Production and quality of grafted watermelon in saline soil

ABSTRACT Salinity of soil in arid and semiarid regions is a problem that affects the production and quality of fruit. That’s while we evaluated grafting on watermelon plants as an alternative to reduce the salinity effects. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, three treatments (cultivars Sangria, Summer Flavor 800 and Summer Flavor 840) with three repetitions. The cultivars were evaluated in grafted and ungrafted condition. The rootstock used for grafting was the interspecific hybrid Strong Tosa (C. maxima x C. moschata). In average terms for the three cultivars, grafting increased commercial production, weight, length and diameter of fruits in 160.5%, 36.5%, 12.0% and 7.5%, respectively. Sangria presented the best answer in production with 57.1 t ha-1, weight 5.8 kg, length 35.0 cm and diameter 17.8 cm of fruits. Also, grafting favored in 6.3% the luminosity and reduced 6.4% Hue angle. Summer Flavor 840 showed the best result in luminosity with 48.3 and hue angle 26.4°. Firmness, °Brix and lycopene content were not modified by grafting. Grafting represents an alternative for watermelon production in saline soils, improving yield and quality of the fruits.