Foliar level of phosphorus and its bioindicators in Cucumis melo grafted plants. A possible effect of rootstocks

Cucumis melo var. Arava plants were grafted with three cultivars of Cucurbita maxima: Shintoza, RS-841 and Kamel. Plants were grown under controlled conditions, and submitted to a constant fertilization of macro and micronutrients. Total, organic and inorganic phosphorus were determined in scion parts of all the crosses. On other hand we analyzed the level of nonstructural carbohydrates (Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose and Starch) in plant leaves. Our result showed a good relationship between P and sugar contents in all grafted plants, obtaining significative differences within treatments in both compounds. While the concentration of inorganic phosphorus remained constant in all the crosses, independently of the phosphorus nutritional status in these plants.