Water dynamics and productivity in dehydrated watermelon plants as modified by red polyethylene mulch

Authors : Peter FERUS, Silvia FERUSOVA, Jan KONA

Pages : 391-402

Doi:10.3906/sag-1110-22

View : 10 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2011-08-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In order to describe changes in water regime and production parameters caused by red polyethylene insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PE); mulch in dehydrated watermelon insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Citrullus lanatus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Thunb.); Matsum. & Nakai); plants, as well as to define their transpiration efficiency insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(TE); and water use efficiency insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(WUE); under different temperature environments, 2 individual pot experiments insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(summer external experiment and autumnal greenhouse experiment); were conducted. We found that red mulch reduced leaf relative water content insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(RWC); fall caused by water restriction but osmotic adjustment insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(OA); was not responsible for this stress alleviation. A general OA was observed in the course of dehydration, possibly associated with developmental changes as amplified by exposition to high air temperatures. Mulched watermelon plants produced significantly more dry biomass insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(W); and leaf area insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(A); than plants without mulch protection. They also reached much higher transpiration rates insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T); but lower evaporation rates insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(E);. However, due to red PE mulch TE appeared below that of non-mulched plants. On the other hand, WUE corresponded with the results of recent works exclusively on black PE mulch, since it was enhanced by mulch. Cooler autumnal conditions resulted in higher RWC, W, and A, but in lower T, TE, and WUE differences between treatments. These results are discussed in context of effective water use insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(EUW);, a new parameter arising from WUE failure in breeding for drought resistance.
Keywords : Key words Biomass production, dehydration, red polyethylene mulch, watermelon, water regime