Grafting increases Chilean-grown watermelon yield, quality
Grafting of seedlings has been used for decades in many parts of the world, but adoption of the technique is still limited in many countries, due in part to higher costs of grafted seedlings and the uncertainty of grafting benefits under certain conditions. "Because of higher costs involved, the use of grafted seedlings can only be recommended if it provides clear biological and economic benefits," said Samuel Contreras, lead author of a study in the August 2016 issue of HortTechnology. Contreras and researchers at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile studied the effects on yield and quality with watermelon plants grown under Chilean field conditions. Their results showed that grafting increased both yield and quality of seeded and seedless watermelon cultivars.