Effects of Cucurbita, Lagenaria and Citrullus rootstocks on pollen and fruit characters, seed yield and quality of F1 hybrid watermelon

In the study, two commercial Cucurbita maxima×Cucurbita moschata hybrid (Nun9075 and TZ148), Lagenaria spp. hybrid (Argentario) and one local Lagenaria spp. genotype (3335) and one Citrullus amarus genotype (PI 296341) were used as rootstocks. The male and female parents of two watermelon hybrids (187×125 and 11×162) were used as scions. Ungrafted plants formed the control group and also each parent was grafted on itself. Male parents were used for pollen measurements. Fruit weight, fruit height, fruit diameter, fruit rind thickness, total soluble solid content, total number of seeds, total seed weight and 1000 seeds’ weight and seed vigor tests were carried out in fruits of female parents crossed with male parents grafted onto the same rootstock. According to results of this study, the highest pollen production was obtained from Argentario while in terms of pollen germination and pollen viability there was no difference between applications in general. It was determined that grafting on Argentario and 3335 rootstocks increased fruit height, fruit diameter, fruit rind thickness, and the amount of total soluble solid, and the best performing rootstocks in terms of fruit weight were found to be Argentario, 3335, TZ148 and NUN9075. The highest seed number, seed weight and 1000 seeds weight were obtained from those grafted on TZ148 and NUN9075 rootstocks. Although variable results were obtained in terms of early germination, there was no rootstock that came to the fore in general. There was no difference between the rootstocks regarding accelerated aging test and controlled deterioration test.