Horticulturae

Research

10 pages, 1351 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Grafting and Plant Density Influence Tomato Production in Organic Farming System

by Federica Caradonia, Enrico Francia, Vincenzo Alfano and Domenico Ronga

Horticulturae 2023, 9(6), 669; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060669 - 5 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1164

The tomato is a key crop cultivated worldwide for the fresh and processing markets. Only a small percentage of the tomatoes processed by industries were produced following the guidelines of the organic farming system. Potential reasons for the limited share of organic tomato [...] Read more.

The tomato is a key crop cultivated worldwide for the fresh and processing markets. Only a small percentage of the tomatoes processed by industries were produced following the guidelines of the organic farming system. Potential reasons for the limited share of organic tomato production are probably related to the lower yield obtained in organic farming in comparison with conventional farming. In this study, the use of the cherry tomato genotype ‘Tomito’ as a rootstock and two different plant densities (2.5 and 1.25 plant m⁻²) were evaluated in order to improve the agronomic performances of the commercial processing tomato genotype ‘H3402′ cultivated in the organic farming system. Agronomic and quality parameters were assessed at harvest time. The plant density influenced the plant biometric parameters, mass and marketable yield, and fruit health and quality. The use of a rootstock improved the marketable yield per plant (more than 59%), with the quality of the fruit decreasing the number of sunburnt fruits (−27.7%). The use of the ‘Tomito’ as a rootstock and a plant density of 2.5 plant m⁻² are the better choices to achieve good performances in optimal environmental conditions. However, further studies are required to validate these results both in other environments and using different scions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grafting to Improve Yield and Quality of Vegetable Crops)

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10 pages, 297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Seed and Fruit Characteristics of Lagenaria siceraria on Production and Quality of Grafted Watermelon

by Angel Manuel Suárez-Hernández, Onecimo Grimaldo-Juárez, Carlos Ceceña-Durán, Juan Carlos Vázquez-Angulo, Laura Dennisse Carrazco-Peña, Leonel Avendaño-Reyes, Carlos Enrique Ail-Catzim, Ulin Antobelli Basilio-Cortes and Azareel Angulo-Castro

Horticulturae 2022, 8(3), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8030242 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2334

Abstract

The use of Lagenaria siceraria rootstocks in watermelon production has favored fruit yield and quality under conditions of environmental stress. However, it is necessary to know if the differential characteristics of fruit and seed L. siceraria are related to watermelon yield and fruit [...] Read more.

The use of Lagenaria siceraria rootstocks in watermelon production has favored fruit yield and quality under conditions of environmental stress. However, it is necessary to know if the differential characteristics of fruit and seed L. siceraria are related to watermelon yield and fruit in grafted plant. The objective was to evaluate two dissimilar groups of Mexican L. siceraria as rootstock in Tri-X 33 watermelon variety to relationship the morphological characteristics of rootstock with productive variables and fruit quality. The treatments were Tri-X 313 variety ungrafted and grafted with accessions of group 1 (L46 and L56) and group 2 (L48, L50 and L54). Variables evaluated were fruit and yield and quality parameters. No differences were found between groups of L. siceraria in fruit yield and external quality parameters. With the exception of pulp firmness and luminosity, LG1 surpassed group LG2 by 30.7 and 5.0%, respectively. While, when comparing grafted and ungrafted plants, it was found that grafted plants were superior, with increases of 277.8% in number of fruits per m², 330.2% in commercial production, 54.6% in rind thickness, 85.2% in external firmness and 36.3% in chroma value of fruit pulp. Meanwhile, pulp percentage and hue were reduced by 13.8% and 15.5%, respectively, in grafted watermelons. Thus, the seed and fruit characteristics are not sufficient criteria to select L. siceraria rootstocks for watermelon production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grafting to Improve Yield and Quality of Vegetable Crops)

12 pages, 1407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Light Spectrum Variably Affects the Acclimatization of Grafted Watermelon Seedlings While Maintaining Fruit Quality

by Filippos Bantis, Christodoulos Dangitsis, Anastasios S. Siomos and Athanasios Koukounaras

Horticulturae 2022, 8(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8010010 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2538

Abstract

In many countries of Europe and Eastern Asia, watermelon production is mainly based on the use of grafted seedlings. Upon grafting, seedlings undergo a period of healing where artificial lighting is provided by light-emitting diodes in controlled chambers in order to accelerate and [...] Read more.

