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

Alim Aydın; Halit Yetişir

doi:10.31015/2025.2.14

EN

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

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.

References

Agüera, E., Cabello, P., & de la Haba, P. (2010). Induction of leaf senescence by low nitrogen nutrition in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) plants. Physiologia Plantarum 138 (3), 256–267. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1399-3054.2009.01336.X
Anas, M., Liao, F., Verma, K. K., Sarwar, M. A., Mahmood, A., Chen, Z. L., Li, Q., Zeng, X. P., Liu, Y., & Li, Y. R. (2020). Fate of nitrogen in agriculture and environment: agronomic, eco-physiological and molecular approaches to improve nitrogen use efficiency. Biological Research 53 (1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/S40659-020-00312-4
Andriolo, J. L., Erpen, L., Cardoso, F. L., Cocco, C., Casagrande, G. S., & Jänisch, D. I. (2011). Nitrogen levels in the cultivation of strawberries in soilless culture. Horticultura Brasileira 29 (4), 516–519. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-05362011000400012
Balcha, A., & Balcha, A. (2014). Effect of Phosphorus Rates and Varieties on Grain Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Phosphorus Efficiency of Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]. American Journal of Plant Sciences 5 (3), 262–267. https://doi.org/10.4236/AJPS.2014.53035
Balyan, H. S., Gahlaut, V., Kumar, A., Jaiswal, V., Dhariwal, R., Tyagi, S., Agarwal, P., Kumari, S., & Gupta, P. K. (2016). Nitrogen and Phosphorus Use Efficiencies in Wheat: Physiology, Phenotyping, Genetics, and Breeding. Plant Breeding Reviews 40, 167–234. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119279723.CH4
Bénard, C., Gautier, H., Bourgaud, F., Grasselly, D., Navez, B., Caris-Veyrat, C., Weiss, M., & Génard, M. (2009). Effects of low nitrogen supply on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit yield and quality with special emphasis on sugars, acids, ascorbate, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57 (10), 4112–4123. https://doi.org/10.1021/JF8036374
Cartelat, A., Cerovic, Z. G., Goulas, Y., Meyer, S., Lelarge, C., Prioul, J. L., Barbottin, A., Jeuffroy, M. H., Gate, P., Agati, G., & Moya, I. (2005). Optically assessed contents of leaf polyphenolics and chlorophyll as indicators of nitrogen deficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Field Crops Research 91 (1), 35–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FCR.2004.05.002
Castellanos, M. T., Cabello, M. J., Cartagena, M. del C., Tarquis, A. M., Arce, A., & Ribas, F. (2011). Dinâmica do crescimento e da produtividade do melão em resposta ao fertilizante nitrogenado. Scientia Agricola 68 (2), 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162011000200009
Cavalcante, V. S., Prado, R. de M., Vasconcelos, R. de L., Almeida, H. J. de, & Silva, T. R. da. (2019). Growth and Nutritional Efficiency of Watermelon Plants Grown under Macronutrient Deficiencies. HortScience 54 (4), 738–742. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13807-18
Coşkun, Ö. F. (2023). The effect of grafting on morphological, physiological, and molecular changes induced by drought stress in cucumber. Sustainability, 15(1), 875. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010875

