scholarly journals A New Grafting Method for Watermelon to Inhibit Rootstock Regrowth and Enhance Scion Growth

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 812
Author(s):  
Changjin Liu ◽  
Weiguo Lin ◽  
Chongran Feng ◽  
Xiangshuai Wu ◽  
Xiaohu Fu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Bottle Gourd ◽  
New Method ◽  
Plant Management ◽  
Lagenaria Siceraria ◽  
Manual Removal ◽  
Labor Inputs ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Grafting Methods

Grafting is a widely used technique in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) production. However, cost of grafted seedlings is generally high as a result of intensive labor inputs for propagation using traditional grafting methods such as the manual removal of rootstock regrowth. This study developed a new grafting tool to physically remove the epidermis of pumpkin (C. maxima × C. moschata) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) rootstock cotyledon base during grafting; we called this a new grafting method. Compared with the traditional grafting, the new grafting method significantly decreased the pumpkin rootstock regrowth rate from 100% to 8% in hole insertion and 2% in one cotyledon grafting, respectively. These attenuated rates for bottle gourd rootstock regrowth were 23% and 9% in hole insertion and one cotyledon grafting, respectively. The scion dry weights of new hole insertion and one cotyledon grafting were increased by 78% and 74% when pumpkin was used as rootstock as compared with traditional grafting without regrown rootstock removal, while the respective values were 33% and 17% in bottle gourd rootstock grafted plants. In addition, the time used for the new hole insertion grafting method to physically remove the epidermis of pumpkin rootstock cotyledon base was significantly shorter than the time required to remove the rootstock regrowth manually three times in the traditional grafting (4.2 s/plant vs. 9.3 s/plant). Similar results were also observed in the new one cotyledon grafting (4.2 s/plant vs. 8.8 s/plant). Taken together, this study presents a new method in watermelon grafting to reduce rootstock regrowth, therefore benefiting both scion growth and plant management, thus the development of this new method is clearly useful in watermelon production.

scholarly journals A New Grafting Method for Watermelon to Inhibit Rootstock Re-Growth and Enhance Scion Growth

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changjing Liu ◽  
Weiguo Lin ◽  
Chongran Feng ◽  
Xiangshuai Wu ◽  
Xiaohu Fu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Bottle Gourd ◽  
New Method ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Additional Time ◽  
Abiotic Stressors ◽  
Time Required

Grafting is an effective way to increase plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stressors, it is widely used in watermelon production. However, grafting is labor intensive due to the additional time is required, such as the management of rootstock regrowth. This study used a new grafting tool to destroy (remove) the epidermis of pumpkin and bottle gourd rootstock cotyledon base during grafting, we called this a new grafting method. Compared with the traditional grafting (100%), the new grafting method had significantly lower rate of rootstock regrowth (2-23%), higher watermelon scion dry weight and leaf area. In addition, the time used for the new hole insertion and one cotyledon grafting method to destroy (remove) the epidermis of rootstock cotyledon base (4.2 s/plant, 4.2 s/plant) is significantly shorter than the time required to remove the rootstock regrowth manually in the traditional grafting (9.3 s/plant, 8.8 s/plant). Thus, this study developed a new grafting method for watermelon to inhibit rootstock regrowth and enhance scion growth, and this new method is cost-effective for grafted watermelon seedlings.

scholarly journals Antitranspirant Application Increases Grafting Success of Watermelon

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Dabirian ◽  
Carol A. Miles
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Stomatal Conductance ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Lagenaria Siceraria ◽  
Cucurbita Maxima ◽  
Water Application ◽  
Greenhouse Experiments ◽  
The One ◽  
Treatment Application ◽  
Grafting Methods

