SURVEY ON COMPATIBILITY OF MELON (Cucumis melo L.) AND CANTALOUPE (Cucumis melo var. cantaloupensis) LATERAL BRANCHES GRAFTED ONTO CUCURBITA ROOTSTOCKS

Abstract

The study was conducted at the experimental farm of Can Tho University, aimed to determine the compatibility of melon and cantaloupe propagated by grafting lateral branches onto Cucurbita rootstocks for the best grafting survival rate, growth, yield and fruit quality. The experiment was arranged in a 2-factorial design with 4 replications, each replication had 5 plants. Factor 1 was 2 scion cultivars: (i) Melon (Kim Hong Ngoc), (ii) Cantaloupe (Kim Ngoc Duong) and factor 2 was 3 rootstocks: (i) “Gang” melon, (ii) Wax gourd, (iii) Luffa. The results showed that melon and cantaloupe grafted onto Cucrurbita rootstocks were similar in compatibility, were not significantly different in terms of survival rate 10 days after grafting, fruit weight of grafted melon was better than the grafted cantaloupe, fruit yield (fluctuated 14.9-15.9 tons/ha), fruit bearing rate was equivalent to 78.3%, yield components, plant growth (stem length, number of leaves, leaf size and rootstock diameter/scion diameter). The melon fruit quality (fruit flesh thickness and Brix) was higher than that of cantaloupe. Grafted plants with wax gourd and “Gang” melon rootstocks were similar in compatibility, had statistically lower survival rates 10 days after grafting than those grafted with luffa rootstocks, but had statistically higher than those grafted with luffa rootstock in terms of fruit yield (19.6-19.9 t/ha, approximately 2.9 times higher), fruit bearing rate (more than 2 times), yield components, plant growth and fruit flesh thickness. Luffa rootstock was compatible in nursery (highest survival rate) and not compatible from transplanting to harvesting.