In many countries of Europe and Eastern Asia, watermelon production is mainly based on the use of grafted seedlings. Upon grafting, seedlings undergo a period of healing where artificial lighting is provided by light-emitting diodes in controlled chambers in order to accelerate and improve the healing process. The objective of our study was to test the effect of light quality on the final product (i.e., seedlings ready for transplanting) in the nursery, as well as to evaluate the possible implications on fruit quality after field cultivation. Narrow-band blue (B) and red (R) wavelengths, 64–36% R-B (36B), 76–24% R-B (24B), 88–12% R-B (12B), and 83–12% R-B plus 5% far-red (12B+FR) wavelengths were tested. 12B+FR enhanced the root dry weight, root architecture, and maximum photosynthetic rate, while RB combinations generally showed better root system development with increased blue portion. R light induced inferior root dry weight and quality indices (root/shoot and shoot–dry–weight/length ratios), lower gas exchange parameters, and chlorophyll content, but high shoot length and leaf area. B light led to inferior root architecture, lower stem diameter, leaf area, and maximum photosynthetic rate. Both R and B wavelengths showed decreased concentration of macronutrients and trace elements. After field cultivation, fruit quality (i.e., morphology and color), and valuable nutritive characteristics (i.e., phenolics, carotenoids, lycopene, antioxidants) maintained high quality irrespective of light treatments. Overall, 12B+FR performed well in almost all qualitative parameters including the morphology, the root development, and photosynthesis, while also maintaining high fruit quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grafting to Improve Yield and Quality of Vegetable Crops)

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12 pages, 275 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Morphological and Physio-Biochemical Responses of Watermelon Grafted onto Rootstocks of Wild Watermelon [Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad] and Commercial Interspecific Cucurbita Hybrid to Drought Stress

by Mahdi Bikdeloo, Giuseppe Colla, Youssef Rouphael, Mohammad Reza Hassandokht, Forouzandeh Soltani, Reza Salehi, Pradeep Kumar and Mariateresa Cardarelli

Horticulturae 2021, 7(10), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7100359 - 3 Oct 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3058

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the morphological and physio-biochemical responses of a commercial watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) cv. ‘Crimson Sweet’ grafted onto a drought-tolerant rootstock of wild watermelon (bitter apple, Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad, ‘Esfahan’) in comparison with an [...] Read more.

This study aimed to assess the morphological and physio-biochemical responses of a commercial watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) cv. ‘Crimson Sweet’ grafted onto a drought-tolerant rootstock of wild watermelon (bitter apple, Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad, ‘Esfahan’) in comparison with an ungrafted ‘Crimson Sweet’ watermelon or one grafted onto a commercial interspecific Cucurbita hybrid (Cucurbita maxima Duch. × Cucurbita moschata Duch.) rootstock (‘Shintoza’) under water stress. The experiment was conducted in pots under a controlled environment in a greenhouse, and water stress was imposed by maintaining moisture level in pots at 100% (well water (WW)) or 50% (water deficit (WD)) of container capacity (CC). WD significantly decreased most of the morphological traits in ungrafted and grafted plants, while the decrease in growth traits was lower in grafted plants than ungrafted plants. The response of grafted plants onto wild watermelon rootstock (‘Esfahan’) for most of the affected parameters (shoot fresh and dry weight, vine length and internodal length) was, however, comparable to those grafted onto commercial Cucurbita hybrid rootstock (‘Shintoza’). Plants grafted onto bitter apple (wild watermelon) exhibited a relatively lower decrease in growth and biomass, besides showing higher antioxidant activity (e.g., guaiacol peroxidase) concomitant with the lower accumulation of malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage in the leaf tissues in comparison with ungrafted plants. The overall growth performance, as well as those under water stress conditions in commercial rootstock-grafted watermelon, was related to its better plant water status (e.g., high relative water content) which was likely ascertained by its greater root efficiency. This suggests that watermelons grafted onto bitter apple rootstock and Cucurbita hybrid rootstock were constitutively more resistant to drought, with higher efficiency in mitigating oxidative stress than ungrafted treatment. The above findings demonstrated that bitter apple, a well-adapted desert species, can be used as an alternative rootstock to commercial rootstocks (e.g., ‘Shintoza’) for watermelon grafting under water stress conditions. In addition, bitter apple rootstock can be involved in rootstock breeding programs to improve drought tolerance in watermelon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grafting to Improve Yield and Quality of Vegetable Crops)

