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Morpho-physiological growth, yield and fruit quality of rock melon as affected

by growing media and electrical conductivity

Article in Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment · January 2010

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Meri-Rastilantie 3 B, FI-00980 Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment Vol.8 (1) : 249-252. 2010 www.world-food.net
Helsinki, Finland
e-mail: [email protected]

Morpho-physiological growth, yield and fruit quality of rock melon as affected by

growing media and electrical conductivity
B. Zulkarami 1*, M. Ashrafuzzaman 1 and I. Mohd Razi 1, 2
1
Laboratory of Food Crops and Floriculture, Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor,
Malaysia. 2 Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
*e-mail: [email protected]

Received 3 September 2009, accepted 30 December 2009.

Abstract
Effects of soilless media coconut dust (CD) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) and five electric conductivity (EC) levels of fertilizer (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0
and 2.5 dS/m) on growth, yield and fruit quality of rock melon were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Plant height, number of leaves, total
leaf area, chlorophyll content, dry weight of leaf, stem and roots, fruit length, diameter, weight and total soluble solids (sweetness) data were
collected. Medium EFB performed better in comparison to CD in all the parameters studied. Among the different EC levels, 1.5 dS/m was most
suitable. However, the highest sweetness of the fruit was with EC 2.0 dS/m. The interaction between media and EC levels was significant.
Increasing EC level decreased weight of the fruit or fruit yield and increased dry weight of leaf and stem, chlorophyll content and sweetness of
the fruit.

Key words: Rock melon, fruit weight, electrical conductivity and media.

Introduction Materials and Methods

Cantaloupes or rock melon (Cucumis melo L.) belong to the Seedlings: Seeds of rock melon were soaked in water for 2 d at
Cucurbitaceae family which includes a variety of squashes and 25°C, sown in trays (200 cells/flat) filled with peat moss and placed
melons. It is a commercially important crop in many countries. It in the greenhouse. At 7 d after seeding, seedlings of uniform size
is cultivated in all the temperate regions of the world due to its were transferred to plastic bags filled with coconut dust (CD) or
good adaptation to soil and climate 18. In Malaysia, cantaloupe is empty fruit bunch (EFB). CD was collected from coconut processor
a favorite especially the one with striking golden yellow color of at Johor Baharu, Malaysia, and EFB from Malaysian Palm Oils
which is called “Golden Langkawi”. Like other melons, Board (MPOB), Dengkil, Malaysia.
cantaloupes grow best in sandy, well-aerated, well-watered soil
that is free of encroaching weeds. Experimental design: There were two media, namely CD and
Fertilization is one of the most practical and effective pre-harvest EFB, and five electrical conductivity (EC) levels, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0
ways to control and improve yield and nutritional quality of crops and 2.5 dS/m. Different EC levels were maintained by adding
for human consumption. In this perspective, the soilless culture different amounts of water to the modified Cooper formulation.
represents an important tool, because it permits a precise control EC level was checked by using EC meter. This experiment was
of plant nutrition 7, 9-11. In fertigation, the plants are fed by water laid out in randomized complete block design with four
including fertilizer by drip system in soilless media. This replications. The rock melon plants were grown for 10 weeks.
procedure is effective but it may cause waste of water and Four samplings were done at 3, 6, 9 and 10 weeks after
nutrients if the appropriate EC of fertilizer is not known. Moreover, transplanting. The plant was watered with 1 L twice per day using
the crop may absorb large amounts of nutrients from water- drip system in open greenhouse without temperature control.
soluble fertilizer and this can be responsible for deleterious effects Data were taken on plant height, number of leaves, total leaf area,
on crop yield and quality 5. Usually the fertilizer consumption on chlorophyll content using SPAD meter, dry weight of roots, stem
fertigation system is not specific to the optimal electrical and leaves, length, diameter, weight and sweetness (Brix) of fruit,
conductivity (EC) but a certain range is used 8. There is a lack of for each treatment 6.
information on the influence of the media and EC on fruit weight
and fertilizer consumption in the appropriate dose of rockmelon Statistical analysis: The collected data were calculated and
plant. statistically analyzed using SAS System for Windows 9.0 with
Starting from the above considerations, our aim was to compare the principles of randomized block design. Tukey Studentized
two media (coconut dust, CD and empty fruit bunch, EFB) with Range test was performed to compare variations among the
different EC in growing rockmelon plant in terms of growth, weight treatments.
of fruit and sweetness.

Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol.8 (1), January 2010 249
 Results and Discussion leaves did not differ significantly at 7 DAT and also at 42 DAT
Plant heights were measured at 7, 21 and 42 days after but was significantly different at 21 DAT.
transplanting and the results are presented in Table 1. Medium Leaf area was significantly higher in plants grown in medium
EFB showed better performance compared to CD throughout the EFB (Fig. 1). In contrast, single leaf area gradually increased with
growth stages indicating EFB had positive effect on growth and the increase in EC level. Maximum leaf area was noticed at the EC
development of rock melon plants. At 7 DAT, the tallest plants 2.5 dS/m during both sampling dates. There was no significant
were produced with 1.5 (dS/m), but difference in height was difference between EC 0.5 and 1.0 dS/m. The EC 2.0 was also
significant only compared with plants grown with EC 2.5 dS/m. statistically similar with EC 1.5. There were significant differences
However, at 21 DAT tallest plants were recorded in 2.5 dS/m within media and EC at different days after transplanting in EFB
followed by 1.5 dS/m. At maturity (42 DAT), the tallest plants compared with CD. It was observed that the leaves in medium CD
were observed at 1.5 EC followed by 2.0 EC and 2.5 EC while the were bigger than in CD. Leaf area was biggest with EC 2.5
shortest plants were observed both at 21 and 42 DAT with compared to other EC levels.
mimimum EC (0.5 dS/m) level. Plant height varied significantly
due to different EC and media at different growth stages. Plant
height increased with the plant age irrespective of treatment
applied. The increased plant height in EFB compared to CD was
possibly due to a better availability of soil moisture, optimum soil

Leaf area (cm2)

temperature and suitable pH provided by the medium 14. The
impact of different EC on plant height over a time was significantly
different.
Results in Table 2 show that irrespective of treatments, number
of leaves increased with the increase in plant age. Medium EFB
produced significantly higher number of leaves per plant
throughout the growth period compared with CD. No significant
variation in number of leaves was observed in different EC levels
Media and different EC levels (dS/m)
at 7 DAT. However, variation was recorded at 21 DAT where
plants treated with 2.5 dS/m produced significantly highest Figure 1. Variation in single leaf area as influenced by media and EC at
number of leaves followed by 1.5 dS/m, and 0.5 dS/m produced different DAT.
significantly least number of leaves. At maturity, no significant
differences were recorded in upper four EC levels although EC Dry weight of root, stem and leaf were increased with the
1.5 dS/m produced numerically higher number of leaves. The advancement of plant age (Table 3). Medium EFB produced
lowest EC level produced the least number of leaves both at 21 significantly increased dry weights of root, stem and leaves
and 42 DAT. Number of leaves per plant increased rapidly from 7 compared to CD at both sampling dates. At 21 DAT, dry weight
to 21 DAT and then increased gradually until 42 DAT. Number of of leaves did not vary significantly due to different EC levels
used while it was significantly different at 42 DAT. Dry weight of
leaves had the maximum at EC 2.0 followed by EC 1.5, and the
Table 1. Plant height (cm) in different media and EC at different
minimum was recorded at 0.5 EC.
days after transplanting.
Dry weight of stem and root varied significantly due to different
Treatment 7 DAT 21 DAT 42 DAT EC levels used. EC 1.5 produced maximum dry weight of stem and
Media root followed by EC 1.0, and the minimum was at EC 0.5. At 42
CD 4.17b 49.98b 141.25b
DAT, both dry weight of stem and root did vary significantly.
EFB 5.42a 96.73a 181.37a
EC (dS/m) Dry weight of leaves on EFB with 2.0 EC at Day 42 were highest,
0.5 4.72ab 56.33c 112.88c because many leaves were grown in the optimal medium and EC.
1.0 4.80ab 62.97bc 169.50b The lowest dry weight of root on CD can be due to poor aeration
1.5 4.97a 72.72b 180.50a inside the medium, because CD is more compacted than EFB.
2.0 4.92ab 70.59b 177.46ab
2.5 4.56b 104.16a 176.21ab Similar results were also reported by Simmons and Pope 15 and
CV 5.50 9.42 8.32 Smith et al. 16. Media and EC increased stem dry weight of rock
melon especially at 21 DAT with EC 1.5. Sufficient soil moisture
Table 2. Number of leaves as affected by different media and was conserved in medium EFB with EC 2.0 that might have
EC levels at different days after transplanting. improved plant growth. The results of the present study supports
Treatment/days 7 DAT 21 DAT 42 DAT the findings of Suh et al. 17. Further, Cooper and Law 3 stated that
Media the soil temperature raised by mulching led to a greater rate of
CD 4.19b 10.99b 25.00b growth and development of leaves. Results showed that media
EFB 5.43a 16.28a 28.73a
EC (dS/m) had significant effect on the root elongation at 21 DAT. This
0.5 4.80a 11.19c 24.63b might be due to conservation of enough soil moisture, suitable
1.0 4.80a 12.81bc 26.85a temperature as well as suitable microclimate condition. The result
1.5 4.97a 13.66b 28.31a is in conformity with the findings of Saha et al. 13.
2.0 4.92a 13.19bc 26.81a
2.5 4.57a 17.31a 27.72a
The effects of media and EC on chlorophyll content are presented
CV 9.71 12.07 5.48 in Fig. 2. Results revealed that chlorophyll content as a SPAD

