Sustainable cultivation of melon landraces: Effects of grafting on the accumulation of flavor-related compounds

Abstract

Melon landraces are highly appreciated by consumers who pay price premiums to compensate for lower yields, enabling on-farm conservation. However, they are highly susceptible to soilborne diseases. This study analyses the impact of Cucurbita and Cucumis rootstocks on the accumulation of flavor-related metabolites in Spanish landraces of the Ibericus melon group, as a strategy to promote their sustainable cultivation. Scion genotype was the main factor conditioning the accumulation of sugars and acids both under standard and saline organic farming conditions. The effects of grafting on organic acid accumulation were negligible, while the effects on sugar content were significant. The latter effects were dependent on specific scion-rootstock combinations, though wild Cucumis (e.g. Fian) rootstocks represent an alternative that should be further studied. The effect on the accumulation of volatiles was limited, and again depended on specific scion-rootstock combinations. The rootstock effect even differed between populations of the same landrace.