ChileanJAR

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of seedling age and grafting techniques on grafting success in melons (Cucumis melo). In the first trial, four grafting techniques were compared: tongue approach, slant cut, cleft and tube on two botanical varieties: C. melo var. reticulatus and C. melo var. inodorus. Survival rate of grafted plants was significantly modified by grafting technique, variety and interaction (P < 0.05). On var. inodorus grafting techniques caused significant differences on plant survival rate and all of them were lower than the control. On var. reticulatus, only cleft grafting was lower. The others grafting techniques and control treatments were not significantly different. Survival rate of reticulatus was significantly higher than inodorus for slant cut, cleft and tube grafting techniques, but were similar for tongue approach grafting and the control treatment. In the second trial, grafting of 16 combinations from rootstocks and scions of 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age were compared. No significant differences were detected (P < 0.05) on scion age, rootstock age nor interaction on the survival rate of grafted plants. Grafted plant development at 25 days post grafting was directly associated to scion age. ANOVA detected the simple effect of scion age on leaf number, while stem length of scion and stem diameter of rootstock significantly interacted with both scion and rootstock age. Increase in the last two variables was correlated with scion age by lineal or quadratic regression according to different rootstock ages.