Journal of Plant Nutrition Zucchini growth, yield, and

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Zucchini growth, yield, and fruit quality in response to sodium chloride stress a

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Gemma Víllora , Diego A. Moreno , Gregoria a

Pulgar & Luis M. Romero

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Department Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences , University of Granada , Av. Fuentenueva, S/N, Granada, E‐18071, Spain Published online: 21 Nov 2008.

To cite this article: Gemma Víllora , Diego A. Moreno , Gregoria Pulgar & Luis M. Romero (1999) Zucchini growth, yield, and fruit quality in response to sodium chloride stress, Journal of Plant Nutrition, 22:6, 855-861, DOI: 10.1080/01904169909365677 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01904169909365677

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JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION, 22(6), 855-861 (1999)

Zucchini Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality in Response to Sodium Chloride Stress Gemma Víllora, Diego A. Moreno, Gregoria Pulgar, and Luis M. Romero Department Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva, S/N, E-18071 Granada, Spain

ABSTRACT Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Moschata) plants were grown in a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions at Almería (Southeastern Spain) in 1994 and 1995. Sodium chloride (NaCl) added to the irrigation water at 0 (control), 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 g L-1 and complemented with a fertilizer solution. Yield was determined on number and weight (kg) of fruit per plant. The hidric content (%W) per fruit was calculated using fruit fresh and dry weights. Fruit diameter, fruit length, and fruit firmness were also measured. Electrical conductivity, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, and pH as well as non-structural carbohydrates concentration were determined. Zucchini yield, quality, and quantity increased as NaCl concentration was increased to 1 g L-1. This cultivar appears to suitable to be grown in coastal locations where soil and irrigation water contain salt concentration that limit the growth of other crops less tolerant to salinity.

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VÍLLORAETAL.


INTRODUCTION

Zucchini squash is moderately salt-tolerant but is also an important crop moderately salt-tolerant (Graifenberg et al., 1996a; Vílloraetal., 1995,1997) in areas where salinity is commonly high. Salinity is a problem in the coastal areas (southeastern Spain) where zucchini is grown. High salt levels may influence plants through salt water intrusion into ground water (Mass, 1994; Mickelbart and Marier, 1996). However, salt effects on growth and yield of zucchini differed from cantaloupe (Franco et al., 1997), tomato (Copeman et al., 1996), or fennel (Graifenberg et al., 1996b) grown under salinity conditions. The effect of salinity on quality and physiological responses of zucchini have not been determined. Our study was undertaken to determine the effect on quality and yield of a zucchini squash cultivar, exposed to irrigation water containing various levels of NaCl. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant Material and Growth Conditions The study was performed in a greenhouse at Ahneria (southeastern Spain) in 1994 and 1995. Zucchini (Cucúrbitapepo L. cv. Moschata) plants were sown in 225-L (75 cmx 60 cmx 50 cm) pots, filled with the following soil: 37.3% sand, 48.6% silt, and 10.1% clay, containing 0.3 g total nitrogen (N) 100 g 1 d.wt,49.3 cmol(+) kg 1 phosphorus (P), and 0.84,4.26,0.15 cmol(+) kg 1 exchangeable calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and sodium (Na), respectively, with apH 8.45 and ECof5.19dSm'. Pots were placed in a greenhouse with a range of 18-30°C, 400 mol m'2 s'1 luminosity for a 14h day and 60-80% relative humidity. Fertilizer and Salt Treatments The irrigation water had a pH of 7.8 and 3.8 dS nr 1 EC. Sodium chloride was added to the irrigation water at 0 (control), 0.25, 0.5, and 1 g L"1, and a fertilizer solution was added with 1.15 g L 1 of N and P as ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4), respectively, and 1.7 g L 1 of K as potassium sulfate (KjSCD,). Micronutrients were applied as 1.5,0.6,0.3,0.03,0.02, and 0.03 mg L 1 , iron (Fe)-EDDHA, manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and molybdenum (Mo) as sulphates, and boron (B) as boric acid (H3BO3), respectively. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four pots per treatment replicated four times. Fruit Harvest and Analysis Fruits were harvested when they reached marketable quality. Abnormally large, damaged or pest-infected fruits were discarded. The yield of the crop was determined

ZUCCHINI GROWTH, YIELD, AND FRUIT QUALITY

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TABLE 1. Influence of NaCl on zucchini fruit yield and fruit mass. NaCl Treatment 1


(g-L- )

Yield

Fruit mass

Kg/Plant

Fruit/Plant

FW/fruit

DW/fruit

Control

1.04ba

13.80b

75.85c

4.37

0.2S

0.91c

10.99c

82.74b

4.86

0.50

1.02b

13.99b

80.05b

4.39

1.00

1.45a

15.01a

96.59a

5.40

••

•

Significance

NS

a

Mean separation within columns by Duncan's Mutiple Range Test at P