250 Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol.8 (1), January 2010
Table 3. Dry weight of leaves (DWL), stem (DWS) and root (DWR) (kg) in different
media and EC at different DAT.

Treatment 21 DAT 42 DAT

DWL DWS DWR DWL DWS DWR
Media
CD 0.53b 4.42b 0.45b 1.33b 15.31b 1.33b
EFB 1.16a 11.94a 0.95a 1.91a 23.00a 1.79a
EC (dS/m)
0.5 0.55a 6.68b 0.52b 1.23c 15.13a 1.68a
1.0 0.62a 8.68ab 0.77ab 1.53b 19.26a 1.55a
1.5 1.34a 9.20a 0.88a 1.78ab 21.03a 1.44a
2.0 0.80a 8.65ab 0.75ab 1.87a 19.63a 1.55a
2.5 0.91a 7.71ab 0.59b 1.68ab 20.75a 1.59a
CV 20.79 18.45 27.69 10.70 32.90 31.78

value varied significantly in two different media. The chlorophyll the qualitative characteristics of fruits with higher content of dry
content was highest in EFB while the lowest chlorophyll content matter and total carbohydrates. All these characteristics are
was recorded in CD. Interestingly SPAD value gradually increased appreciated at the commercial level.
with the increase in EC levels and the highest value was recorded Fruit length and diameter varied significantly in two different
at EC 2.5 . Medium EFB with EC 2.5 has significant effect on total media used (Table 5). Fruit length and diameter were comparatively
chlorophyll content in rock melon plant. higher in plants grown in EFB compared to plants grown in CD
Fruit weight per plant was recorded at 49, 56, 63 and 70 DAT medium. Different EC levels significantly influenced the fruit
and data are presented in Table 4. Results revealed that total length. The maximum fruit length was recorded at EC 1.5 but it
fresh fruit weight was significantly greater in medium EFB was statistically similar to the other two EC levels 1.0 and 2.0. In
compared to CD, indicating EFB has positive effect in generating contrast fruit length had minimum at EC 0.5 at 49 to 63 DAT.
increased fruit weight. The highest total fresh fruit weight, 11.63 Fruit diameter did not vary in upper four EC levels viz. 1.0, 1.5,
kg, recorded at Day 63 was followed by 1.31 kg at Day 70 and 2.0, and 2.5 except EC 0.5 during three measuring dates (Table 5).
1.08 kg at Day 56 in EFB. In contrast, medium CD showed the
lowest total fruit fresh weight with 0.35, 0.40, 0.52 and 0.53 kg at
60
Day 49, 56, 70 and 63 (EC = 0.5). With EC 1.5 at Day 63, total fruit
fresh weight was highest. The quantity of the fruit was much
50
bigger than on other dates and treatments. Optimum crop
performance and the greatest proportion of the rock melon root
Chlorophyll content

