scholarly journals BEE-SCENT FOR IMPROVED POLLINATION OF WATERMELON

HortScience ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 488g-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Elmstrom ◽  
D. N. Maynard
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
Southwest Florida ◽  
Set Size ◽  
Seed Content ◽  
Solids Content

Watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, requires insects, most commonly honey bees, for pollination and fruit set. The transfer of an adequate amount of pollen is essential to ensure optimum fruit set, size, and shape. To encourage bee visits and the transfer of pollen, two applications of Bee-Scent*, a bee attractant, at 2.47 liter·ha-1 were made to watermelon on five farms in central and southwest Florida. Honey bee, Apis melifera L., activity was monitored for two days following each application and yield and fruit quality were determined. On only a few occasions was increased honey bee activity noted. Application of bee attractant increased total yield in one field in central Florida and resulted in an increase in early yield at all three locations in southwest Florida. Soluble solids content of mature fruit was not directly affected by treatment. Treatment increased the seed content of fruit from three of five farms.

scholarly journals Influence of Honey Bee Pollination on Triploid Watermelon Fruit Set and Quality

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1118C-1118
Author(s):  
S. Alan Walters
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Hollow Heart ◽  
Pistillate Flower ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Bee Pollination ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

Cucurbit vegetable crops, such as watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), require insect pollination for fruit set, which is usually achieved by placing honey bee (Apismellifera) colonies in a field or relying upon natural bee populations. Pistillate (or female) watermelon flowers require multiple honey bee (or other bee) visitations after visiting staminate (or male) flowers for fruit set, and pollination is even more of a concern in triploid watermelon production since staminate flowers contain mostly nonviable pollen. Six honey bee visitation treatments, 1) no visitation control, 2) two visits, 3) four visits, 4) eight visits, 5) 16 visits, and 6) open-pollinated control, were evaluated to determine the effect of honey bee pollination on `Millionaire' triploid watermelon fruit set, yield, and quality utilizing `Crimson Sweet' at a 33% pollinizer frequency. No differences (P> 0.05) between honey bee pollination treatments were observed for `Millionaire' quality characters (hollow heart disorder or percent soluble solids). The lowest pistillate flower abortion rate (20%) and subsequently the greatest triploid watermelon yields (fruit numbers and weights per hectare) occurred with the openpollinated control compared to all other honey bee visitation treatments. Fruit abortion rates decreased linearly, while fruit numbers and weights per hectare increased linearly as number of honey bee visits to pistillate flowers increased from 0 (no visit control) to the open-pollinated control (≈24 visits). This study indicated that >16 honey bee visits are required to achieve maximum triploid watermelon fruit set and yields, which is twice the number of honey bee visits required by diploid watermelons to achieve similar results.

scholarly journals Honey Bee Pollination Requirements for Triploid Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1268-1270 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Alan Walters
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Hollow Heart ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Bee Pollination ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are important pollinators of triploid watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai]. Pistillate (or female) watermelon flowers require multiple honey bee or other wild bee visitations after visiting staminate (or male) flowers for fruit set, and pollination is even more of a concern in triploid watermelon production since staminate flowers contain mostly nonviable pollen. Six honey bee visitation treatments—1) no visitation control, 2) two visits, 3) four visits, 4) eight visits, 5) 16 visits, and 6) open-pollinated control—were evaluated to determine the effectiveness of honey bee pollination on `Millionaire' triploid watermelon fruit set, yield, and quality utilizing `Crimson Sweet' at a 33% pollenizer frequency. `Millionaire' quality characters (hollow heart disorder or percent soluble solids) did not differ (P > 0.05) between honey bee pollination treatments. The open-pollinated control provided the highest fruit set rate (80%) and the greatest triploid watermelon numbers and weights per plot compared to all other honey bee visitation treatments. Fruit set, and fruit numbers and weights per plot increased linearly as number of honey bee visits to pistillate flowers increased from 0 (no visit control) to the open-pollinated control (about 24 visits). This study indicated that between 16 and 24 honey bee visits are required to achieve maximum triploid watermelon fruit set and yields at a 33% pollenizer frequency, which is twice the number of honey bee visits required by seeded watermelons to achieve similar results. This is probably due to many honey bees visiting staminate triploid watermelon flowers (that are in close proximity) before visiting pistillate flowers thus providing mostly nonviable pollen that is useless for fruit set and development. Therefore, more honey bee visits to pistillate triploid watermelon flowers would be required to achieve maximum fruit set and subsequent development compared to seeded watermelons.

