• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.232-236
• /
• 2001

Four air temperature levels of 23, 25, 27 and 29$^{\circ}C$, three humidity levels of 85, 90 and 95% R.H. at photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 50 $\mu$mol.m$^{-2}$ .s$^{-1}$ were provided to investigate the effect of vapor pressure deficit on the evapotranspiration rate (EVTR) and graft-taking of watermelon grafted seed-increase. Thus EVTR of grafted seedlings increased with increasing air temperature at high humidity of 95%R.H. At relatively low humidity of 85% R.H., grafted seedlings showed a high EVTR and some wilting of scions was observed at this condition. This result would be ascribed to the low supply of water to vascular bundles according to the insufficient joining of scions and rootstocks. Differences in EVTR between 90% R.H. and 95% R.H. were not observed. Grafted seedlings showed high graft-taking at high relative humidity. Relative humidity had highly influenced to the graft-taking as compared to the air temperature. Graft-taking increased with decreasing vapor pressure deficit. Graft-taking greater than 90% was found at vapor pressure deficit less than 0.4kPa which could be obtained at humidity higher than 90% R.H. Therefore it is required to control the humidity higher than 90% R.H. for suppressing EVTR of grafted seedlings and preventing some wilting of scoins and thus enhancing the graft-taking of grafted seedlings.