CHANGES IN WATERMELON QUALITY DUE TO THE PLANTING DENSITY AT BENCH BED SYSTEM IN A PLASTIC GREENHOUSE

The study was carried out to investigate changes in watermelon quality in accordance with planting density in high bench bed in the summer season. Two planting densities: one crop planting per bed (treatment A) and two crops planting per bed (treatment B) were used in our experiment. Watermelon were planted onto the growing beds on May 8 and harvested on July 25. To compare quality of watermelon, fruit size and weight were measured. Phytochemicals such as ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, sugar content and acidity were analyzed. Plant growth and mean fruit weight were increased by treatment A. Treatment A also led to enhance content of phenolic compounds in the pulp, however flavonoids were higher in plants grown by treatment B. Lower planting density of watermelon grown by the high bench bed system led to enhance growth and yield of watermelon in greenhouses conditions at summer season.