YIELD, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS AND KEEPING QUALITY OF MELON (Cucumis melo L.) IN RELATION TO K AND CA FOLIAR APPLICATION

This study was carried out at "Rafah" district in North Sinai governorate
during 20022003 and 2003i2004 seasons, to investigate the effect of preharvest foliar
application with calcium and potassium on the yield, fruit characteristics and
storageability on three cultivars of melon, Galia. Passport and Clandio and the results
are summarized as follows :
- Passport cv gave higher vegetative growth (leaf numberfplant, leaf area) than the
other cultivars (Galia and Clandio}. The same trend was recorded with average frurt
weight. Both Galia and Passport cvs gave earlier yield than Clandio cv. Passport
cv had bigger fruit longitudinal and equatorial diameters than those of Gaiia and
Clandio. At the same time, Passport cv had the lowest flesh firmness and lower
calcium content in fruit. Meanwhile, no significant differences between the three
cultivars on TSS%, total sugars and titratable acidity, were noticed.
- Potassium andior calcium foliar application led to or significant increase in plant
height, number of leaves/plant and plant leaf area compared with the untreated
control fruits. Such increase in vegetative growth, lead to Increase the average fruit
weight and both total and early yield.
- Foiiar application treatment with potassium and/or calcium increased fruit
longitudinal, equatorial diameter, flesh thickness and flesh firmness and improved
the fruit characters via increasing total soluble solids, total sugar, titratable acidity
and potassium, calcium concentration in the fruit.
- Regarding to storageability, Galia melon showed the lowest values of weight loss
and decay incidence percentage, whereas the highest values were obtained for
Passport cv. Moreover, Galia cv had higher flesh firmness, TSS, total sugar and
titratable acidity compared with the other used cultivars.
- Calcium foliar spraying was the most effective treatment in minimizing the weight
loss and decay percentage and had a significant effect on retaining a higher flesh
firmness.
Potassium foliar spraying resulted significantly in higher T58 and total sugar
contents compared with untreated fruits control.
- Weight loss and decay percentage increased with the prolongation of the storage
period but flesh firmness as well as TSS, total sugar and titratable acidity contents
were decreased with increasing the period of storage.
It can be stated that, Galia melon plants, treated with K andfor Ca foliar
 
application is recommended for improving fruit characteristics during prolonged
handling.