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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #172172
Title: TRIPLOID MINIWATERMELON CULTIGEN EVALUATION, SPRING 2004

Author
item MAYNARD, DON
item Perkins Veazie, Penelope

Submitted to: Extension Publications
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2004
Publication Date: 11/26/2004
Citation: Maynard, D.N., Perkins Veazie, P.M. 2004. Triploid miniwatermelon cultigen evaluation, Spring 2004. University of Florida Extension Publication. Available: http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/watermelon%20variety%20webpage/Minimelon%20SP04/triploid_minimelon_cultigen.htm.

Interpretive Summary: Twenty-one mini seedless watermelon selections evaluated in Florida in 2004. All selections were sweet (more than 10% soluble solids), about half were firm (more than 3 lbs flesh firmness), and three were very high in lycopene (more than 75 ug/g). Fourteen of the selections had a wide range of fruit weights, with more than 15% of fruit exceeding the accepted minimelon weight limit of 8 lbs. Overall, the minimelons tested had high fruit quality, with size being the largest limitation.

Technical Abstract: Mini watermelon selections were evaluated in Bradenton, Florida in May of 2004. Twenty-one selections, all seedless, were weighed and firmness, sugars, and lycopene measured. Of these selections, all were above 10% in soluble solids content, twelve exceeded 15 N firmness (more than 3 lbs firmness) and three were very high in lycopene (>75 ug/g). Only eight selections had most of their fruit in the 3 to 8 lb minimelon size category. These findings indicate that minimelon fruit quality is good to excellent, but strategies to make fruit weight more uniform need to be tried.