Aplicação da citocinina CPPU na indução da frutificação partenocárpica em melancieiras diploide e triploide.

Abstract

Parthenocarpy in watermelon adds value to fruits, however, for its cultivation, the producer may encounter difficulties such as: adaptation of hybrid to regional conditions, high seed prices, low germination and seedling vigor, beyond the need to cultivate, in the same area, a diploid variety as source of pollen for triploids. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the effect of application of cytokinin CPPU at different concentrations, in the induction of fruiting partenocarpic in diploid and triploid watermelon plants. The study comprised two field experiments conducted in the field in Campus of UFCG in Pombal -PB, from 12/15/2012 to 03/02/2013 using the triploid hybrid 'Extasy' and diploid variety 'Crimson Sweet'. For both experiments, treatments consisted of five concentrations of growth regulator CPPU (0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 mg L- 1 ) and the control (natural pollination). The experimental design was a complete randomized block designed with four replications. The application of CPPU occurred exogenously in the ovary of flowers for two consecutive days at anthesis. The variables evaluated were: photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration (E), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), water use efficiency (EUA), chlorophylls, carotenoids, number of leaves, leaf area, dry mass of leaves, stem and fruit and total dry matter, total and marketable yield, average weight of marketable fruit , number of fruits per plant, number of marketable fruits per plant, fruit shape index, shell thickness and pulp, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, SS/TA and ascorbic acid. The CPPU was efficient in inducing fruiting of diploid watermelon 'Crimson Sweet' and triploid 'Extasy’, regardless of the concentration used. The concentration 2.5 mg L- 1 of CPPU applied in diploid watermelon provided the greatest number of marketable fruits per plant, higher total and marketable yield production compared to control, and in the triploid plants in increased the number of fruits per plant, number of fruits marketable per plant, total production and commercial production compared to control. Induction of fruiting with CPPU in watermelon ‘Crimson Sweet’ had no effect on dry matter accumulation, growth and physiological characteristics of the plant compared to the control. In 'Extasy', CPPU provided a greater accumulation of dry matter in the fruit decreased dry mass of leaves, stem and plant growth, increase in stomatal conductance and CO2 assimilation compared to the control. In watermelon 'Crimson Sweet' the concentration of 2.5 mg L- 1 yielded higher stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate and dry matter accumulation in the fruit. In watermelon 'Extasy', concentrations of CPPU were indifferent gas exchange and plant growth.