Assessment of Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of Two Iranian Cantaloupe Accessions Under Different Irrigation Levels

In order to evaluate the effect of water deficit stress on growth, yield and fruit quality of two Iranian cantaloupe, the experiment was set out in a split plot design with three replicates in research filed of University of Zanjan. Treatments consisted arrangement of three Irrigation levels (starting irrigation at 100, 66 and 33 ETc) and two accessions of Iranian cantaloupe (Tile-Zard and Tile-Sabz). Results showed that irrigation had a significant effect on leaf area, fruits number per plant, plant length, Leaf dry matter, flesh firmness, total soluble solids (TSS) content, fruit weight and yield ratio. The water stress significantly increased TSS, leaf dry matter and reduced leaf area, fruits number per plant, plant length, flesh firmness, fruit weight and yield. The lowest values of yield (13357 kg.ha-1), fruit weight (1504.2 g), and the highest total soluble solids (TSS) (12.75 Percent) was obtained in the sever water stress (start point of 33 ETc). Cantaloupe accessions showed significant differences in studied traits. The highest values of yield (46171 kg.ha-1) and fruit weight (3656.7 g) was obtained under 100 ETc irrigation in "Tile-Zard". Also the highest TSS was obtained in Tile-Sabz under 33 ETc irrigation. According to the results, Tile-Sabz and Tile-Zard had 63.6% and 59.7% yield loss respectively, under 33 ETc irrigation compared normal irrigation, that both accessions are sensitive to water deficit stress.