EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ROOTSTOCKS ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF GRAFTED MELON PLANTS

Melon (Cucumis melo L. var. cantalupensis) cultivars ‘Falez’ and ‘Galia C-8’ were grafted onto seven different rootstocks: Benincasa hispida (BH), Cucurbita ficifolia (CF), Luffa cylindrical (LC) and Cucumis melo var. inodorus ‘Kirkagac 637’ (KA637), rootstocks that are open pollinated genotypes; rootstocks RS841, P360 and TZ148 Cucurbita species rootstocks, are hybrid genotypes. The ungrafted ‘Falez’ and ‘Galia C-8’ cultivars were used as control. The grafted melons and the ungrafted control plants were compared as regarded to early and total yield and quality parameters. It was determined that grafted plants onto P360, RS841 and TZ148 had much more early and total yield than ungrafted control plants. P360, RS841 and TZ148 are suitable rootstock for ‘Falez’ F₁ and ‘Galia C-8’ melon cultivar. However, K637 can be suggested to be used as a rootstock for ‘Falez’ F₁ melon cultivar.