Effect of calcium-boron solution rate in foliar spray on muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

บทคัดย่อ

The effect of calcium (Ca) and boron (B) was investigated on the quality of muskmelon. The experiment was set out as a 5 x 4 factorial in a randomized complete block design, with five repetitions as a 2-factor experiment. Factor 1 was Ca-B solution at 5 rates: spraying with plain water and spraying with Ca-B solution (0.75, 1.50, 2.25, or 3.00 ml/l). Factor 2 was 4 cultivars of muskmelon: Honeydew 1348 (Hon), Kanokkan 108 (Kan), Emerald Sweet (Eme), and TML-052 (Tml). The results showed that planting muskmelon cultivar TML-052 and spraying with 3.00 ml/l Ca-B solution produced the highest fruit weight of muskmelon (1,962.57 g). Spraying with Ca-B solution reduced the peel thickness, but the thickness of pulp and the level of sweetness increased, which affected the quality of the muskmelon. Spraying Ca-B solution at the rate of 1.50 ml/l or more had a positive effect on preventing fruit cracking. The level of Ca in the leaves, stalk, peel, and pulp following spraying with Ca-B solution increased compared with the plain water spray. Spraying with a Ca-B solution at the rate of 3.00 ml/l resulted in the highest mean levels of Ca in the leaves, stalk, peel, and pulp (9.03, 2.59, 0.52, and 0.17%, respectively). The spray rate of Ca-B solution at 3.00 ml/l produced the highest B levels in the leaves, stalk, peel, and pulp (73.92, 64.11, 57.42, and 26.67 mg/kg, respectively). The recommended spraying rate of Ca-B solution for Hon and Kan, which are smooth muskmelon cultivars, was at 1.50–2.25 ml/l, while for the cultivars of Eme and Tml, which are netted muskmelon, the rate was 0.75–1.50 ml/l can reduce fruit cracking and improved the quality of the muskmelon.