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A Light Recipe including Far-Red Wavelength during Healing of Grafted Watermelon Seedlings Enhances the Floral Development and Yield Earliness

Author

Listed:
  • Filippos Bantis

    (Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Anna Gkotzamani

    (Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Christodoulos Dangitsis

    (Agris S.A., Kleidi, 59300 Imathia, Greece)

  • Athanasios Koukounaras

    (Department of Horticulture, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

Watermelon is widely propagated through grafting, after which seedlings are subjected to healing under controlled conditions including artificial lighting. Light wavelengths, such as blue, red, and far-red, impose considerable effects on seedlings, which possibly carry on to the mature plants. The aim of the present study is to examine whether different light wavelengths during healing of grafted watermelon seedlings impose variable effects during field cultivation. After grafting, seedlings were healed in an environmentally controlled healing chamber under fluorescent (FL) lamps and light-emitting diodes, providing 100% red (R), 100% blue (B), 88/12% R/B (12B), and 12B including 5% far-red (12B + FR). After acclimatization, seedlings were transplanted in the field. Vegetative growth until floral initiation was enhanced by 12B and 12B + FR, as shown by stem diameter and leaf number measurements. Flowering was mainly accelerated by 12B + FR and considerably decelerated by FL and B. The same pattern was followed by fruit yield, which was similar for all treatments at the end of the experiment. Nevertheless, fruit quality was not affected by any of the light treatments. It is concluded that a light recipe, including red, blue and far-red, wavelengths during healing of grafted seedlings enhances the overall growth, and flowering and yield earliness of watermelon crops.

Suggested Citation

  • Filippos Bantis & Anna Gkotzamani & Christodoulos Dangitsis & Athanasios Koukounaras, 2022. "A Light Recipe including Far-Red Wavelength during Healing of Grafted Watermelon Seedlings Enhances the Floral Development and Yield Earliness," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:7:p:982-:d:858081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcelo J. Yanovsky & Steve A. Kay, 2002. "Molecular basis of seasonal time measurement in Arabidopsis," Nature, Nature, vol. 419(6904), pages 308-312, September.
    2. Paula Suárez-López & Kay Wheatley & Frances Robson & Hitoshi Onouchi & Federico Valverde & George Coupland, 2001. "CONSTANS mediates between the circadian clock and the control of flowering in Arabidopsis," Nature, Nature, vol. 410(6832), pages 1116-1120, April.
    3. Onofrio Davide Palmitessa & Miriana Durante & Beniamino Leoni & Francesco Montesano & Massimiliano Renna & Francesco Serio & Annalisa Somma & Pietro Santamaria, 2021. "Enhancement of a Landrace of Carosello (Unripe Melon) through the Use of Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) and Nutritional Characterization of the Fruit Placenta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-15, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Filippos Bantis & Athanasios Koukounaras, 2023. "Impact of Light on Horticultural Crops," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-4, April.

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