Influences of plant density and fruit thinning on watermelon hybrid production cultivated in different seasons

Campos, Antônio Marcos D; Luz, José Magno Q; Santana, Denise G.; Marquez, Guilherme R

doi:10.1590/S0102-053620190408

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Research • Hortic. Bras. 37 (4) • Oct-Dec 2019 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-053620190408 copy

Influences of plant density and fruit thinning on watermelon hybrid production cultivated in different seasons

Densidade de plantas e desbaste de frutos na produção de híbridos de melancia, em diferentes épocas

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Brazilian watermelon productivity is not efficient when compared to the largest producer countries, due to abiotic and biotic factors. Some of the difficulties are because of a small number of studies on this crop in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of plant density and fruit thinning on two commercial watermelon hybrids (Talisman and Youlie), using trials which were carried out in two different seasons (April - July and August - November). The experiment was conducted in Uberlândia-MG and consisted of two managements of fruit position (A-basal and B-distal) and four plant densities (3,000, 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 plants/ha). In season 1, the distal management was the most productive in relation to all cultivation densities. The distal management shows higher productivity in both hybrids, with greater increase in mass, productivity and ⁰Brix content in hybrid Talisman, however with lower density, firmness and internal cavity compared to hybrid Youlie. Weather conditions determined the influence of fruit management on watermelon crop. Cultivation during the hottest period and with a better water supply (season 2), basal management (A) showed a performance similar to the distal management. At this time, hybrid Talisman surpassed hybrid Youlie concerning productivity, average mass, fruit density, firmness and internal cavity. In both seasons, higher densities are related to higher productivities. Hybrid Talisman showed higher productivity in cultivation from April to July (season 1) under distal fruit management.

Keywords:
Citrullus lanatus; spacing; fruit position; hybrids

Hybrids	Mass (kg)		Fruit density		Firmness (lb)		Internal cavity (note)		Productivity (t/ha)
	Management		Management			Management		Management		Management
	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
Talisman	9.3aB	11.8aA	0.83aA	0.78bB	2.30aA	1.90bB	6.1aA	5.5bA	41.2aB	52.6aA
Youlie	8.5aB	9.4bA	0.80aA	0.82aA	1.97aA	2.21aA	5.5aB	6.4aA	38.0aB	42.1bA
DMS	0.78	0.78	0.034	0.034	0.32	0.32	0.69	0.69	3.5	3.5
CVS (%)	9.48		6.7		29.22		20.39		10.17

Management	⁰ Brix (%)	Color (note)
A	10.03 b	5.39 b
B	10.44 a	5.67 a
DMS	0.37	0.28
CV (%)	6.31	15.22
Hybrids
Talisman	10.04 b	5.51 a
Youlie	10.43 a	5.53 a
DMS	0.37	0.09
CV (%)	6.31	15.22

Management	Productivity (t/ha)	Weight (kg)	Fruit density	⁰ Brix (%)	Firmness (lb)	Color (note)	Internal cavity (note)
Basal (A)	42.6 a	9.49 a	0.84 a	8.90 a	2.33 a	5.80 a	7.30 a
Distal (B)	42.8 a	9.55 a	0.84 a	8.91 a	2.33 a	5.34 b	7.52 a
Hybrids
Talisman	45.39 a	10.2 a	0.87 a	8.74 b	2.47 a	5.64 a	7.81 a
Youlie	40.12 b	8.9 b	0.82 b	9.07 a	2.19 b	5.49 a	7.0 b
DMS	2.63	0.58	0.03	0.26	0.15	0.40	0.38
CVS (%)	15.82	17.04	5.93	6.13	19.62	13.84	10.22

Associação Brasileira de Horticultura Embrapa Hortaliças, C. Postal 218, 70275-970 Brasília-DF, Tel. (61) 3385 9099, Tel. (81) 3320 6064, www.abhorticultura.com.br - Vitoria da Conquista - BA - Brazil
E-mail: associacaohorticultura@gmail.com

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[TFN1] Averages followed by lowercase letters in column and uppercase letters in line do not differ significantly (Tukey test, 5%); Management A (basal: fruit setting up to the 8^th node); management B (distal: fruit setting between the 12 ^th and 16 ^th node).