EFFECT OF DIFFERENT IRRIGATION LEVELS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF SOME DROUGHT TOLERANT MELON (CUCUMIS MELO L.) GENOTYPES

Abstract

This study was conducted for determining drought tolerance in melon genotypes. In order to reduce the negative effects of the climatic changes on vegetable production, new melon cultivars that are tolerant to water stress are being developing. For this purpose, 9 melon genotypes that were previously found as drought tolerant have been tested in field conditions. In order to determine field performance of the melon genotypes three irrigation treatments with different water levels have been realized; 100% (control), 50% and 0% irrigations. In 50% and 0% irrigated plants, the above mentioned parameters have been compared versus their control plants. Some Physiological parameters were investigated. The investigated parameters were: Total fruit yield (kg/ha), brix in fruit (%), leaf stoma conductance (mmol/m(2)/s), membrane damage on leaf cells (%), leaf water potential (MPa), leaf osmotic potential (MPa), leaf temperature (degrees C), K and Ca concentrations in leaf (%), water use efficiency (g/Liter) of the genotypes According to the results melon genotypes were sorted from highest to lowest levels for their stress tolerance.