scholarly journals Pollen Viability of Selected Diploid Watermelon Pollenizer Cultivars

HortScience ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 274-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh H. Freeman ◽  
Stephen M. Olson ◽  
Eileen A. Kabelka
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Pollen Viability ◽  
Viable Pollen ◽  
Diploid Cultivar ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

In the Spring and Fall 2006, the pollen viability of four diploid watermelon pollenizers was evaluated in Quincy, FL. Triploid watermelon plants [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai.] do not produce sufficient viable pollen to pollenize themselves and a diploid cultivar must be interplanted as a pollen source. Recent studies have illustrated differences in triploid watermelon yields as a result of the pollenizer cultivar used. The viability of the pollen produced by pollenizer cultivars may greatly influence the fruit set and fruit quality in the triploid watermelon crop. Pollen samples were taken from ‘Companion’, ‘Jenny’, ‘Mickylee’, and ‘SP-1’ and were stained to determine their viability. There were no significant differences in pollen viability among cultivars and all cultivars had high average viability. Pollen viability was never lower than 95% for any cultivar. This study indicates that pollen viability of the cultivars evaluated should not influence their effectiveness as pollenizers.

scholarly journals In-row Diploid Watermelon Pollenizer Competition with Triploid Watermelon Based on Four Planting Ratios

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua I. Adkins ◽  
Joshua H. Freeman ◽  
Stephen M. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Viable Pollen ◽  
Triploid Plant ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

Diploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) pollenizers are planted within triploid watermelon fields to provide viable pollen for triploid fruit set. In recent years, pollenizer cultivars with desirable characteristics for planting in-row with triploid watermelons have been commercially available. The degree of plant competition from in-row pollenizers grown in the commercially common arrangement where pollenizers are placed equidistant from neighboring triploid plants has not been reported. Field experiments were conducted in 2005, 2006, and 2007 in Quincy, FL, to examine the competitive impact of in-row pollenizers grown equidistant from neighboring triploid plants. Four ratios of pollenizers-to-triploids: 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 were used to provide various levels of pollenizer competition. No significant difference in yield based on the weight or number of fruit per triploid plant resulted from the varied pollenizer ratios. Therefore, pollenizers grown in-row at an equidistant spacing from the neighboring triploid plants had no competitive impact on the yield of the triploid watermelon crop.

scholarly journals Characterization and Field Performance of 15 Strawberry Germplasm under Bangladesh Conditions

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Moshiur Rahman ◽  
M Mizanur Rahman ◽  
M Mofazzal Hossain ◽  
MA Khaleque Mian ◽  
Q Abdul Khaliq
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Viability ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Viable Pollen ◽  
Days To Flowering ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Quantitative Characters ◽  
Number Of Leaves

Fifteen strawberry germplasm collected from local and exotic sources were evaluated for different qualitative and quantitative characters. The germplasm showed variation for majority of the studied traits. Plant height during peak harvest ranged from 14.67 to 25.00 cm and FA 007 exhibited the tallest plants. The maximum number of leaves plant-1 was produced by FA 006 (46.67). The maximum number of runners plant-1 was obtained in FA 003 (68.67) followed by FA 004 (63.00), while the highest number of crown plant-1 was found in FA 007 (15.33) followed by FA 006 (14.67). Days to flowering varied from 48.33 to 102.30 among the germplasm and FA 008 required minimum (48.33) days for flowering. The germplasm FA 004 produced the highest number of flower trusses (35.50 plant-1) while it was the lowest in FA 010 (5.00 plant-1). The number of flowers plant-1 was found maximum in FA 003 (168.00 plant-1) and minimum in FA 010 (40.00 plant-1). Among the germplasm pollen viability varied significantly and maximum viable pollen was recorded in FA 010 (84 %), while it was lowest in FA 004 (12.00 %). The highest per cent fruit set was recorded in BARI Strawberry-1 (86 %) while, FA 013 (39 %) showed the lowest. Among the germplasm the highest yield plant-1 was recorded from FA 005 (737.70 g) followed by FA 006 (702.30 g) and was significantly higher than others while the lowest yield plant-1 was recorded from FA 013 (52.00 g), FA 014 (69.00 g), FA 009 (81.33 g) and FA 010 (121.30 g). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v11i2.18404 SAARC J. Agri., 11(2): 81-94 (2013)

