Evaluating Fruit Quantity and Quality of Grafted and Non-grafted two Local Muskmelon

The present experiment was carried out to evaluate fruit qualitative and quantitative characteristics of two local muskmelons (Cucumis melo Gr. Cantalupensis) “Samsoori” and “Saveh”. A completely randomized block design (RCBD) with 10 treatments and three replications was used for this purpose at research field of Jahad-e-Daneshgahi، Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources، University of Tehran، Karaj in 2009. Five commercial cucurbit rootstocks (Ace، Shintozwa، ShintoHongto، Zuktozwa and Ferro) were used as rootstocks. Ace، Shintozwa and ShintoHongto were used as rootstocks for Saveh and Samsori، and Zuktozwa and Ferro were applied as rootstocks just for Samsori. Non-grafted plants were used as control. The results showed that the rootstock had a significant effect on total fruit and marketable fruit number، marketable fruit yield and total soluble solids of Samsori accession. In Saveh accession، the rootstock had a significant effect on mean and marketable fruit weight and fruit thickness. According to mean results، the maximum marketable fruit number (5. 68) belonged to Samsori grafted onto Shintozwa rootstock. Samsori grafted on Shintozwa rootstock had a high marketable yield of 10. 85 kg. Samsori grafted on different rootstocks had the highest TSS in comparison with non-grafted Samsori and produced sweetest fruits with high brix. The heaviest marketable fruit (3. 23 Kg) belonged to Saveh grafted onto Ace rootstock. Saveh accession grafted on Ace rootstock along with non-grafted Saveh had the highest fruit thickness.