Sex Expression and Growth in Muskmelon

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Abstract
Studies were made on the effect of N and auxin under long and short days on the ratio of staminate to perfect flowers in an andromonoecious variety of the muskmelon, Cucumis melo. Medium and high N levels and long days each increased the number of staminate and perfect flowers as well as the proportion of perfect flowers in the muskmelon. However, at a concentration of 100 ppm of N, long days increased staminate flowers while there was no effect of photoperiod on perfect flowers at this N level. Photoperiod influenced the response to naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The number of staminate and perfect flowers was decreased by NAA under long days with a greater reduction in staminate flowers. Under short days, 0.01 ppm NAA increased both but caused a greater increase in the number of perfect flowers. Higher concentrations under short days caused a depression in total flowering. Medium and high N levels and long days increased the fresh and dry weights of plants. The number of nodes was increased by N but photoperiod had no effect. Length of internodes was increased by long days and by raising the N level. All concentrations of NAA reduced the number of nodes and weight under long days but had little effect on plants grown under short days.
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