A. Korkmaz et Rj. Dufault, Developmental consequences of cold temperature stress at transplanting on seedling and field growth aad yield. I. Watermelon, J AM S HORT, 126(4), 2001, pp. 404-409
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Plant Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb,) Matsum. and Nakai) seedlings transpl
anted before the last frost date may be exposed to temperatures alternating
between freezing and optimal until field temperatures finally stabilize. C
old stress may ultimately reduce growth and yield. To simulate such tempera
ture alternations that occur naturally after field transplanting, diploid '
Carnival' watermelon seedlings were exposed immediately before field planti
ng to cyclic cold temperature stress at 2 +/- 1 degreesC then transferred t
o a greenhouse at 29 +/- 5 degreesC. In 1997, transplants were exposed to 2
degreesC from 3 to 81 hours and in 1998, exposure ranged from 9 to 81 hour
s. Cold-stressed seedlings were field planted after all potential risk of c
old stress in the field had passed. In 1997, cold stress decreased seedling
shoot and root fresh and dry weights, leaf area, chlorophyll and carbohydr
ate contents but not seedling height. In 1998, all seedling growth variable
s decreased in response to longer durations of cold stress. Plants cold str
essed for up to 81 hours transpired more for I week after transplanting tha
n those exposed to shorter periods of cold stress. In both years, vining (d
ate first runner touched the ground), flowering, and fruit set were delayed
significantly as cold stress hours increased. Although early yields were u
naffected, total yields decreased linearly in both years with increasing ho
urs of cold, with 38 to 40 hours of cold stress reducing yield 10% in both
years. Data indicate that 'Carnival' watermelon transplants exposed to cold
stress soon after transplanting may suffer yield reductions.