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- Author or Editor: Donald N. Maynard x
Demand for triploid watermelons has outpaced the demand for diploid watermelons in the United States in recent years. The size of most triploid watermelons sold in U.S. markets is from 6 to 9 kg. Recently, a new produce item, seedless watermelons weighing about 1.8 to 3.6 kg, have been introduced and created excitement in the produce industry. Several vegetable seed companies have developed proprietary miniwatermelon hybrids. Syngenta Seeds and Seminis Vegetable Seeds have received the most publicity, with the PureHeart and Bambino brands being featured in the 15 June 2003 New York Times. The 2003 season was the first year that cultigens (cultivars and advanced lines) were generally available. At least four trials were conducted in the southeastern United States to evaluate yields and quality of mini-watermelons; Bradenton, Fla., Ediston, S.C., Charleston, S.C., and Kinston, N.C. Cultural practices and the number of cultigens varied among locations (9 to 17). Fruit less than 3.6 kg that yielded best in all locations were `Petite Perfection' (Syngenta) and RWT 8149 (Syngenta). Other cultigens that yielded well in at least one location were; `Precious Petite' (Syngenta), `Vanessa' (Sunseeds), ZG 8905 (Zeraim Gedera), SR 8103 WM (Sunseeds), SW 8002 (Southwestern), and HA 5130 (Hazera). Rind thickness varied from 6 to 25 mm and soluble solids ranged from 10 to 13%, depending on location and cultigen. New cultivars will be made available in 2004. Key characteristics that seem important to overall success in the market of the triploid miniwatermelon is consistent quality. This includes high yields of uniform sized fruit from about 1.6 to 3.8 kg; high soluble sugars (11% to 13%); and fruit with bright red, crisp flesh with a thin rind that endures shipping.
The goal of this study was to evaluate miniwatermelon (Citrullus lanatus) cultivars/experimental hybrids (cultigens) for yield, quality, and adaptability in various growing environments. Eighteen cultigens were evaluated in field locations at southern Florida (Bradenton), northern Florida (Quincy), central South Carolina (Blackville), coastal South Carolina (Charleston), and eastern North Carolina (Kinston). Fruit at each site were harvested when watermelons in several plots were at market maturity. Fruit were categorized as marketable if they weighed between 3.0 and 9.0 lb. Fruit were categorized by size as follows: ≤3.0 lb (cull), 3.1–5.0 lb, 5.1–7.0 lb, 7.1–9.0 lb, and ≥9.1 lb (cull). Fruit were graded according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grading standards for all watermelon fruit. We found that eight cultigens (Meilhart, Petite Perfection, Precious Petite, Little Deuce Coupe, RWT 8162, Master, Bibo, and Vanessa) were consistently among the top yielding and four cultigens (HA 5138, HA 5117, Petite Treat, and Valdoria) were consistently among the lowest yielding. These had a consistent yield response regardless of location. Within the small marketable melon category (3.1–5.0 lb), ‘Bibo’, ‘Precious Petite’, and RWT 8162 produced a uniform fruit over the five locations. Within the medium marketable melon category (5.1–7.0 lb) ‘Meilhart’, ‘Little Deuce Coupe’, HA 5109, ‘Xite’, ‘Mohican’, SR 8101, and ‘Vanessa’ produced uniform fruit size over the five locations. HA 5117, HA 5109, ‘Extazy’, ‘Mohican’, ‘Petite Treat’, and ‘Valdoria’ produced more fruit in the larger category. Those cultigens that produced melons that were consistently >9.0 lb were HA 5138, HA 5117, Bobbie, and Valdoria. The larger USDA marketable class (7.1–9.0 lb) was considered too large to be in the miniwatermelon market. We found five cultigens that provided consistently high soluble solids readings at each location: Master, RWT 8162, Betsy, Bobbie, and Bibo. We sampled only five fruit at each location for internal quality, and found dark seeds in all of the cultigens in at least one of the locations. Rind thickness and fruit shape did not appear to be influenced by test site location.