Effects Of Chemical Elements(Ca²⁺,Si²⁺,Mg²⁺)and Concentration Of Nutrient On Fruit Cracking,Growth And Quality Of Watermelon And Mel-on In Soilless Culture

Mini watermelon(Citrullus lanatus)and melon(Cucumis melo L.var.Reticulatus Naud.)have various conditions of fruit cracking,which result in reduction of production and number commercial fruits as well as severe economic losses.Some chemical elements and nutrient concentrations are critical factors of fruit cracking of watermelon and muskmelon.In this study,series recipes of Ca2+,Si2+,Mg2+,and nutrient solution concentrations were designed in soilless culture process of watermelon and muskmelon to investigate effects of factors above on fruit cracking,growth,and fruit quality of watermelon and muskmelon.The data of this study could provide certain theoretical foundation and technical reference on effective applying fertilization on watermelon and muskmelon.Main results are as follows:1.Single factor effects of different concentrations of Ca2+,Si2+,and Mg2+on fruit cracking,growth,and fruit quality were investigated,indicating appropriate increasing concentrations of Ca2+,Si2+,and Mg2+ resulting in anti-cracking ability of watermelon and in improving growth fruit quality of watermelon significantly.However,inhibition of growth,reduction of fruiting and quality were happened in high concentrations of Ca2+,Si2+,and Mg2+.The most optimized concentration ranges are:Ca2+ 180 mg/L-220 mg/L,Si2+ 28 mg/L-56 mg/L,and Mg2+ 60 mg/L-84 mg/L.The results indicated that Ca2+ is the critical factor on reducing fruit cracking,and on increasing weight of single fruit and their growth,Mg2+ has the best effect on improving fruit quality.2.Based on the result above,effect of combinations of different concentrations of Ca2+,Si2+,and Mg2+ on fruit cracking,growth,and fruit quality of watermelon was investigated.Results indicated that all the treatments could improve the anti-cracking ability,growth,and fruit quality.The most optimized treatment was No.6(Ca2+ 200 mg/L,Si2+42mg/L,Mg2+60 mg/L)and No.9(Ca2+220mg/L,Si2+56mg/L,Mg2+72 mg/L).In terms of producing costs and reality,No.6 treatment was the best.3.Effect of different concentrations of nutrient solutions on fruit cracking,growth,and fruit quality were investigated,indicating properly increasing concentration of nutrient solutions could improve anti-cracking ability,growth,and fruit quality.The best concentration was 1.4 times.4.Effects of different concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on fruit cracking,growth,and fruit quality were investigated,indicating all the treatments improved anti-cracking ability,growth,and quality of muskmelon.Out of these treatments,anti-cracking ability was observed the best in No.7(Ca2+ 260 mg/L,Mg2+ 60 mg/L),Best growth and fruit quality were observed in No.3(Ca2+ 180 mg/L,Mg2+ 100 mg/L).5.Effect of concentration of nutrient solution on fruit cracking,growth,and fruit quality of melon was investigate.Results indicated that properly increasing nutrient solution concentration improving anti-cracking ability,growth,and quality of muskmelon.The most optimized concentration of nutrient solution was 1.5-2.0 times.