ETHEPHON AS A CHEMICAL HARVESTING AID FOR THE LATE SEASON HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY COVILLE

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 1099-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. FORSYTH ◽  
D. L. CRAIG ◽  
R. STARK
Keyword(s):  
Total Yield ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Yield Reduction ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Ripe Fruit ◽  
Titratable Acid ◽  
Berry Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Solids Content

Single applications of ethephon (1,000 pm) were made at three treatment dates to 20-yr-old Coville highbush blueberry plants. Berry weight, titratable acid, soluble solids content and yield were recorded. Average weight per berry was not consistently different in treated berries than in untreated but in both years the second and third sprays decreased the mean berry weight faster than occurred in the controls or first spray. Total yield was only slightly affected by treatment, indicating that a yield reduction would not be expected through the use of ethephon. Ethephon increased the rate at which the soluble solids and titratable acid (as citric) reached the normal level for ripe fruit.

scholarly journals Citrulline and Arginine Are Moderately Heritable in Two Red-fleshed Watermelon Populations

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan L. Hartman ◽  
Penelope Perkins-Veazie ◽  
Todd C. Wehner
Keyword(s):  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Narrow Sense Heritability ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Small Fruit ◽  
Solids Content ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration ◽  
Half Sibling

Watermelon fruit [Citrullus lanatus (Thumb) Matsum & Nakai] is a natural source of phytonutrients, including lycopene, citrulline, and arginine. Two segregating, highly outcrossed North Carolina watermelon populations, NC High Yield (NCHYW) and NC Small Fruit (NCSFW), were evaluated for these traits and for indicators of ripeness (pH and soluble solids content). Parents tested in 2015 (NSF = 300, NHY = 300) were sampled for the above and offspring were tested in 2016 if the sampled fruit of the parents were of qualifying ripeness [soluble solids concentration (SSC) ≥8, pH 5.5–6.5], resulting in 251 families (NSF = 72, NHY = 175). Narrow-sense heritability was estimated in each of the populations using the methods of 1) parent-offspring regression and 2) variance of half-sibling family means. Heritability for citrulline in NCHYW was moderate in both parent-offspring and half-sibling estimations (38% and 43%), as was arginine (40% and 44%) and lycopene (46% and 47%, respectively). Estimates for these traits in NCSFW were considerably different, with parent-offspring and half-sibling estimations for citrulline (65% and 22%), arginine (9% and 20%), and lycopene (44% and 68%). In NCHYW, moderate phenotypic correlations were found between SSC and citrulline (0.40), arginine (0.40), their combination (0.45), and lycopene (0.30) all of which were significant, except lycopene. Lycopene was significantly and weakly correlated to citrulline (0.22), but was not correlated to arginine (0.06). Similar correlations were found in NCSFW; SSC was significantly correlated to citrulline (0.24), arginine (0.18), and their combination (0.23), whereas lycopene was slightly correlated to citrulline (0.15) and not significantly correlated to arginine. Based on these heritabilities and phenotypic correlations, tandem selection for high lycopene and citrulline content may be accomplished efficiently using progeny rows with minimal replication using the NCSFW population, whereas replication with multiple years, rows, and locations may be necessary for creating stable lines using the NCHYW population.

scholarly journals The Influence of Climate on Fruit Development and Quality of Four Low-chill Peach Cultivars

HortScience ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 666-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd W. Wert ◽  
Jeffrey G. Williamson ◽  
Jose X. Chaparro ◽  
E. Paul Miller ◽  
Robert E. Rouse
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Development ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Soluble Solids Content ◽  
North Central ◽  
Southwest Florida ◽  
The North ◽  
Solids Content

The effect of climate was observed on fruit quality of four low-chill peach cultivars (Flordaprince, Flordaglo, UFGold, and TropicBeauty). The cultivars were evaluated in three locations (north–central, central, and southwest Florida). Soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), SSC:TA ratio, fruit weight, blush, and fruit development period (FDP) were determined. Longer FDPs were observed at the north–central location than at the southwest location. Fruit development and the expression of quality attributes were affected by location during fruit growth with higher color and SSC and shorter FDP occurring under warmer conditions. Within locations, ‘UFGold’ had the shortest FDP except at the southwest location where its chilling requirement may not have been met. At the central and southwest locations, ‘UFGold’ also tended to have lower TA values and higher SSC;TA ratios than the other cultivars.

scholarly journals Diploid Watermelon Pollenizer Cultivars Differ with Respect to Triploid Watermelon Yield

2007 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 518-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua H. Freeman ◽  
G.A. Miller ◽  
S.M. Olson ◽  
W.M. Stall
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Pollen Flow ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Experimental Plots ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

As triploid watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) increase in popularity, production has shifted away from seeded watermelons. To achieve successful fruit set in triploid watermelons, a diploid watermelon cultivar must be planted as a pollen source. Three diploid cultivars in 2005 and seven diploid cultivars in 2006 were evaluated at one and three locations, respectively, to determine their effectiveness as pollenizers. Each cultivar was planted within plots of the triploid watermelons ‘Tri-X 313’ (2005) and ‘Supercrisp’ (2006) with buffers on all sides of the plots to contain pollen flow within individual plots. Performance of pollenizers was based on triploid watermelon yield, soluble solids concentration, and incidence of hollowheart. In 2005, there were no significant differences in total weight, fruit per acre, average weight, or soluble solids concentration among pollenizers. In 2006, significant differences in yield were observed, and plots with ‘Sidekick’ as a pollenizer yielded the highest but were not significantly different from ‘Patron’, ‘SP-1’, ‘Jenny’, or ‘Mickylee’. In 2006, there were no significant differences in fruit per acre, soluble solids concentration, or incidence of hollowheart between pollenizers. The experimental design was successful in isolating pollenizers and there was minimal pollen flow outside of experimental plots as indicated by minimal fruit set in control plots.

