الفهرس 
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Abstract
The field experiment was conducted in Baloza Research Station, Desert Research Center, at North Sinai Governorate, Egypt, during the two successive seasons of 2016 and 2017 to study the influence of grafting (Star and 6001 rootstocks as well as ungrafting) and the foliar spray of potassium silicate (4 and 5 ml/L), calcium (1 and 2 ml/L), urea (1 and 2 %), and amino acids (1.5 ml/L), on the growth and productivity of watermelon.
The experiment was arranged in a split plot design with three replicates. Every replicate included twenty four treatments resulted from the combinations of three grafting treatments and eight foliar spray treatments. The main plots were devoted to the foliar spray treatments, while the sub-plots were occupied with the grafting treatments.
The grafting process was carried out on watermelon plants in private nursery for vegetables in Berqash area, Giza governorate, by using tongue approach grafting method .
Thirty plants for each treatment (ten plants per replicate) were transplanted on May 26th and April 14th in the first and second season, respectively. The experimental plot area was 60 m2 contained one row of 30 m length and 2 m width and the distance between plants was 1.0 m apart.
Foliar spray treatments started after 30 days of transplanting and repeated every ten days with average of four times.
All agricultural practices including soil preparation for agriculture, irrigation, fertilization and plant protection against weeds, diseases and pests were performed as recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture in Egypt for watermelon production.
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Mohamed, R. Wehedy (2018). M.Sc., Fac. Agric., Ain Shams Univ.
The obtained results can be summarized as follows:
5.1. Vegetative growth:
1. The highest vegetative growth characteristics expressed as plant length, number of branches per plant, fresh and dry weight was obtained from plants grafted onto Star rootstock compared to nongrafted plants which recorded the lowest significant values in both seasons.
2. Foliar spray treatments had a significant effect on vegetative growth where the highest values were recorded with urea spray at a concentration of 2% followed, in decreasing order, by 1% urea and 5 ml/L potassium silicate. The lowest values were obtained from check treatment.
3. The interaction effect between grafting and foliar spray treatments was significant in the two growing seasons. Plants grafted onto Star rootstock combined with urea spray at a concentration of 2% gave the best values while the lowest values were obtained from check unsprayed nongrafted plants.
4. The highest plant stand percent was observed in plants grafted onto Star rootstock followed by nongrafted plants, whereas the lowest value was obtained from plants grafted onto 6001 rootstock.
5.2. Mineral composition of watermelon plants:
1. The highest values of nitrogen and sodium were recorded in plants grafted onto Star rootstock compared to nongrafted plants which recorded the lowest significant values in both seasons.
2. The highest values of calcium and potassium were recorded in nongrafted plants compared to plants grafted onto Star rootstock which recorded the lowest values in both seasons.
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Mohamed, R. Wehedy (2018). M.Sc., Fac. Agric., Ain Shams Univ.
3. The highest values of nitrogen and sodium were obtained from urea spray at a rate of 2% in both seasons while the lowest values were observed in control treatment and calcium spray at a concentration of 2 ml/L.
4. Calcium treatment at a concentration of 2 ml/L recorded the highest value of calcium percent compared to urea spray at a rate of 2% and check treatment in both seasons respectively, which recorded the lowest values.
5. The highest value of potassium was obtained from potassium silicate spray at a rate of 5 ml/L compared to urea treatment at a rate of 2% which recorded the lowest value in both seasons.
6. The interaction between grafting and foliar spray treatments had mostly significant effect on the mineral contents.
5.3. Yield and its components:
1. Grafted plants flowered about 5-8 days earlier than nongrafted plants.
2. Grafting increased significantly the fruit yield parameters, i.e. fruit weight, size and diameter as well as total yield. The best values were obtained from fruits of plants grafted onto Star rootstock compared to those of nongrafted plants during the two seasons.
3. The highest values of fruit yield parameters were obtained from urea spray at a rate of 2% followed, in decreasing order, by 1% urea and 5 ml/L potassium silicate compared to other treatments. The check treatment recorded the lowest value in both seasons.
4. Rind and flesh thickness values of fruits from plants grafted onto Star rootstock were higher than other treatments. The highest value of rind thickness was obtained from calcium spray at a rate of 2 ml/L while the lowest value was obtained from urea spray at a rate of 1% in both seasons. The flesh thickness of fruits from plants sprayed with 2% urea was the highest compared to other treatments.
07
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Mohamed, R. Wehedy (2018). M.Sc., Fac. Agric., Ain Shams Univ.
5. Regarding the interaction between grafting and foliar spray treatments, the highest significant values of productivity were obtained from plants grafted onto Star rootstock combined with urea spray at a concentration of 2% followed, in decreasing order, by 1% urea and 5 ml/L potassium silicate, whereas the lowest significant values were obtained from those of check unsprayed nongrafted plants.
5.4. Fruit quality parameters:
1. The best values of fruit quality trails represented as total soluble solids, total sugars and lycopene were recorded in fruits of nongrafted plants compared to those of grafted plants in both seasons.
2. Potassium silicate spray at a concentration of 5 ml/L gave the highest values of total soluble solids, total sugars and lycopene in the two studied seasons compared to other treatments whereas urea and check treatments recorded the lowest values.
3. The interaction between grafting and foliar spray treatments, indicated generally, that the highest values of fruit quality parameters were obtained from nongrafted plants combined with potassium silicate spray at a concentration of 5 ml/L