title: Effect of heat treatment around the fruit set region on growth and yield of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai].
abstract: The present experiment was aimed to study the effect of imposing modulated temperature treatments 14 °C and 18 °C, around the fruiting region of watermelon plants, and to estimate the economic feasibility of the temperature treatments based on energy consumption for heating. Watermelon cultivar 'Sambok-gul' was selected and sown on perlite beds in a plastic house under controlled conditions at Watermelon Farm, Jeongeup-Jeonbuk, longitude 35° 31' 47.51N, 126° 48'48.84E, altitude 37 m during the early spring season (2010-2011). The findings revealed that the temperature treatment at 18 °C caused significant increase in weight (2.0 kg plant(-1)), fruit weight (8.3 kg plant(-1)), soluble solid content (11.5 %), and fruit set rate (96.5 %) at harvest stage. Higher contents of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ions were observed in the 1st upper leaf of the fruit set node (79.3 mg L(-1)) and the 1st lower leaf of the fruit set node (12.0 mg L(-1)), respectively at 14 °C. The power consumption and extra costs of the temperature treatment 18 °C were suggested as affordable and in range of a farmer's budget (41.14 USD/22 days). Hence, it was concluded that modulating temperature treatments could be utilized successfully to optimize the temperature range for enhancing the fruit yield and quality in the winter watermelon crops.
authors.affiliation: Watermelon Experiment Station, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Gochang, 585-863 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaejong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.affiliation: Specialization Crop Research Institute, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Jinan, 567-807 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Man
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Watermelon Experiment Station, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Gochang, 585-863 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sameena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Watermelon Experiment Station, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Gochang, 585-863 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Watermelon Experiment Station, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Gochang, 585-863 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Watermelon Experiment Station, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Gochang, 585-863 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.affiliation: Watermelon Experiment Station, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S, Gochang, 585-863 Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gi Tai
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Jung
keywords: Electricity consumption; Ion content; Soluble solid content; Temperature; Yield