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 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 COMPARISON OF COMMERCIAL POLLINIZERS FOR TRIPLOID WATERMELON PRODUCTION, 2003

HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 871b-871
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽  
Donald N. Maynard
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
The Other ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Chain Stores ◽  
The Past ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Diploid Cultivar ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Pollen Movement

Market demand for diploid fruit has been declining over the past ten years, especially the past three years. Thus, the watermelon industry is looking for ways to produce triploid fruit more efficiently. Several companies have developed pollinizers for planting in-row so as not to take up space like a commercial diploid cultivar. The objective of our experiment was to determine the effects of `Companion' and `SP-1' pollinizers on triploid yield compared with a traditional diploid pollinizer which until recently were routinely sold to grocery chain stores. The experimental locations were Bradenton, Florida and Kinston, NC. Treatments included two triploid cultivars; Tri-X-313 (Syngenta, Rogers Brand Seeds) and Olympia (Seminis Seed Co.), and three pollinizers; `Companion' (Seminis Seed Co.), `SP-1' (Syngenta, Rogers Brand Seeds), and `Summer Flavor 800' (Abbott & Cobb Seed Co.). A seventh treatment included `Tri × 313' in which no pollinizer was planted next to the triploid cultivar. `Companion' was interplanted every two triploid plants. `SP-1' was interplanted every three triploid plants, and `Summer Flavor 800' planted every third hill. All fruit were harvested when ripe and each watermelon was weighed. Results in the Florida location were compromised due to the close proximity of pollen from adjacent watermelon cultivar trials. In North Carolina, some pollen movement did occur between treatment plots as evidenced by fruit set in the `Tri-X-313' plots which did not contain a pollinizer. Yields; however, were 25% to 33% of those treatments which contained a pollinizer. `Tri × 313' yielded greater fruit numbers but individual fruit weights were less than those harvested from `Olympia'. Early fruit yield was similar regardless of pollinizer, while late yields were greater using `SP-1' rather than `Companion' or `Summer Flavor 800'. Cumulative yields (three total harvests) were highest with `SP-1' than the other pollinizers. The use of `SP-1' provided the greatest potential for improved yields over traditional diploid pollinizers.

scholarly journals Flowering Patterns of Pollenizer and Triploid Watermelon Cultivars

HortScience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 714-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia E. McGregor ◽  
Vickie Waters
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Staminate Flower ◽  
The United States ◽  
Specific Production ◽  
The Past ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Fundamental Requirement

The past 10 years has seen a steep increase in production of seedless watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in the United States. Seedless fruit is produced on triploid plants that require pollination from diploid pollenizers for fruit set. Synchronization of the staminate flowers on the pollenizers with the appearance of pistillate flowers on the triploids is a fundamental requirement for this production system. Previous research suggested that pistillate flowers reach peak production early in the season, but data are only available for a small number of triploid cultivars. We compared the flowering patterns of 29 triploid cultivars and 20 pollenizers, including 10 harvested pollenizers, during the first 6 weeks after transplanting over 2 years. The average number of days from transplanting (DAT) to the first staminate flower was between 5.3 days and 19.1 days in 2012 and 9.7 days and 24.4 days in 2013 for the pollenizers and between 18.7 days and 27.6 days and 22.1 days and 32.7 days for the pistillate triploid flowers in the 2 years, respectively. K-means clustering of the weekly percentage of plants with staminate and pistillate flowers for the different cultivars shows that different triploid and pollenizer cultivars have different flowering patterns and that some combinations have better synchronized flowering than others. Growers should take particular care when choosing pollenizers for early-flowering triploid cultivars. Harvested pollenizers are better suited to late-flowering triploids and growers should choose triploid and pollenizer cultivar combinations with flowering patterns that best satisfy their specific production goals.

