Growth and Yield of Cantaloupe Cultivars and their Responses to Polyethylene Mulch and Ethephon Application

Producing cantaloupe fruits for early in the spring is very important in terms of price. Suitable cultivars, polyethylene mulch (PM) and ethephon are amongst the candidate. The present study compares three cantaloupe cultivars and evaluate their responses to interactive effects of PM and ethephon. ‘Galia’ showed low vigor and ‘Annans’ produced more fruit yield, compared with other cultivars. In terms of fruit earliness, ‘Galia’ was very early, ‘Shapasandi’ early and ‘Annanas’ was late. ‘Galia’ and ‘Sahapasandi’ had better shelf life. PM increased soil temperature (5o C), relative water content (27%), leaf area (43%), shoot fresh mass (20%) and fruit yield (40%). Interactive effect of PM and ethephon was significant for fruit yield and earliness. Under no PM, ethephon decreased fruit yield by 22%, whereas this was only 15% when mulch was used. Higher yield was produced in all cultivars when PM was used; ‘Galia’ (41.2 t h-1), ‘Shapasandi’ (33 t h-1) and ‘Annanas’ (42 t h-1) with 7 days earliness and the earliest fruits were obtained when PM was used with ethephon (10-13 days earlier). However, ‘Galia’, with low growth vigor, high yield and harvest index could be introduced for early fruit production.