Response of squash (Cucurbita spp.) as rootstock for melon (Cucumis melo L.)

The effects of different Cucurbita spp. rootstocks on melon cultivars belon ging to different horticultural groups were studied by comparing grafted pl ants with non-grafted ones under greenhouse and open field growing conditio ns. Winter melons (Cucumis melo L.) of the Inodorus group, cvs. 'Thraki','P eplo' and 'Lefko Amynteou', and a summer melon of the Cantalupensis group, cv. 'Kokkini Banana', were used as scions. The commercial hybrids of Cucurb ita spp. 'TZ-148' and 'Mamouth' and the landrace of winter squash (C. mosch ata L.) 'Kalkabaki' were used as rootstocks. The commercial rootstocks were compatible with all scion cultivars tested, while the landrace was compati ble with the three cultivars but with lower survival ratios. Generally, dif ferences in stem diameter between Cucurbita and Cucumis reduced the surviva l ratio of grafts. Fruit yield was not affected by any rootstock. Descripti ve and qualitative characteristics of the fruit of the grafted plants were similar to those of the intact ones, except for taste and texture, which sh owed a remarkable deterioration in some of the stock/scion combinations tri ed. The deterioration was more severe under protection. However, all Cucurb ita spp. rootstocks were found acceptable for honeydew melons (cv. 'Lefko A mynteou'), with C. moschata (cv. 'Kalkabaki') being the best. The landrace of C. moschata is recommended as a source of breeding material for rootstoc ks of honeydew melons. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.