Impact of Water-Deficit Stress on Growth, Yield and Sugar Content of Cantaloupe (Cucumismelo L.)

ABSTRACT: Impact of water-deficit stress levels on growth parameters, yield and sugar content of cantaloupe (Cucumismelo L.) were studied. In this experiment, three deficit-irrigation (DI) treatments based on 60, 80 and 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) were applied in a randomized completely block design (RCBD) under field conditions. Based on the results, DI levels had a significant effect on height, number leaves per plant, leaf area, shoots wet and dry weight, sugar content and yield. Increasing irrigation levels increased height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, shoots wet and dry weight, chlorophyll index and yield. Fruit yield of treatments were 19.6, 28.3 and 30.3 t ha-1 at 60%, 80% and 100% ETc, respectively. There was no significant difference between 80 and 100% ETc in terms of yield. The highest height (194.7 cm), number of leaves per plant (243.3), leaf area (24375 cm2) and shoots wet and dry weight (1135.9 and 111.6 g, respectively) obtained at 100% ETc. While, sugar content increased under water deficit stress. So that highest value of sugar content (9.3%) obtained in irrigation based on 60% ETc.