Genotypic differences in different pH levels in relation to growth and morphology of various gourd genotypes and watermelon cultivars

A plant’s ability to endure various pH levels depends largely on it’s ability to take in andutilize nutrients at varying concentrations in the soil solution. Some plants prefer, evenrequire, acid soils and are not bothered by the lack of nutrients. Other plants will tolerate,but do not require, pH levels above 7, and are adapted to the lack of micronutrients. The“ideal” soil pH is close to neutral, and neutral soils are considered to fall within a range froma slightly acidic pH of 6.5 to slightly alkaline pH of 7.5. It has been determined that mostplant nutrients are optimally available to plants within this 6.5 to 7.5 pH range, plus thisrange of pH is generally very compatible to plant root growth. The aim of the study was toscreen for the genotypic differences in different pH levels in relation to growth andmorphology of various gourd genotypes and watermelon cultivars under greenhouseconditions. Two watermelon cultivars (Crimson Tide, Crisby) and 20 different gourd(Lagenaria siceraria landraces Cucurbita maxima) genotypes were grown in 8 L pots filledcontinuously aerated nutrient solution under three different pH levels (8.5, 6.5 and 4.5) withthree replications. The results indicated that shoot (stem and leaf fresh and dry matter, leafarea) and root (root fresh and dry matter, root length) growth significantly (P<0.001)affected by different levels of pH supply. Highly significant (P<0.001) genotypic variation inshoot and root growth was found among genotypes and cultivars. Growth response tosupplied pH, i.e. the interaction between pH and genotype, was also highly significant(P<0.001) in some shoot and root growth parameters.