Photosynthetica 2019, 57(1):237-247 | DOI: 10.32615/ps.2019.022

Genotypic differences in leaf gas exchange and growth responses to deficit irrigation in reticulatus and inodorus melons (Cucumis melo L.)

S.P. SHARMA1,3, D.I. LESKOVAR1, K.M. CROSBY2
1 Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX, USA
2 Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
3 Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

Leaf gas exchange and growth responses of three melon cultivars, i.e., Mission, Da Vinci (var. reticulatus), and Super Nectar (var. inodorus) to two irrigation regimes, 50 and 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) were investigated under water-limited conditions of southwest Texas. In 2012, deficit irrigation (50% ETc) significantly decreased above-ground biomass, leaf area, leaf number, and specific leaf area, while leaf gas exchange, relative water content, water potential, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), and chlorophyll content (SPAD index) were not affected. However, in the drier year 2011, deficit irrigation significantly reduced net photosynthetic rate (PN) and stomatal conductance (gs). Further, the responses to water deficit varied with cultivars. At 50% ETc, PN and gs were maintained in cv. Da Vinci while decreased in Mission and Super Nectar. Thus, the late maturing cv. Super Nectar appeared to be more sensitive to drought stress, possibly due to the decrease in leaf area and PN.

Keywords: chlorophyll fluorescence; muskmelon; photosynthesis; specific leaf area; stomatal conductance; transpiration.

Received: December 3, 2017; Accepted: July 20, 2018; Prepublished online: December 7, 2018; Published: January 30, 2019Show citation

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SHARMA, S.P., LESKOVAR, D.I., & CROSBY, K.M. (2019). Genotypic differences in leaf gas exchange and growth responses to deficit irrigation in reticulatus and inodorus melons (Cucumis melo L.). Photosynthetica, 57(1), 237-247. doi: 10.32615/ps.2019.022.
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