Effects of different rootstocks on seed yield and quality of triploid watermelon grown in greenhouse

This study was carried out at the experimental greenhouse and laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Cukurova during the growing season of 2017. Nun-9075 from Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata group, Argentario from Lagenaria group and PI296341 coded watermelon - Citrullus lanatus var. citroides were used as rootstocks, Tetraploid ST 101 and diploid WL 92 lines were used as scions and two parents were grafted onto each rootstock. In control, the seedlings from these plants were grown without grafting (non-grafted plants). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different rootstocks on fruit/seed yield and quality of tetraploid female parent pollinated with diploid male parent. In the study, plant height, main stem diameter, number of nodes, total fruit yield, average fruit weight, average fruit height, average fruit diameter, fruit rind thickness, total soluble solids (TSS), seed yield, weight of 1000 seeds, seed coat/embryo ratio, seed germination and seed emergence tests were examined. According to the results of this research, plant growth, the total fruit yield, seed yield and the other fruit parameters of the ST 101 tetraploid female parent observed to be higher in Nun-9075, Argentario and PI296341 rootstocks, respectively, and TSS value was found to be higher in control (non-grafted) plants. In terms of seed germination and emergence ratio and duration, there were no significant differences between rootstocks.