40
system with EC 1.5 were explanations to the highest total fruit
fresh weight. Plants grown with higher EC had a lower growth
30
and fruit weight than those grown with lower EC because of the
higher ECs led to a moderate plant stress as demonstrated by the 20
higher stomatal resistance 9. Cockshull et al. 2 reported that on
tomatoes grown in light shade (6.4%) or heavy shade (23.4%) 10
total fruit fresh weight yield was reduced by 7.5 and 19.9%,
respectively, compared to unshaded crops, and the fruit number 0
was positively correlated to the amount of light. CD EFB 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
The sweetness of the rockmelon in different media and EC are Media and different and EC levels(dS/m)

presented in Fig. 3. The highest soluble solids content 13.59% Figure 2. Chlorophyll content in different media and EC at different
was with EC 2.0 in medium EFB followed by 12.78% with EC 1.5 DAT.
and 12.77% with EC 2.5. Mostly the sugar content on all treatment
media and EC was higher than 10%, but only EC 0.5 in medium
CD was lower, 6.09%. The EC 2.5 and 1.5 were almost similar in
the sugar content. Rock melons grown on medium EFB with EC Table 4. Total fruit fresh weight (kg) in different media and EC at
2.5 contained highest soluble solids content. In melon the share different DAT.
of sucrose is remarkable in total sugar content of fruit1. Villanueva Treatment 49 56 63 70
et al. 18 reported that melons are among the fruits of high sugar Media
CD 0.56b 0.77b 2.99b 0.98b
content. As a rule of thumb for rockmelon, Brix levels over 10 EFB 0.84a 1.10a 3.31a 1.23a
could be considered sweet. This means that melons grown with EC (dS/m)
EC 2.5 on medium EFB were most sweet. Similarly, Villora et al. 19 0.5 0.35b 0.40c 0.53c 0.52c
reported an improvement of sugar content of rockmelon plant in 1.0 0.77a 0.92b 1.10b 1.24ab
response to sodium chloride applications. Melons grown in all 1.5 0.82a 1.08a 11.63a 1.31a
2.0 0.78a 1.01ab 1.25b 1.24ab
EC levels were sweet, except those grown on EC 0.5 with sugar 2.5 0.79a 1.03ab 1.25b 1.20b
content lower than 10%. From the economic and nutritional point CV 12.18 8.68 6.45 6.39
of view, the higher EC may be compensated by the increase of

Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol.8 (1), January 2010 251
Table 5. Fruit length and diameter (cm) as influenced by media and different electrical conductivity.
Treatment Fruit length Fruit diameter
49 DAT 56 DAT 63 DAT 49 DAT 56 DAT 63 DAT
Media
CD 9.18b 11.01b 10.93b 31.18b 33.91b 37.66b
EFB 10.47a 12.68a 12.83a 34.23a 36.58a 41.24a
EC (dS/m)
0.5 7.32c 9.73b 8.90c 24.96b 27.88b 30.67b
1.0 10.34ab 10.59a 12.56a 33.90a 36.02a 41.30a
1.5 10.93a 11.20a 12.29a 35.42a 37.55a 42.28a
2.0 10.48ab 10.99a 12.16ab 35.24a 37.83a 41.69a
2.5 10.05b 10.73a 11.73b 33.98a 36.95a 41.31a
CV 4.99 16.64 2.90 3.82 3.83 4.59

Rea, E. 2004. Yield, water requirement, nutrient uptake and fruit quality
of zucchini squash grown in soil and closed soilless culture. J. Hort.
Soluble solids content (%)

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Rouphael, Y. and Colla, G. 2005. Radiation and water use efficiencies of
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Rouphael, Y., Cardarelli, M., Rea, E., Battistelli, A. and Colla, G. 2006.
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14
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