha. The yield of the semi-dwarf varieties, but not the others, decreased slightly with more nitrogen.Cappelle-Desprez yielded less grain than the other varieties in both years. In 1975 the yields of Maris Fundin and Maris Huntsman were similar and in 1976 Hobbit yielded more than Maris Huntsman. The varieties had similar numbers of ears at maturity and similar patterns of tillering. The semi-dwarf varieties had most grains per spikelet, and hence grains per ear, and Cappelle-Desprez had least. The semi-dwarf varieties had the smallest grains. The semi-dwarf varieties had less straw than the other varieties and hence the largest ratios of grain to total above-ground dry weight. The decrease in dry weight of stem and leaves between anthesis and maturity was similar for all varieties. In 1975 the efficiency of the top two leaves plus top internode in producing grain was the same for all varieties, but in 1976 Hobbit was more efficient than the other two. There were some small differences between varieties in nutrient uptake that were not related to differences in growth. Maris Fundin tended to have a greater phosphorus and potassium content than the tall varieties. Hobbit contained slightly less nitrogen than the tall varieties at maturity, and had a smaller concentration of nitrogen in the grain.Applying 210 kg N/ha doubled grain yield in 1975. Applying nitrogen resulted in a largeincrease in number of ears and a small increase in number of grains per ear due to the development of more fertile spikelets per ear. Nitrogen decreased dry weight per grain, especially of the semi-dwarf varieties. With extra nitrogen, straw dry weight at maturity, shoot dry weight atanthesis and leaf area were all increased relatively more than grain yield, and stems lost moredry weight between anthesis and maturity than without nitrogen. The year 1976 was exceptionallydry and nitrogen had only small effects in that it affected neither straw dry weight nor numberof ears but slightly increased grain yield by increasing the number of spikelets and number of grains per spikelet. It also increased leaf area proportionately to grain yield. In 1975 nitrogen increased evaporation of water from the crop before anthesis but decreased it after anthesis, even though it continued to increase the extraction of water from below 90 cm.


Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 274
Author(s):  
Ademola Adetunji ◽  
Sershen ◽  
Boby Varghese ◽  
Norman Pammenter

Aged seeds exhibit compromised vigour in terms of germination, seedling emergence and growth, but this can to some extent be alleviated by invigoration treatments before sowing. This study aimed to investigate ageing rates and patterns in cabbage (Brassica oleraceae) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seeds and whether the beneficial effects of invigorating aged seeds with exogenous antioxidants translate to enhanced seedling performance. Seeds were artificially aged to 25% viability before soaking in 0.4 mM glycerol, 0.6 mM GSH and 0.2 mM trolox for cabbage, and 0.6 mM glycerol, GSH and trolox for lettuce; deionised water served as a control. After 14 days of sowing, seedling emergence percentage, mean emergence time, mean daily emergence, and time taken to 25% emergence were computed. Seedling vigour index, root and shoot dry weight, root:shoot ratio, leaf area, leaf area ratio, and leaf chlorophyll content were assessed 6 weeks after sowing. Furthermore, the photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E), and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured 6 weeks after sowing. Notably, ageing resulted in the loss of seed vigour and viability at higher rates in lettuce than cabbage. Seed pretreatment with glycerol promoted seedling growth in both species and shoot dry weight in lettuce, while glycerol and GSH enhanced Pn, Gs and E in lettuce. Trolox also enhanced Pn and E in lettuce. The beneficial effects of the antioxidant treatments are thought to be associated with the protection of photosystems from oxidative stress and/or stimulation of enzymes involved in photosynthesis, possibly through an enhanced antioxidant defence system during the early development stages when seedlings are particularly vulnerable to stress.


2001 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene E. Lester ◽  
Michael A. Grusak

Commercially grown honey dew fruit [Cucumis melo (Inodorus group)] typically are harvested before abscission because fruit cut unripe have a longer storage life than fully ripe fruit. However, because fully ripe fruit contain higher concentrations of soluble solids (predominantly as sugars), an attribute that increases their preference among consumers, methods are being explored to extend the storage life of fully ripe fruit. In this study, fully abscised honey dew fruit were evaluated for tissue attributes and consumer preference following postharvest dipping in either chelated or nonchelated calcium (Ca) solutions. Calcium sources were an amino acid-chelated Ca, ethylene-diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-chelated Ca, or calcium chloride (CaCl2), with each provided at three different rates. Fruit were evaluated at harvest, and after 14 or 22 days commercial storage. Evaluations were peel surface changes (color and disorders), hypodermal-mesocarp tissue Ca concentration, flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration, and consumer preference of the edible flesh. Peel color became yellowed and lighter during storage for all fruit, with higher Ca rates resulting in more intensely yellowed fruit. Hypodermal-mesocarp tissue Ca concentration was 0.90 mg·g-1 of fresh weight (900 ppm) at harvest, and declined in all fruit by 22 days storage. Peel disorders (disease and spotting) were none to slight for all fruit by 14 days storage, but by 22 days storage disease incidence ranged from none to severe, depending on the Ca source and rate. Fruit firmness declined in all fruit throughout storage, with the smallest declines measured in fruit treated with the amino acid-chelated Ca. Soluble solids concentration of fully ripe fruit was 12.3% at harvest, and showed either no decline or slight declines with storage among the treatments. Consumer preference was highest for freshly harvested fruit, but fruit were desirable even after 22 days storage across all treatments. Postharvest application of Ca at ≤0.16 m Ca in an amino acid-chelated form, versus EDTA-chelated Ca or CaCl2, slowed honey dew melon senescence so that after 22 days of commercial and retail storage the fruit were of high marketable quality, and there was no detrimental effect on consumer preference for the edible flesh.


1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua D. Klein ◽  
Susan Lurie

The benefits conferred by a prestorage heat treatment on poststorage quality of apples (Malus domestics Borkh.) were measured on `Anna', a non-storing early cultivar, and `Granny Smith', a long-storing late cultivar. The major benefit was a decrease in rate of apple softening, both during OC storage and during simulated shelf life at 20C. Soluble solids concentration was not affected by heat treatment, but titratable acidity was reduced. Ethylene production after heat treatment and storage was similar to or higher than that of control apples, but respiration was lower. The optimum temperature and time combination for prestorage treatment of both cultivars was 4 days at 38C.


1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 352-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon A. Clay ◽  
Jim F. Gaffney ◽  
Leon J. Wrage

Trifluralin is used for weed control in wheat but may reduce vegetative growth and yield. Postemergence (POST) herbicides may cause additional plant stress to trifluralin-stressed wheat. Field studies at Groton, SD in 1991 and 1992 and at Highmore, SD in 1992 evaluated the effects of 2,4-D-amine, difenzoquat, metsulfuron, and a combination of fenoxaprop-ethyl + 2,4-D-ester + MCPA-ester on hard red spring wheat cultivars ‘2375,’ ‘Prospect,’ and ‘Butte 86’ seeded in areas treated with preplant incorporated trifluralin either in the spring before seeding (0.56 kg ai/ha) or the previous year (1.12 or 2.24 kg ai/ha). Trifluralin applied alone in the spring, and followed by some POST herbicides, reduced shoot dry weight and grain yield. Trifluralin reduced the yield of Prospect the most and the yield of 2375 the least. Yields of trifluralin-treated wheat were reduced 23% by metsulfuron and 14% by fenoxaprop-ethyl + 2,4-D + MCPA compared to yields of wheat treated with only the respective POST herbicide. Yields were not reduced with any trifluralin-POST herbicide combination when trifluralin was applied a year prior to seeding wheat.


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