EFFECT OF GRAFTING ON SURVIVAL OF CUCUMBER, WATERMELON AND MELON PLANTS GRAFTED ONTO CUCURBITA SPP. ROOTSTOCKS BY HOLE INSERTION GRAFTING

Three experiments were simultaneously conducted to determine the effect of hole insertion grafting on survival of cucumber, watermelon and melon plants grafted onto Cucurbita spp. rootstocks. Three rootstocks were used: a summer squash landrace (Cucurbita pepo L.), a winter squash landrace (Cucurbita moschata L.) and a fig-leaf gourd commercial rootstock (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche). Survival rate of grafted plants was significantly affected by rootstock (p≤0.01). The method hole insertion grafting was highly effective in watermelon and cucumber (90-95% survival ratio), when summer and winter squash were applied as rootstocks. Fig-leaf rootstock was not found highly effective even for cucumber with hole insertion grafting (87% survival ratio). Corresponding rates for melon were found lower, especially with the fig-leaf rootstock (55-80%).