What Causes Premature Senescence in Watermelons? Causes and Control Measures
During the middle and late stages of watermelon growth, premature senescence can easily occur if management is improper. Premature senescence is extremely harmful to watermelons, causing large numbers of fruits to fail to ripen normally and seriously affecting yield and quality. So what should be done about premature senescence in watermelons? Let's find out together.
1. Symptoms of Premature Senescence
Premature senescence in watermelons mainly occurs in the middle and late stages of growth, and is most obvious from fruit set to the young fruit stage. The vines of affected plants stagnate in growth, the young melons swell slowly or stop swelling, the leaves are relatively thin and yellowish, and the vines wilt after exposure to strong sunlight at noon. Generally, once premature senescence occurs in watermelons, not only is the yield extremely low, but the fruit quality is also extremely poor, with very low commercial value, and many fruits often cannot be sold. Therefore, preventing premature senescence is an important measure for achieving high yield and high quality in watermelons.
2. Causes of Premature Senescence
There are relatively many causes of premature senescence in watermelons. First, insufficient base fertilizer, untimely topdressing, or improper fertilization methods; all of these conditions lead to a lack of nutrients in the watermelon, making it unable to supply the nutrients needed for plant growth and fruit development, resulting in nutrient depletion and premature senescence. Second, pests and diseases; watermelons suffer from many pests and diseases during cultivation, which harm watermelon growth and, in severe cases, lead to premature senescence of the plants. Third, the effects of drought or waterlogged soil, which cause the plants to lose water or suffer root rot, both of which can cause premature senescence. Fourth, excessive pruning. Fifth, soil compaction, poor permeability, poor root development, or roots being unable to normally absorb water and nutrients; over time, premature senescence occurs.
3. Control Methods
To prevent premature senescence, first of all, fertilizer and water management should be done well. Before planting, base fertilizer should be applied according to the soil fertility status. At each growth stage, topdressing should be carried out in a timely manner to provide sufficient nutrients for plant growth. In drought, irrigate in a timely manner, and in the rainy season, drain in a timely manner to avoid root rot. Strengthen vine management, balance the vegetative growth and reproductive growth of watermelons, and ensure the nutrient demand for young melon swelling. Pest and disease control in watermelons should be done well, with prevention taking priority over treatment.
The above is an introduction to the causes of premature senescence in watermelons and control measures. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.