Coşkun, Ö. F. (2025). Association mapping for drought tolerance in watermelons (Citrullus lanatus L.). Horticulturae, 11(2), 193. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020193
FAO. (2024). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved on February 1, 2025, from https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL.
Fernández-Escobar, R., Beltrán, G., Sánchez-Zamora, M. A., García-Novelo, J., Aguilera, M. P., & Uceda, M. (2006). Olive Oil Quality Decreases with Nitrogen Over-fertilization. HortScience 41 (1), 215–219. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.41.1.215
Gorski, S. F. (2019). Melons. Detecting Mineral Nutrient Deficiencies in Tropical and Temperate Crops, 283–293. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429035258-26
Goyal, S. S., & Huffaker, R. C. (2015). Nitrogen Toxicity in Plants. Nitrogen in Crop Production, 97–118. https://doi.org/10.2134/1990.NITROGENINCROPPRODUCTION.C6
Graham, P. H. (1984). Plant Factors Affecting Nodulation and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Legumes. Biological Nitrogen Fixation 75–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2747-9_4
Hoque, M. M., Ajwa, H., Othman, M., Smith, R., & Cahn, M. (2010). Yield and Postharvest Quality of Lettuce in Response to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilizers. HortScience 45 (10), 1539–1544. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.10.1539
Inkham, C., Panjama, K., Seehanam, P., & Ruamrungsri, S. (2021). Effect of nitrogen, potassium and calcium concentrations on growth, yield and nutritional quality of green oak lettuce. Acta Horticulturae, 1312, 409–415. https://doi.org/10.17660/ACTAHORTIC.2021.1312.59
Janpen, C., Kanthawang, N., Inkham, C., Tsan, F. Y., & Sommano, S. R. (2019). Physiological responses of hydroponically-grown Japanese mint under nutrient deficiency. PeerJ (9), e7751. https://doi.org/10.7717/PEERJ.7751/TABLE-2
Linquist, B., Van Groenigen, K. J., Adviento-Borbe, M. A., Pittelkow, C., & Van Kessel, C. (2012). An agronomic assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from major cereal crops. Global Change Biology 18 (1), 194–209. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2486.2011.02502.X
Ma, Q., Longnecker, N., & Dracup, M. (1997). Nitrogen Deficiency Slows Leaf Development and Delays Flowering in Narrow-leafed Lupin. Annals of Botany 79 (4), 403–409. https://doi.org/10.1006/ANBO.1996.0361
Mălinaş, A., Vidican, R., Rotar, I., Mălinaş, C., Moldovan, C. M., & Proorocu, M. (2022). Current Status and Future Prospective for Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plants 11 (2), 217. https://doi.org/10.3390/PLANTS11020217/S1
Neilsen, G., Kappel, F., & Neilsen, D. (2007). Fertigation and Crop Load Affect Yield, Nutrition, and Fruit Quality of ‘Lapins’ Sweet Cherry on Gisela 5 Rootstock. HortScience 42 (6), 1456–1462. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.42.6.1456
Ning, P., Yang, L., Li, C., & Fritschi, F. B. (2018). Post-silking carbon partitioning under nitrogen deficiency revealed sink limitation of grain yield in maize. Journal of Experimental Botany 69 (7), 1707–1719. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erx496
Pant, B. D., Musialak-Lange, M., Nuc, P., May, P., Buhtz, A., Kehr, J., Walther, D., & Scheible, W.-R. (2009). Identification of Nutrient-Responsive Arabidopsis and Rapeseed MicroRNAs by Comprehensive Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Profiling and Small RNA Sequencing . Plant Physiology 150 (3), 1541–1555. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.109.139139
Peña-Fleitas, M. T., Gallardo, M., Thompson, R. B., Farneselli, M., & Padilla, F. M. (2015). Assessing crop N status of fertigated vegetable crops using plant and soil monitoring techniques. Annals of Applied Biology 167 (3), 387–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/AAB.12235
Ruiz, J. M., Rivero, R. M., Cervilla, L. M., Castellano, R., & Romero, L. (2006). Grafting to improve nitrogen-use efficiency traits in tobacco plants. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 86 (6), 1014–1021. https://doi.org/10.1002/JSFA.2450
Sarı, N., Yücel, S., Ekiz, H., Yetişir, H., Tunalı, C. (1999). Dihaploidizasyon Yöntemi ile Örtüaltı Tarımına Elverişli ve Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis’e Dayanıklı Kavun Çeşitlerinin Geliştirmesi. TÜBİTAK projesi sonuç raporu, 150.
Scheible, W. R., Morcuende, R., Czechowski, T., Fritz, C., Osuna, D., Palacios-Rojas, N., Schindelasch, D., Thimm, O., Udvardi, M. K., & Stitt, M. (2004). Genome-Wide Reprogramming of Primary and Secondary Metabolism, Protein Synthesis, Cellular Growth Processes, and the Regulatory Infrastructure of Arabidopsis in Response to Nitrogen. Plant Physiology 136 (1), 2483. https://doi.org/10.1104/PP.104.047019
Shin, S. Y., Jeong, J. S., Lim, J. Y., Kim, T., Park, J. H., Kim, J. K., & Shin, C. (2018). Transcriptomic analyses of rice (Oryza sativa) genes and non-coding RNAs under nitrogen starvation using multiple omics technologies. BMC Genomics 19 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/S12864-018-4897-1
Souri, M. K., & Dehnavard, S. (2018). Tomato plant growth, leaf nutrient concentrations and fruit quality under nitrogen foliar applications. Advances in Horticultural Science 32 (1), 41–47. https://doi.org/10.13128/AHS-21894
Tagem, (2018). Gübre Sektör Politika Belgesi. Tagem Arge ve İnovasyon 2018-2022, Ankara, Türkiye, ss. 21-24
Ulas, A., Doganci, E., Ulas, F., & Yetisir, H. (2019). Root-growth Characteristics Contributing to Genotypic Variation in Nitrogen Efficiency of Bottle Gourd and Rootstock Potential for Watermelon. Plants, 8 (3), 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/PLANTS8030077
Ulas, A., Schulte Auf’m Erley, G., Kamh, M., Wiesler, F., & Horst, W. J. (2012). Root-growth characteristics contributing to genotypic variation in nitrogen efficiency of oilseed rape. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 175 (3), 489–498. https://doi.org/10.1002/JPLN.201100301
Wahocho, N. A., Maitlo, A. A., Baloch, Q. B., Kaleri, A. A., Rajput, L. B., Talpur, N. A., Sheikh, Z. A., Mengal, F. H., & Wahocho, S. A. (2017). Effect of Varying Levels of Nitrogen on the Growth and Yield of Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences 13, 448–453. https://doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2017.13.74
Wang, J., Song, K., Sun, L., Qin, Q., Sun, Y., Pan, J., & Xue, Y. (2019). Morphological and Transcriptome Analysis of Wheat Seedlings Response to Low Nitrogen Stress. Plants 8 (4), 98. https://doi.org/10.3390/PLANTS8040098
Wang, Y., Fu, B., Pan, L., Chen, L., Fu, X., & Li, K. (2013). Overexpression of Arabidopsis Dof1, GS1 and GS2 Enhanced Nitrogen Assimilation in Transgenic Tobacco Grown Under Low-Nitrogen Conditions. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter, 31 (4), 886–900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-013-0561-8
Wei, M., Zhang, A., Li, H., Tang, Z., & Chen, X. (2015). Growth and Physiological Response to Nitrogen Deficiency and Re-supply in Leaf-vegetable Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam). HortScience 50 (5), 754–758. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.50.5.754
Xiong, Q., Tang, G., Zhong, L., He, H., & Chen, X. (2018). Response to nitrogen deficiency and compensation on physiological characteristics, yield formation, and nitrogen utilization of rice. Frontiers in Plant Science 9, 316347. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPLS.2018.01075/BIBTEX
Xu, Z., Zhong, S., Li, X., Li, W., Rothstein, S. J., Zhang, S., Bi, Y., & Xie, C. (2011). Genome-Wide Identification of MicroRNAs in Response to Low Nitrate Availability in Maize Leaves and Roots. PLOS ONE, 6 (11), e28009. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0028009
Yam, R. S. W., Fan, Y. T., Lin, J. T., Fan, C., & Lo, H. F. (2020). Quality Improvement of Netted Melon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus) through Precise Nitrogen and Potassium Management in a Hydroponic System. Agronomy 10 (6), 816. https://doi.org/10.3390/AGRONOMY10060816
Zhao, D., Reddy, K. R., Kakani, V. G., & Reddy, V. R. (2005). Nitrogen deficiency effects on plant growth, leaf photosynthesis, and hyperspectral reflectance properties of sorghum. European Journal of Agronomy, 22 (4), 391–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJA.2004.06.005