The one-cotyledon splice grafting method is commonly used for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) because it is relatively rapid and there is less rootstock regrowth than with other grafting methods. However, plants must rely on moisture in the air for survival during at least the first 4 days after grafting. In 2015 and 2016, greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate if application of commercial stomata-coating and stomata-closing antitranspirant products, applied 1 day before grafting to both scion and rootstock seedlings, could increase the survival of watermelon transplants grafted using the one-cotyledon method. ‘TriX Palomar’ watermelon was grafted onto rootstock ‘Tetsukabuto’ (Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata) in Expt. 1, and onto rootstock ‘Emphasis’ (Lagenaria siceraria) in Expt. 2. The survival of grafted watermelon differed because of experiment (P = 0.0003), antitranspirant treatment (P < 0.0001), and experimental repeat (P < 0.0001). The survival of ‘TriX Palomar’ grafted onto ‘Tetsukabuto’ was greatest for plants treated with the stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants (92% to 100%), followed by the stomata-closing antitranspirant (79% to 97%), water (72%), and the stomata-coating antitranspirant (50% to 60%). For ‘TriX Palomar’ grafted onto ‘Emphasis’, plants treated with the stomata-closing antitranspirant had the greatest survival (87% to 97%), followed by stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants (84% to 94%), the stomata-coating antitranspirant (50% to 67%), and water (53% to 68%). In Expt. 3, stomatal conductance (gS) was similar for both ‘TriX Palomar’ and ‘Emphasis’ seedlings before treatment application, but differed because of the treatments 1 and 2 days after application. Stomatal conductance did not change for ‘TriX Palomar’ seedlings after application of the stomata-coating antitranspirant or water, or for ‘Emphasis’ seedlings after application of the stomata-coating antitranspirant. Stomatal conductance of ‘TriX Palomar’ seedlings decreased 57% to 62% after application of the stomata-closing antitranspirant and decreased 48% to 60% after application of the stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants. Stomatal conductance for ‘Emphasis’ seedlings increased 37% after water application, and decreased 58% to 68% after application of the stomata-closing antitranspirant, and decreased 42% to 45% after application of the stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants. The survival rate of grafted ‘TriX Palomar’ transplants was increased nearly 30% by application 1 day before grafting of the commercial stomata-closing antitranspirant or stomata-coating + stomata-closing antitranspirants in this study. Increase in grafting success is likely due to a reduction in transpiration that occurs when the stomata-closing antitranspirant is applied to the seedlings before grafting.

scholarly journals Evaluating Cucurbit Rootstocks to Prevent Disease Caused by Pythium aphanidermatum and P. myriotylum on Watermelon

Plant Disease ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3019-3025
Author(s):  
Sean M. Toporek ◽  
Anthony P. Keinath
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Hybrid ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Bottle Gourd ◽  
Stem Rot ◽  
Lagenaria Siceraria ◽  
Cucurbita Maxima ◽  
Pythium Species ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Marketable Fruit

Pythium species cause root and stem rot in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), but cucurbit rootstocks used to graft watermelon have not been evaluated for resistance. P. aphanidermatum and P. myriotylum were inoculated onto 15 nongrafted watermelon, citron (Citrullus amarus), bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), and interspecific hybrid squash (Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata) cultivars in a growth chamber. Watermelon was more susceptible than bottle gourd and interspecific hybrid squash at 20 and 30°C. Twenty-one cultivars were inoculated in a field with an equal blend of both Pythium species. Interspecific hybrid squash was less susceptible than bottle gourd and watermelon in 2018 and 2019. Seedless watermelon cultivar Tri-X 313 was grafted to one citron, one bottle gourd, and three interspecific hybrid squash rootstocks. Plants were inoculated in the field as described. Grafting to interspecific hybrid squash rootstocks reduced disease incidence compared with nongrafted controls in 2018 and 2019. Mefenoxam and propamocarb applied at transplanting did not affect disease compared with non-fungicide-treated plots. Grafting to interspecific hybrid squash Camelforce significantly increased total and marketable fruit numbers and total weight in 2019 compared with the nongrafted control. In summary, interspecific hybrid squash was consistently resistant to Pythium, demonstrating resistance and utility in watermelon grafting.

scholarly journals Grafting for Management of Southern Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in Watermelon

Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (10) ◽  
pp. 1195-1199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy A. Thies ◽  
Jennifer J. Ariss ◽  
Richard L. Hassell ◽  
Steve Olson ◽  
Chandrasekar S. Kousik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meloidogyne Incognita ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Bottle Gourd ◽  
Cucurbita Moschata ◽  
Lagenaria Siceraria ◽  
Root Knot Nematode ◽  
Root Knot Nematodes ◽  
Germplasm Line ◽  
Southern Root Knot Nematode

Four bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) cultivars, one squash (Cucurbita moschata × C. maxima) hybrid, five wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) germplasm lines, and one commercial wild watermelon (C. lanatus var. citroides) cultivar were evaluated as rootstocks for cultivated watermelon (C. lanatus var. lanatus) in fields infested with the southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in Charleston, SC in 2007 and 2008, and in Quincy, FL in 2008. Commercial watermelon ‘Fiesta’ (diploid seeded) and ‘Tri-X 313’ (triploid seedless) scions were grafted onto the rootstocks in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In 2007, the plants grafted on rootstock from the wild watermelon germplasm line RKVL 318 had significantly less (P < 0.05) root galling than nongrafted ‘Fiesta’ watermelon or plants with the squash hybrid or bottle gourd rootstocks. In 2008, ‘Fiesta’ plants with rootstocks from all five wild watermelon germplasm lines and the commercial watermelon rootstock had significantly less (P < 0.05) root galling than plants with the squash hybrid or bottle gourd rootstocks. Root galling of the squash hybrid and bottle gourd rootstocks was severe (78 to 99%) in both years. Root galling for nongrafted ‘Fiesta’ and ‘Tri-X 313’ watermelon was 36 and 50%, respectively. Root galling for the wild watermelon germplasm lines ranged from 11 to 34% and 36 to 44% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Wild watermelon germplasm lines derived from C. lanatus var. citroides were identified that may be useful as resistant rootstocks for managing root-knot nematodes in watermelon.

scholarly journals Powdery Mildew Resistant Rootstocks that Impart Tolerance to Grafted Susceptible Watermelon Scion Seedlings

Plant Disease ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 102 (7) ◽  
pp. 1290-1298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandrasekar S. Kousik ◽  
Mihir Mandal ◽  
Richard Hassell
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Powdery Mildew ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
The United States ◽  
Bottle Gourd ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Podosphaera Xanthii ◽  
Lagenaria Siceraria ◽  
True Leaf

Powdery mildew (PM) is a major foliar disease causing serious economic losses of cucurbit crops grown in the United States. The pathogen Podosphaera xanthii, which causes PM, is known to infect seedlings, stems, foliage, petioles, and fruit of cucurbit crops. In recent years, grafting watermelon on resistant rootstocks for managing soilborne diseases has been gaining popularity in the U.S.A. However, grafting for managing foliar diseases has not yet received adequate attention. Three greenhouse experiments were conducted during the summer months of 2012, 2013, and 2014 to determine if PM-resistant rootstocks could impart resistance to a susceptible watermelon scion. Susceptible watermelon scion ‘Mickey Lee’ seedlings were grafted onto 25 watermelon (Citrullus lanatus, C. amarus, C. mucosospermus) and four bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) rootstocks. Grafted plants were inoculated with a 2 × 104 conidia ml−1 suspension of P. xanthii conidia and disease severity was rated 14 days after inoculation. Mickey Lee grafted on six PM-resistant watermelon rootstocks had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower PM severity on cotyledons, 2nd true leaf, and upper leaves (rating for 3rd to 7th or 8th true leaf) compared with Mickey Lee grafted on susceptible watermelon USVL677-PMS or bottle gourd USVL848-PMS rootstocks. However, some of the resistant watermelon rootstocks did not impart significant resistance to the scion. The resistant bottle gourd rootstocks USVL482-PMR and USVL351-PMR provided significantly greater levels of resistance, compared with many of the resistant watermelon rootstocks. Grafting watermelon on resistant rootstocks may help mitigate the effects of PM on susceptible scion seedlings.

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