[Effects of moisture and light intensity on ecophysiological characteristics of muskmelon seedlings]

The muskmelon variety 'Xiholuotuo' was used as a test material in order to study the combined effects of substrate moisture and light intensity on growth, development and ecophysiological characteristics of muskmelon seedings in greenhouse. The results showed that the different substrate moisture and light intensity remarkably influenced the growth and development of muskmelon seedlings. With reduction of substrate moisture, chl a, chl b and chl a + b increased, while relative water content (RWC) of leaf and specific leaf area (SLA) declined. Under 60%-80% water-holding capacity of substrate, net photosynthetic rate was the highest. With the decrease of light intensity, chl a, chl b, chl a+b, RWC, SLA and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) went up, while chl a/b and net photosynthetic rate reduced. Among all the treatments, muskmelon seedlings with 80% water-holding capacity of substrate and 100% light density in greenhouse presented the most strong growth vigor, the highest healthy index and net photosynthetic rate.