Compatibility of Pathogen-Resistant Melon Rootstocks: Effects on Fruit Yield, Quality, and Biometric Traits

Authors

  • Edicleide Macedo da Silva Department Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3196-6516
  • João Pedro Peixoto Fernandes Department of Plant Protection, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9536-8195
  • Antonio Cesar de Araujo Filho Department Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0142-9546
  • Cintya Mikaelly Pereira Gaia Souza Department Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6975-2882
  • Francismária Freitas de Lima Department Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5132-2376
  • Rafaelle Fazzi Gomes Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Capanema, PA, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8242-8104
  • Pablo Fourlan Vargas Department of Crop Production, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5718-6403
  • Glauber Henrique de Sousa Nunes Department Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7189-2283

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252025v3812736rc

Keywords:

Cucumis melo L.. Didymella bryoniae. Grafting. Root-knot nematodes.

Abstract

Grafting is an effective method for pathogen control in various crops and improved several plant and fruit characteristics. This technique has been successfully adopted in melon cultivation, particularly using rootstocks resistant to multiple diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the compatibility of melon scions with rootstocks resistant to Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum, Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, and M. enterolobii, and to assess the effects of grafting on rootstock biometry, fruit yield, and fruit quality. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replications, 16 treatments, and seven plants per plot. Production, quality, and biometric parameters were assessed. Grafting increased epicarp and mesocarp firmness, fruit shape index, and vitamin C content, while reducing fruit length, fruit width, and locule length. Compatibility analysis revealed variability in the effects on measured traits, based on the general combining ability observed for scions JAB20-11 and 'Olimpic Express'. Grafting did not affect the total number of fruits or total fruit weight, while rootstock PI482398 exhibited the most favorable general combining ability for fruit length.

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Published

06-10-2025

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Scientific Article