Two field trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of pruning and planting density on yield and fruit quality of two melon hybrids. The work was done in Mossoró, Brazil, in the period of 06/01 to 08/11/98. The hybrids Orange flesh and Hy Mark were studied and the planting densities of 20,000; 30,000; 40,000 and 50,000 plants ha-1, in factorial outline 2 x 4. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with four replications. There was significant interaction among pruning and hybrid for medium weight of fruits, format relationship and total soluble solids and between pruning and planting density for the total number of fruits and number of unmarketable fruits. The hybrid submitted to the pruning provided larger productivity, with the hybrid Orange Flesh and Hy Mark presenting 25.96 Mag ha-1 on average. The yield and the medium weight of fruits decreased with the increase of the planting density. The total number of marketable fruits increased in function of the planting density. The hybrid Orange Flesh submitted to pruning presented the largest format relationship with index of 1.09, while the hybrid Hy Mark presented the smallest with index of 1.04. The hybrid Hy Mark submitted to pruning presented the largest level of total soluble solids (8,99%).
Cucumis melo; pruning; plant population; soluble solids
