ISHS Acta Horticulturae 782: IV International Symposium on Seed, Transplant and Stand Establishment of Horticultural Crops; Translating Seed and Seedling Physiology into Technology
YIELD AND QUALITY OF CANTALOUPES GROWN FROM TRANSPLANTS AS AFFECTED BY METHYL JASMONATE AND UV-REFLECTIVE MULCHING |
| Author: | J.M. Fonseca |
| Keywords: | cantaloupes, postharvest, quality, shelf life, Vitamin C |
| Abstract:
Replicated trials during 2004-2005 were conducted in Yuma, Arizona to investigate the influence of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) applied exogenously before transplanting and UV reflective mulch system on yield and quality of melon cantaloupes. A single spray of MeJA at 100 ppm significantly slowed the production of early flowers shortly after transplanting, however, yield at harvest was not affected by MeJA. Melon plants grown from 6-week old transplants under UV reflective mulch systems showed increased number of fruits and weight per fruit in all the experiments, with at least 25% improvement. The UV reflective mulch particularly increased early yield, and allowed production of fruits with higher content of soluble solids (°Brix), pulp with more intense color and fruits with higher content of vitamin C. Overall results demonstrated an initial effect of MeJA on flowering. More importantly, this study revealed that UV reflective mulch among several benefits increased yields and quality to levels that may justify its commercial application and the use of transplants in cantaloupe operations in the US southwest desert. | |
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