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Effect of heat treatment around the fruit set region on growth and yield of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai]

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Abstract

The present experiment was aimed to study the effect of imposing modulated temperature treatments 14 °C and 18 °C, around the fruiting region of watermelon plants, and to estimate the economic feasibility of the temperature treatments based on energy consumption for heating. Watermelon cultivar ‘Sambok-gul’ was selected and sown on perlite beds in a plastic house under controlled conditions at Watermelon Farm, Jeongeup-Jeonbuk, longitude 35° 31′ 47.51N, 126° 48′48.84E, altitude 37 m during the early spring season (2010–2011). The findings revealed that the temperature treatment at 18 °C caused significant increase in weight (2.0 kg plant−1), fruit weight (8.3 kg plant−1), soluble solid content (11.5 %), and fruit set rate (96.5 %) at harvest stage. Higher contents of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions were observed in the 1st upper leaf of the fruit set node (79.3 mg L−1) and the 1st lower leaf of the fruit set node (12.0 mg L−1), respectively at 14 °C. The power consumption and extra costs of the temperature treatment 18 °C were suggested as affordable and in range of a farmer’s budget (41.14 USD/22 days). Hence, it was concluded that modulating temperature treatments could be utilized successfully to optimize the temperature range for enhancing the fruit yield and quality in the winter watermelon crops.

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Abbreviations

Ca2+ :

Calcium

Mg2+ :

Magnesium

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the sincere contribution made by two farmers, J. H. Jeong and S. B. Lee from Jeongeup Watermelon Society and K. A. Lee for technical assistance. This work was supported by Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for technology in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (IPET) and Rural Development Association (RDA) grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Watermelon Experiment Station, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Gochang, 585-863, Republic of Korea

    Jaejong Noh, Sameena Sheikh, So Geun Lee, Jeong Hyeon Lim, Moon Ho Seong & Gi Tai Jung

  2. Specialization Crop Research Institute, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Jinan, 567-807, Republic of Korea

    Jeong Man Kim

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  1. Jaejong Noh
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  2. Jeong Man Kim
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  3. Sameena Sheikh
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  4. So Geun Lee
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  5. Jeong Hyeon Lim
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  7. Gi Tai Jung
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Correspondence to Jaejong Noh.

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Noh, J., Kim, J.M., Sheikh, S. et al. Effect of heat treatment around the fruit set region on growth and yield of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai]. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 19, 509–514 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-013-0174-6

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