Evaluación de dos variedades de sandía (Citrullus lanatus l.) en invernadero bajo nivel (walipini), durante su etapa vegetativa en la comunidad San José de Gaushi

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the acclimatization of Citrullus lanatus L., according to vegetative development through a DBCA design with a bifactorial arrangement consisting of two watermelon varieties (Quetzali and Charleston Gray) distributed in two types of environments (walipini greenhouse and open field) with 3 replications, 4 treatments and a total of 12 experimental units. A better acclimatization behavior of Citrullus lanatus L. was recorded under walipini greenhouse conditions with 100% germination, as opposed to 85.19% and 75.93% survival in open field with a temperature of 13.18°C, a factor that caused problems such as dormancy and mortality of seeds and seedlings. Regarding vegetative development, there was evidence of late development in open field with 4.86 cm length/branching, 4 branches/plant, 0.215 cm diameter/stem, 12 leaves per plant and 0 flowers and fruit in a period of 120 days, while growth under walipini conditions with 27.98°C obtained a higher growth than mentioned above with 150.5 cm length/branching, 8 branches/plant, average diameters of 0.478 cm, 78 leaves/plant, 12 flowers/plant and a production of 12 flowers/plant; 12 flowers/plant and an average production of 2 fruits per plant. Evidently, the acclimatization of Citrullus lanatus L., depends clearly on temperature. Concluding that the use of greenhouses at walipini level is an effective strategy to improve watermelon production in regions with climatic conditions similar to those of San Jose de Gaushi.