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Seed and Soil Treatments to Improve Emergence of Muskmelon from Cold or Crusted Soils

Dep. of Vegetable Crops, Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616
Cooperative Ext., 1720 South Maple Ave., Fresno, CA 93702
Univ. of California, West Side Field Stn., Five Points, CA 93624
Royal Sluis Inc., 1293 Harkins Rd., Salinas, CA 93901 (formerly Dep. of Vegetable Crops, Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616)
Dep. of Horticulture and Forestry, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 (formerly Dep. of Vegetable Crops, Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616)
Kearney Agric. Ctr., 9240 South Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA 93684

^* Corresponding author.

Cold soil temperatures, seedling diseases, and soil crusting may limit stand establishment of early-season muskmelons (Cucumis melo L.). We tested the ability of seed and soil treatments to overcome these factors and improve seedling emergence. The seed treatments were seed priming (6 d at 25 °C in aerated 0.3 M KNO₃ solution followed by drying) to improve the rate of germination at low temperatures, and metalaxyl [N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(methoxyacetyi) alanine methyl ester] fungicide (Apron 25W) to prevent damping- off diseases. The soil treatments were spot applications of soil drenches containing metalaxyl fungicide (100 µg L^-1 Ridomil 2E), an anticrostant [2% Naico 2190, (Nalco Chemical Corp, Carson, CA)] or both fungicide and anticrustant. In laboratory tests at 18 °C, both germination rate and final germination were markedly improved by seed priming in ‘PMR 45’, ‘Magnum 45’, ‘Topmark’, and ‘Topscore’ plants. Seedling emergence from sterilized soil in flats under ambient outdoor temperatures (7-23 °C) was also improved by seed priming. Seed priming resulted in more rapid emergence or increased final emergence in five of seven field trials in two locations. Anticrustant applications to the soil covering the seed consistently improved stand establishment, particularly in badly crusted soils. Metalaxyl application to the seed or soil generally improved emergence, but the effect varied with cultivar, location, and planting method. None of the treatments significantly influenced final fruit yield. The combination of seed priming, fungicides, and anticrustants could allow lower seeding rates of expensive hybrid seed while achieving earlier emergence and adequate plant densities in earlyseason muskmelon crops.

Received for publication October 24, 1987.