CRESCIMENTO INICIAL DE PLANTAS DE MELANCIA (Citrullus lanatus L.) cv. Crimson Sweet EM RESPOSTA AO ÁCIDO SALICÍLICO E HIDROGEL

Abstract

Watermelon fruit, Crimson Sweet cultivar, has about 90% water in its composition; it is rich in vitamins and minerals salts and is characterized by the sweet taste. Most people consume the fruit in natura, but it can be processed and sold as juice and sweet; seeds can be crushed and used as flour. It is an oleraceous plant that is easy handling and has better development in tropical climate being cultivated mainly by family farming. Salicylic acid (SA) is being used to induce resistance to water deficit, but little is known about the role of SA associated with hydrogel (HG), polymer that accumulates water in its granules and provides water gradually to plants. study aimed to verify the interaction between SA and HG to minimize the effects of water deficit in the growth initial phase of watermelon culture. The watermelon seeds of Crimson Sweet cultivar were sown in trays of 128 cells with Bioplant® commercial substrate. After the appearance of the first definitive leaf, seedlings were transplanted to 400 mL plastic cups containing substrate 140g. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design and the treatments were due to the combination of four of salicylic acid concentrations, four hydrogel doses, and two irrigation intervals. On the twenty-third day, the plants were evaluated for aerial part and root length, fresh matter mass of aerial part and root, dry matter of aerial part and root, and relative water content. Salicylic acid (SA), regardless of the used dose, inhibited the initial growth of watermelon plants, and the higher HG dose allowed a better growth of the plants. There was no interaction between SA and HG factors.