Effects of Grafting with Different Rootstocks on Fruit Yield and Quality of Muskmelon Under Continuous Cropping

Fusarium wilt disease as one of the most serious soil-borne hazards is a threat to the development of melon (Cucumis melo L.) production in southern China. Grafting is a promising approach to control melon fusarium wilt disease, but it often leads to a deterioration in fruit quality. An ideal rootstock for grafting should not only effectively control melon fusarium wilt disease but also enhance both yield and fruit quality, at least without causing significant adverse effects. As seed companies continue to extend the rootstock varieties, selecting the most suitable rootstock for the primary melon cultivars is very important for the development of the melon industry. Using two primary muskmelon cultivars ‘ZheTian 105’ (ZT105) and ‘ZheTian 401’ (ZT401) in Zhejiang Province as scion, and taking one squash (interspecific hybrids between Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata) ‘Sizhuang No.12’ (SZ12) and four melon ‘YongZhen No 9’(YZ9), ‘XiaTe’ (XT), ‘ZhenTian No 1’ (ZT1) and ‘T1-151’ (T1) as rootstock, the yield and fruit quality including total soluble solid content(SSC), flesh texture and flavor of grafted melon were measured, compared with non-grafted melon. The results indicated there was no significant difference in single fruit weight among the grafted melon and non-grafted melon, while the yield of most grafted melon was significantly higher than that of non-grafted melon. No significant differences were observed in SSC and flesh texture among the grafted and non-grafted melon. The fruit of the “ZT401/SZ12” combination exhibited peculiar odors reminiscent of pumpkin flavor, negatively affecting edibility, whereas the fruit of the “ZT105/SZ12” combination did not. Considering both yield and fruit quality, the results indicated that the squash rootstock “SZ12” and the melon rootstocks “ZT1” are suitable for grafting with the muskmelon cultivar “ZT105”, while the melon rootstocks “ZT1” and “T1” are appropriate for grafting with the muskmelon cultivar “ZT401”.