Abstract

GARCIA-LOPEZ, Felipe Alejandro et al. Watermelon production with rootstocks in soils infested with the necrotic melon spot virus. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.3, pp.578-587. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v9i3.1217.

Mexico is one of the main producers of watermelon worldwide. But, the presence of soil pathogens such as nematodes, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum and the melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) represent a serious problem for producers. The use of grafted plants is a good alternative to deal with these problems, helping to increase yield and quality in watermelon. The rootstocks of wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) have been shown to be effective for the control of most diseases transmitted through the soil, in addition to having high resistance to nematodes; however, there is no record of its resistance to MNSV. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the resistance to MNSV of rootstocks for watermelon. In Experiment 1 the rootstocks of interspecific hybrids “RS-841” “Ercole” (Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata) and wild watermelon the rootstocks “Robust”, “RS0272” and “RS1833” were evaluated. In experiment 2 the rootstocks “RS-841”, “Ercole” and “Robust” were evaluated. In both cases in soils infested with MNSV. The rootstocks of wild watermelon were highly susceptible to MNSV, whereas the interspecific hybrids showed resistance to this disease. The rootstock “RS-841” was the one that produced the best quality fruits. The yield was lower with significant difference when the wild watermelon rootstocks were used.

Keywords : Olpidium bornovanus; grafts; MNSV; wild watermelons.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English | Spanish     · English ( pdf ) | Spanish ( pdf )