Assessing Quantitative Criteria for Characterization of Quality Categories for Grafted Watermelon Seedlings
Vegetable grafting is a practice employed worldwide since it helps prevent biotic and abiotic disorders, and watermelon is one of the most important species grafted. The objective of this study was to set critical limits for the characterization of quality categories for grafted watermelon seedlings...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2019-02-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/5/1/16 |
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| author | Filippos Bantis Athanasios Koukounaras Anastasios Siomos Georgios Menexes Christodoulos Dangitsis Damianos Kintzonidis |
| author_facet | Filippos Bantis Athanasios Koukounaras Anastasios Siomos Georgios Menexes Christodoulos Dangitsis Damianos Kintzonidis |
| author_sort | Filippos Bantis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vegetable grafting is a practice employed worldwide since it helps prevent biotic and abiotic disorders, and watermelon is one of the most important species grafted. The objective of this study was to set critical limits for the characterization of quality categories for grafted watermelon seedlings. Specifically, watermelon (scion) seedlings were grafted onto squash (rootstock) seedlings, moved into a healing chamber for 7 days, and then transferred into a greenhouse for seven more days. At 7 and 14 days after grafting, experienced personnel assessed grafted seedling quality by categorizing them. The categories derived were Optimum and Acceptable for both time intervals, plus Not acceptable at 14 days after grafting. Optimum seedlings showed greater leaf area, and shoot and root fresh and dry weights at both time intervals. Moreover, they had greater stem diameter, root-to-shoot ratio, shoot dry weight-to-length ratio and Dickson’s quality index compared to the other category at 14 days after grafting. Therefore, Optimum seedlings would likely develop into marketable plants of high quality, with better establishment in the field. Not acceptable seedlings showed considerably inferior development, while Acceptable seedlings were between the other categories, but were still marketable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:45:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d441f6ba2d84bb2989f3c5b2cb90551 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:45:21Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d441f6ba2d84bb2989f3c5b2cb905512022-12-21T23:53:28ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242019-02-01511610.3390/horticulturae5010016horticulturae5010016Assessing Quantitative Criteria for Characterization of Quality Categories for Grafted Watermelon SeedlingsFilippos Bantis0Athanasios Koukounaras1Anastasios Siomos2Georgios Menexes3Christodoulos Dangitsis4Damianos Kintzonidis5School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceSchool of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceSchool of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceSchool of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceAgris S.A., Kleidi, 59300 Imathia, GreeceAgris S.A., Kleidi, 59300 Imathia, GreeceVegetable grafting is a practice employed worldwide since it helps prevent biotic and abiotic disorders, and watermelon is one of the most important species grafted. The objective of this study was to set critical limits for the characterization of quality categories for grafted watermelon seedlings. Specifically, watermelon (scion) seedlings were grafted onto squash (rootstock) seedlings, moved into a healing chamber for 7 days, and then transferred into a greenhouse for seven more days. At 7 and 14 days after grafting, experienced personnel assessed grafted seedling quality by categorizing them. The categories derived were Optimum and Acceptable for both time intervals, plus Not acceptable at 14 days after grafting. Optimum seedlings showed greater leaf area, and shoot and root fresh and dry weights at both time intervals. Moreover, they had greater stem diameter, root-to-shoot ratio, shoot dry weight-to-length ratio and Dickson’s quality index compared to the other category at 14 days after grafting. Therefore, Optimum seedlings would likely develop into marketable plants of high quality, with better establishment in the field. Not acceptable seedlings showed considerably inferior development, while Acceptable seedlings were between the other categories, but were still marketable.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/5/1/16<i>Citrullus lanatus</i>vegetable graftingoptimal productionmarketable seedlingsquality indicators |
| spellingShingle | Filippos Bantis Athanasios Koukounaras Anastasios Siomos Georgios Menexes Christodoulos Dangitsis Damianos Kintzonidis Assessing Quantitative Criteria for Characterization of Quality Categories for Grafted Watermelon Seedlings Horticulturae <i>Citrullus lanatus</i> vegetable grafting optimal production marketable seedlings quality indicators |
| title | Assessing Quantitative Criteria for Characterization of Quality Categories for Grafted Watermelon Seedlings |
| title_full | Assessing Quantitative Criteria for Characterization of Quality Categories for Grafted Watermelon Seedlings |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Quantitative Criteria for Characterization of Quality Categories for Grafted Watermelon Seedlings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Quantitative Criteria for Characterization of Quality Categories for Grafted Watermelon Seedlings |
| title_short | Assessing Quantitative Criteria for Characterization of Quality Categories for Grafted Watermelon Seedlings |
| title_sort | assessing quantitative criteria for characterization of quality categories for grafted watermelon seedlings |
| topic | <i>Citrullus lanatus</i> vegetable grafting optimal production marketable seedlings quality indicators |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/5/1/16 |
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