scholarly journals Fruit Set of Triploid Watermelons as a Function of Distance from a Diploid Pollinizer

HortScience ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Scott NeSmith ◽  
John R. Duval
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Similar Distribution ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Density Data ◽  
Single Row ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Made In

During 1998 and 1999, `Genesis' triploid watermelons [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nak.] were grown in large blocks with a single row of the diploid `Ferarri' planted as a pollinizer in the middle. A once-over harvest each year was made in harvest lanes 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 m perpendicular distances from the pollinizer row. Individual fruit were weighed and counted. Data from both years indicated a similar distribution of triploid fruit with respect to distance from the pollinizer row. The greatest number of triploid fruit per unit land area was in the harvest row 3.0 m from the pollinizer row. When distance from the pollinizer row was 6.0 m or greater, triploid fruit numbers diminished substantially. Yield estimates made each year using the fruit density data suggested that a 1 pollinizer: 4 triploid ratio gave the maximum total triploid fruit yield per hectare for 1.5-m row spacings. These results should prove useful in designing field planting strategies to optimize triploid watermelon production.

scholarly journals Stand Survival, Establishment, and Yield of a Diploid and a Triploid Watermelon Transplants of Different Ages and Sizes

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 656-660
Author(s):  
John R. Duval ◽  
D. Scott NeSmith
Keyword(s):  
Factorial Design ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Vine Growth ◽  
Different Ages ◽  
Diploid Cultivar ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

Age and cell size can have various effects on subsequent transplant production. The interaction of the two have not been studied in triploid watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai]. Seedless watermelon production is costly due to high seed prices, therefore it is necessary to optimize transplant performance in the field, and it is often thought that triploid watermelons are less hardy than their diploid counterparts. A 3 × 3 factorial design was established for 2 years to determine the effects of cell sizes 1.5, 3.4, and 7.9 inch3 (25, 56, and 130 cm3) and transplant age (4, 6, and 8 weeks) on the triploid watermelon `Genesis'. The diploid cultivar `Ferrari' was also planted for comparison. Seedling survival was affected by transplant age in 1997, and by cell size in 1998. Early main vine growth showed significant interaction between transplant age and cell size, with older transplants grown in the largest cells producing the longest vines. Early yield of 6-week-old transplants of `Genesis' was higher than 4- or 8-week-old transplants in 1997. Eight-week-old transplants of `Ferrari' outperformed younger transplants in 1997 and 1998. Results show that `Genesis' triploid watermelon transplants could be handled similarly to the diploid `Ferrari' without consequence.

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.

scholarly journals 454 Deficit Irrigation Affects Yield and Quality of Triploid and Diploid Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 523A-523
Author(s):  
D.I. Leskovar ◽  
P. Perkins-Veazie ◽  
A. Meiri
Keyword(s):  
Water Deficit ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Solid Content ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Soluble Solid Content ◽  
Maturity Stage

Water conservation strategies are being investigated for watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] production in the Winter Garden region of southwest Texas. Our objective was to determine how yield and fruit quality of a triploid (cv. Summer Sweet 5244) and hybrid (cv. Summer Flavor 710) watermelon were affected by irrigation based on evapotranspiration (ET) rates and timing of application during spring. Irrigation treatments included constant 1.0 and 0.5 ET, three with varying ET before or after fruit set, and one with cycles of 1.0 and 0.5 ET. Fruit quality characteristics were measured at the unripe, ripe, and overripe maturity stages. Water deficit before or after fruit set decreased yield and fruit number. Flesh color was not affected by irrigation at any maturity stage. Soluble solid content at the ripe stage increased only in triploids irrigated with constant 0.5 ET or with 0.5 ET applied after fruit set. Triploid plants exposed to frequent cycles of water deficit set more and smaller fruit than hybrids. These data suggest that triploid watermelon types may have a different acclimation response to drought stress than diploid hybrids.

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