15 pages, 521 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Biostimulatory Action of Vegetal Protein Hydrolysate and the Configuration of Fruit Physicochemical Characteristics in Grafted Watermelon

by Georgios A. Soteriou, Youssef Rouphael, Maria G. Emmanouilidou, Chrystalla Antoniou, Angelos C. Kyratzis and Marios C. Kyriacou

Horticulturae 2021, 7(9), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7090313 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1848

Abstract

Foliar application of a vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate as a biostimulant was assessed for possible interaction with the ripening of diploid watermelon grafted onto interspecific hybrid rootstock. Assessment encompassed crop performance; fruit morphometric and sensory quality traits; soluble carbohydrates; macrominerals; and bioactive composition at [...] Read more.

Foliar application of a vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate as a biostimulant was assessed for possible interaction with the ripening of diploid watermelon grafted onto interspecific hybrid rootstock. Assessment encompassed crop performance; fruit morphometric and sensory quality traits; soluble carbohydrates; macrominerals; and bioactive composition at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days post anthesis (dpa). The biostimulant effect on yield components was confounded by the vigorous rootstock effect. Pulp firmness declined precipitously with cell enlargement from 10 to 30 dpa, and the biostimulant phyto-hormonal potential on firmness and rind thickness was masked by grafting. Pulp colorimetry was determined solely by ripening and peaked at 40 dpa. The biostimulant effect reduced lycopene content by 8% compared to the control. Total sugars coevolved with soluble solids content, peaked at 30 dpa, and then stabilized. Fructose and glucose prevailed during rapid fruit growth from 10 to 30 dpa and sucrose prevailed at advanced ripeness between 40–50 dpa, whereas acidity peaked at 20 dpa and then decreased. Potassium, which was the most abundant micromineral, peaked before full ripeness at 30 dpa. The biostimulant effect on the watermelon fruit ripening process is not granted, at least regarding the conditions this study was carried out under. The absence of biostimulant effect might relate to rootstock vigorousness, the grafted watermelon physiology, or the type of biostimulant used. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grafting to Improve Yield and Quality of Vegetable Crops)

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13 pages, 756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exogenous Treatments to Enhance Splice-Grafted Watermelon Survival

by Pinki Devi, Lisa Wasko DeVetter, Scott Lukas and Carol Miles

Horticulturae 2021, 7(7), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7070197 - 16 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3213

Abstract

This study evaluated the use of splice grafting as a propagation strategy for watermelon. In experiment 1, the treatments consisted of sucrose, antitranspirant A, antitranspirant B, auxin (indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)) at two concentrations (10 and 20 mg·L⁻¹), plus a water control. [...] Read more.

This study evaluated the use of splice grafting as a propagation strategy for watermelon. In experiment 1, the treatments consisted of sucrose, antitranspirant A, antitranspirant B, auxin (indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)) at two concentrations (10 and 20 mg·L⁻¹), plus a water control. The survival (%) of splice-grafted watermelon plants differed due to the number of days after grafting and treatment (p < 0.0001, for both). At 21 days after grafting, plants treated with sucrose and antitranspirant A, and sucrose and antitranspirant A with 10 mg·L⁻¹ auxin had 90% and 88% survival, respectively, whereas the graft survival was 18% for plants treated with water. Experiment 2 included the three top performing treatments from experiment 1 and a water control treatment, applied to both root-intact and root-excised rootstocks. There was a significant difference in survival (%) of splice-grafted watermelon due to root treatments, exogenous treatments, and the number of days after grafting (p < 0.0001, for all). At 21 days after grafting, survival for root-excised grafted plants was 11% lower compared to root-intact plants. Plants treated with sucrose and antitranspirant A, and sucrose and antitranspirant A with 10 mg·L⁻¹ auxin had 87% and 86% survival, respectively, whereas plants treated with water had 14% survival. The external application of auxin applied to rootstock seedlings does not appear to be cost-effective; however, other products should be evaluated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grafting to Improve Yield and Quality of Vegetable Crops)