scholarly journals Synthetic Cytokinin-1-(2=chloro=4=pyridyl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU)-Promotes Fruit Set and Induces Parthenocarpy in Watermelon

1995 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 997-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuyoshi Hayata ◽  
Yoshiyuki Niimi ◽  
Naoto Iwasaki
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Growth ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Parthenocarpic Fruit ◽  
Soluble Solids Content ◽  
Control Fruit ◽  
Seedless Fruit ◽  
Solids Content

Applying a 200 ppm solution of CPPU to pollinated ovaries of watermelon (Citrullus lunatus Matsum) at anthesis increased fruit set from 26.9% (control) to 95%. Applying CPPU solutions to nonpollinated ovaries at anthesis induced parthenocarpy, yielding 65% and 89.5% fruit set, respectively with 20 and 200 ppm applications. However, 64% of the 20 ppm CPPU-treated parthenocarpic fruit stopped growth 10 days after treatment. Growth of CPPU-treated, pollinated, and nonpollinated fruit increased significantly compared with growth of control fruit during the first 10 days after treatment, but, except for the 20 ppm CPPU parthenocarpic fruit, growth subsequently slowed, resulting in fruit equal in size to the control by harvest. CPPU application did not affect soluble solids content of pollinated fruit, but reduced content of parthenocarpic fruit treated with 20 ppm. Fructose content was generally higher than glucose and sucrose at harvest. However, in pollinated fruit treated with 20 ppm CPPU, sucrose levels were higher than glucose and fructose. These results suggest that CPPU is practical for promoting fruit set and seedless fruit without adversely affecting fruit quality and development.

scholarly journals SELECTION VIA MIXED MODELS IN SEGREGATING GUAVA FAMILIES BASED ON YIELD AND QUALITY TRAITS

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
SILVANA SILVA RED QUINTAL ◽  
ALEXANDRE PIO VIANA ◽  
BIANCA MACHADO CAMPOS ◽  
MARCELO VIVAS ◽  
ANTONIO TEIXEIRA DO AMARAL JÚNIOR
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Ascorbic Acid Content ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Selection Accuracy ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Solids Content

ABSTRACT Aiming at the generation of new guava varieties with superior attributes, we conducted this study adopting the REML/BLUP procedure at individual level. Seventeen segregating guava families were evaluated in a randomized-block design with two replicates and 12 plants per plot. Families were obtained after controlled biparental pollination. The studied individuals showed high genotypic variance for fruit weight (FW), total yield (YLD), and ascorbic acid content (AAC). The heritability coefficients of the mean of progenies led to high progeny-selection accuracy for pulp yield (PY), soluble solids content (SSC), in addition to FW, YLD, and AAC; moderate accuracy for fruit acidity (FA) and SSC/FA ratio; and low accuracy for mesocarp thickness (MT) and pH. Selection among families (h2mp) indicated the highest values for FW, PY, YLD, SSC, and AAC, revealing that, for the present study, this practice would be effective, since these traits allowed for the highest selection accuracy values among families. As for the ranking of individuals, families originating from crosses UENF 1835 × UENF 1834, UENF 1831 × UENF 1832, and UENF 1831 × UENF 3739 stood out, occupying the first positions for most traits.

scholarly journals Selection of S3 progenies of super sweet corn based on agronomic performance of topcrosses

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-361
Author(s):  
Nathany R Chiquito ◽  
Marcos V Faria ◽  
Elida Auxiliadora P Paiva ◽  
Emanuel Gava ◽  
Welton L Zaluski
Keyword(s):  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Inbred Lines ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Agronomic Performance ◽  
Soluble Solids Content ◽  
Commercial Yield ◽  
Solids Content ◽  
Topcross Hybrids ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to select S3 progenies of super sweet corn based on agronomic performance, evaluated in topcrosses with the narrow genetic base tester Honey Sweeter (Seminis®). The experiment was carried out in Guarapuava-PR. We evaluated 22 topcross hybrids and three checks, in two sowing times, in randomized blocks design with three replications. Six traits were evaluated: total yield of husked ears, commercial yield of husked ears, grain yield, grain length, ear diameter and total soluble solids content. Considering the set of evaluated traits, the topcrosses with progenies D2-07, D3-28, D4-53 and D5-24 were superior to the others; therefore, these progenies should continue in the inbreeding process and be evaluated in crosses with elite inbred lines with potential to generate competitive super sweet corn single hybrids.

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