THE EVOLUTION OF THE WATERMELONS CULTURE OVER TIME

Research into the cultivation of watermelons began many years ago. At the beginning, at RDSPCS Dăbuleni, the study of as many varieties and hybrids as possible was considered, in order to determine which ones find optimal conditions for growth and development on sandy soils and which meet the demands of the constantly changing market. Another important concern in the research activity at RDSPCS Dăbuleni was related to the obtaining of extra-early and early productions. In the traditional culture, established by direct sowing, mulching the soil with polyethylene ensured a production increase of 5.2 t/ha, 0.9 t/ha representing extra-early production, and in the seedling culture, by mulching the total production increased by 7.2 t/ha, and extra-early production increased by 2.3 t/ha compared to the non-mulched crop. Plant grafting, regardless of cultivar, rootstock and protection method, showed resistance to the attack of Fusarium oxysporum, even when crop rotation was not respected, but did not influence the attack of foliar pathogens (Alternaria cucumerina and Colletotrichum lagenarium).