Effect of low nitrogen stress on plant growth traits of double haploid melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) lines with different low nitrogen Tolerances

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 409 - 419, 26.06.2025

Alim Aydın , Halit Yetişir

https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.2.14

Abstract

In recent years, excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer application has adversely affected the ecosystem. Additionally, inefficient fertilizer use can diminish soil fertility and result in the loss of organic matter. Limiting access to N fertilizer leads to increased prices, which consequently results in reduced crop productivity. Developing/breeding nitrogen-efficient plants is another strategy to enhance N uptake and efficiency in crops. The aim of this study was to assess the genotypic differences of 27 double haploid (DH) melon genotypes under low nitrogen (0.3 mM) conditions based on biomass parameters in hydroponic growth conditions. Significant differences were determined among the genotypes in all the parameters investigated. At low nitrogen levels, the highest stem fresh weight was recorded in genotypes C19 (48.53 g/plant) and D10 (42.57 g/plant), while the highest leaf fresh weight was observed in genotypes C8 (51.57 g/plant) and C19 (51.37 g/plant). In plants subjected to low N, the highest stem dry weight was found in genotypes E13 and C19, whereas the lowest was recorded in genotypesB9 and C5 with 2.10 g/plant. Under low nitrogen conditions, genotypes I7 and CA7 exhibited the highest root fresh and dry weights, respectively. The average shoot/root ratio of melon genotypes under low nitrogen conditions was 1.40, with the highest ratio in genotype B5 (2.69) and the lowest in genotype I7 (0.76). Melon genotypes had an average root length of 4000.92 cm under low nitrogen conditions, with genotype I7 having the longest root with 8194.43 cm and genotype B5 having the shortest root with 1795.34 cm. Under low nitrogen stress, genotypes displayed significant variation in plant growth. In terms of shoot fresh weight, there was a two-fold difference between susceptible and tolerant genotypes, while for root fresh weight, the difference was four-fold. This indicates that tolerance to nitrogen is attributed to changes in the root system rather than the shoot system.

Keywords

Melon , Low nitrogen , Nitrogen efficiency , Hydroponic culture

Ethical Statement

Peer-review Externally peer-reviewed. Declaration of Interests Declaration of Interests The authors state there is no competing interest. Author contribution The contribution of the authors to the present study is equal. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript. All the authors verify that the text, figures, and tables are original and that they have not been published before.

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