Effect of grafting on watermelon growth and yield

Wilt of watermelon especially caused by Fusarium is a common and serious problem all over the world. Grafting with bottle gourd is a unique solution to control wilt of watermelon. The experiment was conducted in the coastal region of Bangladesh with the direct involvement of the farmers. All the grafted watermelon plants remain alive up to harvesting while more than one-third non-grafted plants died from vegetative to fruiting stage. Fruit yield was observed one and half times higher in grafted fields as compared to non-grafted counterparts.