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Vegetable Growing and Treatment

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Alim Aydın ^*
0000-0002-9424-5556
Türkiye

Halit Yetişir
0000-0001-6955-9513
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 26, 2025

Submission Date

March 20, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 13, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.2.14

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA86CP58JU

APA

Aydın, A., & Yetişir, H. (2025). Effect of low nitrogen stress on plant growth traits of double haploid melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) lines with different low nitrogen Tolerances. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, 9(2), 409-419. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.2.14

AMA

1.Aydın A, Yetişir H. Effect of low nitrogen stress on plant growth traits of double haploid melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) lines with different low nitrogen Tolerances. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025;9(2):409-419. doi:10.31015/2025.2.14

Chicago

Aydın, Alim, and Halit Yetişir. 2025. “Effect of Low Nitrogen Stress on Plant Growth Traits of Double Haploid Melon (Cucumis Melo Var. Cantalupensis) Lines With Different Low Nitrogen Tolerances”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9 (2): 409-19. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.2.14.

EndNote

Aydın A, Yetişir H (June 1, 2025) Effect of low nitrogen stress on plant growth traits of double haploid melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) lines with different low nitrogen Tolerances. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9 2 409–419.

IEEE

[1]A. Aydın and H. Yetişir, “Effect of low nitrogen stress on plant growth traits of double haploid melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) lines with different low nitrogen Tolerances”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 409–419, June 2025, doi: 10.31015/2025.2.14.

ISNAD

Aydın, Alim - Yetişir, Halit. “Effect of Low Nitrogen Stress on Plant Growth Traits of Double Haploid Melon (Cucumis Melo Var. Cantalupensis) Lines With Different Low Nitrogen Tolerances”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9/2 (June 1, 2025): 409-419. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.2.14.

JAMA

1.Aydın A, Yetişir H. Effect of low nitrogen stress on plant growth traits of double haploid melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) lines with different low nitrogen Tolerances. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025;9:409–419.

MLA

Aydın, Alim, and Halit Yetişir. “Effect of Low Nitrogen Stress on Plant Growth Traits of Double Haploid Melon (Cucumis Melo Var. Cantalupensis) Lines With Different Low Nitrogen Tolerances”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, vol. 9, no. 2, June 2025, pp. 409-1, doi:10.31015/2025.2.14.

Vancouver

1.Alim Aydın, Halit Yetişir. Effect of low nitrogen stress on plant growth traits of double haploid melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) lines with different low nitrogen Tolerances. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025 Jun. 1;9(2):409-1. doi:10.31015/2025.2.14

Cited By

Assessment of Allelopathic Potentiality of Vimraj (Wedelia chinensis) Against Some Stored Grain Insect Pests

International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences

https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.3.26

Abstracting & Indexing Services

Google Scholar | Crossref DOI Registry

All content published in this journal is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal a non-exclusive right to publish, reproduce, and distribute the articles within an open-access framework.

Web: dergipark.org.tr/jaefs E-mail: editorialoffice@jaefs.com Phone / WhatsApp: +90 850 309 59 27

Abstract

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

Abstract

Keywords

Ethical Statement

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

Cite

Cited By

Assessment of Allelopathic Potentiality of Vimraj (Wedelia chinensis) Against Some Stored Grain Insect Pests

Abstracting & Indexing Services

© International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Food Sciences