Effect of Trichoderma-Based Biofertilizers on the Flower and Fruit Pattern of Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naudin)

The lack of agronomic information is one of the various reasons given for the failure of indigenous vegetables to move from subsistence plants of restricted use to vegetables that are considerably researched, utilized, available, and commercially aggressive. A greenhouse study was conducted at Midla...

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Main Authors: Moses Mutetwa, Ignatius Chagonda, Tafadzwa Gwaziwa, Pamela Mangezi, Tapfumaneyi Midzi, Lawrence Sithole, Tuarira Mtaita, Johnson Masaka, Tavagwisa Muziri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Agronomy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6866853
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author Moses Mutetwa
Ignatius Chagonda
Tafadzwa Gwaziwa
Pamela Mangezi
Tapfumaneyi Midzi
Lawrence Sithole
Tuarira Mtaita
Johnson Masaka
Tavagwisa Muziri
author_facet Moses Mutetwa
Ignatius Chagonda
Tafadzwa Gwaziwa
Pamela Mangezi
Tapfumaneyi Midzi
Lawrence Sithole
Tuarira Mtaita
Johnson Masaka
Tavagwisa Muziri
author_sort Moses Mutetwa
collection DOAJ
description The lack of agronomic information is one of the various reasons given for the failure of indigenous vegetables to move from subsistence plants of restricted use to vegetables that are considerably researched, utilized, available, and commercially aggressive. A greenhouse study was conducted at Midlands State University’s Department of Horticulture and Agronomy to consider the impact of Trichoderma biofertilizer at different stages on the overall performance of horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus). A complete randomized block design (CRBD) was used for this greenhouse experiment. Four Trichoderma-based biofertilizer treatments (0.1 g/pot, 0.2 g/pot, 0.3 g/pot, and 0.4 g/pot) and a control treatment (0.0 g/pot) in four replications were laid down. Inoculation by way of biofertilizer registered significant (p<0.05) results as a greater number of male flowers were recorded. Higher rates of biofertilizers of 0.3 g/pot and 0.4 g/pot gave more flowers, 10.75 and 12.25, respectively, versus lower application rates of 0.1 g/pot and 0.2 g/pot with 6.25 and 6.50 flowers, respectively. The days to flowering increased from 0.0 g/pot (44.75 days) to 0.4 g/pot (49.00 days). Time taken to fruiting was affected significantly (p<0.05) with the application of the biofertilizer. The number of fruits per plant followed the same trend of number of female flowers along the main stem. The number of small fruits increased numerically from 0.0 g/pot (0.5 fruits) to 0.4 g/pot (1.5 fruits) but did not differ (p>0.05) statistically between all treatments. The results of this current study indicate that the Trichoderma-based biofertilizer significantly affects the flowering pattern and fruiting characteristics of horned melon at different application rates. Further investigations need to be conducted to reveal the potential derived from the Trichoderma-based biofertilizer in the production of horned melon.
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spelling doaj-art-36bb1ca5c3fc4f6cbbeb323a6d1c4e382025-08-20T02:07:45ZengWileyInternational Journal of Agronomy1687-81672022-01-01202210.1155/2022/6866853Effect of Trichoderma-Based Biofertilizers on the Flower and Fruit Pattern of Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naudin)Moses Mutetwa0Ignatius Chagonda1Tafadzwa Gwaziwa2Pamela Mangezi3Tapfumaneyi Midzi4Lawrence Sithole5Tuarira Mtaita6Johnson Masaka7Tavagwisa Muziri8Midlands State UniversityMidlands State UniversityMidlands State UniversityMidlands State UniversityMidlands State UniversityMidlands State UniversityAfrica UniversityMidlands State UniversityMidlands State UniversityThe lack of agronomic information is one of the various reasons given for the failure of indigenous vegetables to move from subsistence plants of restricted use to vegetables that are considerably researched, utilized, available, and commercially aggressive. A greenhouse study was conducted at Midlands State University’s Department of Horticulture and Agronomy to consider the impact of Trichoderma biofertilizer at different stages on the overall performance of horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus). A complete randomized block design (CRBD) was used for this greenhouse experiment. Four Trichoderma-based biofertilizer treatments (0.1 g/pot, 0.2 g/pot, 0.3 g/pot, and 0.4 g/pot) and a control treatment (0.0 g/pot) in four replications were laid down. Inoculation by way of biofertilizer registered significant (p<0.05) results as a greater number of male flowers were recorded. Higher rates of biofertilizers of 0.3 g/pot and 0.4 g/pot gave more flowers, 10.75 and 12.25, respectively, versus lower application rates of 0.1 g/pot and 0.2 g/pot with 6.25 and 6.50 flowers, respectively. The days to flowering increased from 0.0 g/pot (44.75 days) to 0.4 g/pot (49.00 days). Time taken to fruiting was affected significantly (p<0.05) with the application of the biofertilizer. The number of fruits per plant followed the same trend of number of female flowers along the main stem. The number of small fruits increased numerically from 0.0 g/pot (0.5 fruits) to 0.4 g/pot (1.5 fruits) but did not differ (p>0.05) statistically between all treatments. The results of this current study indicate that the Trichoderma-based biofertilizer significantly affects the flowering pattern and fruiting characteristics of horned melon at different application rates. Further investigations need to be conducted to reveal the potential derived from the Trichoderma-based biofertilizer in the production of horned melon.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6866853
spellingShingle Moses Mutetwa
Ignatius Chagonda
Tafadzwa Gwaziwa
Pamela Mangezi
Tapfumaneyi Midzi
Lawrence Sithole
Tuarira Mtaita
Johnson Masaka
Tavagwisa Muziri
Effect of Trichoderma-Based Biofertilizers on the Flower and Fruit Pattern of Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naudin)
International Journal of Agronomy
title Effect of Trichoderma-Based Biofertilizers on the Flower and Fruit Pattern of Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naudin)
title_full Effect of Trichoderma-Based Biofertilizers on the Flower and Fruit Pattern of Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naudin)
title_fullStr Effect of Trichoderma-Based Biofertilizers on the Flower and Fruit Pattern of Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naudin)
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Trichoderma-Based Biofertilizers on the Flower and Fruit Pattern of Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naudin)
title_short Effect of Trichoderma-Based Biofertilizers on the Flower and Fruit Pattern of Horned Melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. ex Naudin)
title_sort effect of trichoderma based biofertilizers on the flower and fruit pattern of horned melon cucumis metuliferus e mey ex naudin
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6866853
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