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Title: Economics of grafted vs conventional watermelon plants

Author
item TAYLOR, MERRITT - OSU, LANE, OK
item Bruton, Benny
item Fish, Wayne
item ROBERTS, WARREN - OSU, LANE, OK

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2006
Publication Date: 6/1/2006
Citation: Taylor, M., Bruton, B.D., Fish, W.W., Roberts, W. 2006. Economics of grafted vs conventional watermelon plants [abstract]. HortScience. 40(3):519.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Grafting of watermelons has been used in many countries to provide control of, or resistance to, certain soil borne diseases such as Fusarium wilt. The impact of grafting on postharvest quality has not been thoroughly examined. This report deals with the comparison of the costs of production between grafted versus conventional watermelons and the potential new revenue of the two. A 2-year study was conducted on the effects of grafting watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) onto rootstocks of squash and gourd at Lane, Okla., in both 2004 and 2005. Details of the research methodology are outlined in "Year Two: Effects of Grafting on Watermelon Yield and Quality" by Roberts et al. Costs of using grafted transplants increased the costs of production from $1,209 to $1,914 or $705/acre at 1,500 plants/acre. Results of the 2-year study indicated grafted watermelons had slightly lower yields per acre, similar sugar in some grafted combinations the first year but slightly lower the second year, similar lycopene content, and much higher firmness. Results of a 10-day storage study indicated that firmness of fresh-cut flesh for all watermelons declined after ten days on the shelf. However, the grafted watermelon flesh was firmer after ten days than the nongrafted fruit at the beginning of the ten days. This improved shelf life should interest the cut-fruit industry and should lead to contract price enhancement for the growers. A market price of $0.02/lb for grafted watermelons above the market price of nongrafted watermelons would be needed to provide similar net revenues at the same yield per acre.