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14 pages, 280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fruit Yield and Physicochemical Quality Evaluation of Hybrid and Grafted Field-Grown Muskmelon in Pennsylvania

by Elsa Sánchez, Robert Pollock, Timothy Elkner, Thomas Butzler and Francesco Di Gioia

Horticulturae 2021, 7(4), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7040069 - 3 Apr 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3814

Abstract

Selecting vegetable cultivars suitable to local environmental conditions and with quality traits desired by the evolving market and consumer needs is an important production decision farmers face annually. As seed companies continue to expand their offerings of new cultivars and rootstocks, selecting the [...] Read more.

Selecting vegetable cultivars suitable to local environmental conditions and with quality traits desired by the evolving market and consumer needs is an important production decision farmers face annually. As seed companies continue to expand their offerings of new cultivars and rootstocks, selecting the best cultivar and/or scion/rootstock combination can be challenging for farmers. Land-grant universities, through their integrated research and extension programs, can provide an unbiased, science-based evaluation of the available cultivar and rootstock options to assist farmers in making this important selection. A two-year study was conducted to evaluate 20 hybrid cultivars and two grafted entries of muskmelons at three locations in Pennsylvania in 2018 and 2019 to provide farmers with science-based recommendations focused on fruit yield and physicochemical quality characteristics. Most cultivars did not differ in fruit yields from the standard “Aphrodite”. “Sugar Cube” produced more, smaller sized melons than “Aphrodite”. However, the combination of the soluble solids concentration, flesh pH, and titratable acidity values was not as favorable, indicating that consumer preference may be lower for “Sugar Cube” than for other cultivars. Yield from grafted entries was not different from the non-grafted “Aphrodite”; although, biotic and abiotic stressors favoring the use of grafting were not present throughout the study. Physicochemical evaluation of the combination of “Aphrodite” scion and “Flexifort” rootstock was more favorable than “Aphrodite/RS841” and non-grafted “Aphrodite”. This combination may be desirable even in the absence of yield stressors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grafting to Improve Yield and Quality of Vegetable Crops)

14 pages, 621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Grafting Improves Fruit Yield of Cucumber Plants Grown under Combined Heat and Soil Salinity Stresses

by Yousry Bayoumi, Emad Abd-Alkarim, Hassan El-Ramady, Farouk El-Aidy, El-Samahy Hamed, Naglaa Taha, Jaime Prohens and Mohamed Rakha

Horticulturae 2021, 7(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7030061 - 23 Mar 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4435

Abstract

Improving the productivity of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants subjected to combined salinity and heat stresses is a significant challenge, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Gianco F1 cucumbers were grafted onto five cucurbit rootstocks and, together with an ungrafted control, were [...] Read more.

Improving the productivity of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants subjected to combined salinity and heat stresses is a significant challenge, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Gianco F1 cucumbers were grafted onto five cucurbit rootstocks and, together with an ungrafted control, were grown in Egypt in a net house with saline soil during the summer season over two years. The vegetative growth, yield, quality, biochemical, and mineral composition traits were measured. Although many differences were observed among treatments, in general, the grafted plants had a performance better than or similar to that of the ungrafted plants, based on the different parameters measured. In particular, the cucumber plants grafted onto the Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata interspecific hybrid rootstocks VSS-61 F1 and Ferro had the highest early and total marketable yields. These two rootstocks consistently conferred higher vigor to the scion, which had lower flower abortion rates and higher chlorophyll contents. The fruit quality and N, P, and K composition in the leaves suffered few relevant changes as compared with the control. However, the leaves of the VSS-61 F1 had higher catalase activity, as well as proline and Se contents, while those of Ferro had higher Si content. This study reveals that the grafting of cucumber plants onto suitable rootstocks may mitigate the adverse effects caused by the combination of saline soil and heat stresses. This represents a significant improvement for cucumber cultivation in saline soil under high-temperature stress conditions in arid regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grafting to Improve Yield and Quality of Vegetable Crops)

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