Rootstocks Affected Postharvest Performance of Grafted ‘Crisby’ and ‘Crimson Tide’ Watermelon Cultivars

Abstract

Watermelon fruit from ‘Crisby’ (CR) and ‘Crimson Tide’ (CT) grafted onto Ferro, RS841, Argentario and Macis rootstocks and non-grafted CR and CT were compared for their postharvest quality at 7 °C for 21 days. Changes in rind thickness, weight loss, fruit flesh firmness, taste, total soluble solids, juice pH, titratable acidity, chilling injury and fungal decay, flesh color values, hallow heart, ripening, citric and malic acid, glucose, fructose, sucrose, total sugar, β-carotene and lycopene were determined during storage at a weekly interval. Watermelon fruit cv. CT grafted on Ferro, RS841 and Argentario rootstocks had thicker rind, lower ripening score, higher flesh firmness and lycopene content, more intense red color during storage, compared to non-grafted fruit. In comparison to non-grafted fruit, CR fruit grafted on Ferro, RS841 and Argentario rootstocks had thicker rind and higher flesh firmness, but higher lycopene content and C* values with lower ripening scores were observed only in the fruit grafted on Ferro and RS841 rootstocks. Macis and Argentario may lead an over-ripening, softening and less intense flesh color with lower lycopene content for CR and/or CT fruit during storage. Watermelons could successfully be kept for 21 days at 7 °C. Watermelons grafted on Ferro and RS841 rootstocks retained better postharvest quality, compared to the non-grafted fruit for both cultivars.