Abstract:

In order to screen for Zhemi No. 8 watermelon rootstock varieties with good grafting affinity，high survival rate，and strong disease resistance，three varieties of rootstocks，including Lyuzhuangshi（gourd variety），Sizhuang No.7（interspecific hybrids between Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata），and Yezhuang No.1（wild watermelon），and the field experiment was conducted to determine the survival rate，Fusarium wilt disease incidence，fruit yield and quality，so as to evaluate the effects of different rootstocks on plant growth，quality and yield of graft-watermelon. It was found that there were certain differences among the three rootstock-scion combinations and non-grafted plant. Zhemi No.8 grated onto Sizhuang No.7 had the best performances：the survival rate was 98.5%，the incidence of Fusarium wilt was 1.33%，plot yield was 183.53 kg，the total soluble solid contents in the central and edge of fruit were 11.18% and 8.58%，respectively，the fruit quality score reached 87.09. Based on above results，Sizhuang No.7 was a good rootstock to graft with watermelon variety Zhemi No.8，suitable for demonstration and promotion in southwestern Zhejiang Province.

Key words: Zhemi No.8, watermelon, rootstock, graft, yield, quality