ISHS Acta Horticulturae 492: I International Symposium on Cucurbits
EFFECTS OF POPULATION DENSITY ON FRUIT AND SEED PRODUCTION IN MUSKMELONS |
| Author: | H. NERSON |
| Abstract:
In a field trial, muskmelon (cv. Noy Yizre'el) was grown in three different spacings, 0.5, 2.0 and 8.0 plants/m2 to determine the effects on fruit and seed production. Both fruit and seed yields were increased by increasing plant population. Fruit yields were 3.6, 4.1 and 5.1 kg/m2 and seed yields were 38.51 and 73 g/m2 in the spacings 0.5, 2.0 and 8.0 plants/m2, respectively. The highest population density produced the lowest marketable fruit yield. Unacceptable small fruits (< 1 kg) were 37 %, 43 % and 75 % of the total yield in the low, medium and high plant density, respectively. In contrast, seed size (1000 weight) was increased by increasing plant population density, mainly in the two lower fruit size grades (< 500 and 500–1000 g). There were significant differences in germinability among seeds from different fruit size grades. It is concluded that different populations are required for maximal marketable fruit yield (about 2 plants/m2) and seed yield (about 8 plants/m2). | |
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