scholarly journals Influence of Diploid Pollinizer Frequencies on Triploid Watermelon Quality and Yields

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dena C. Fiacchino ◽  
S. Alan Walters
Keyword(s):  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Hollow Heart ◽  
Heart Disorder ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Frequency Interaction ◽  
Quadratic Response ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

During the 1999 and 2000 growing seasons in Illinois, studies were conducted to determine the influence of two pollinizers (`Crimson Sweet' and `Fiesta') and three pollinizer frequencies (11%, 20%, and 33%) on `Millionaire' seedless watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) quality and yields. More large-sized [>16 lb (7.2 kg)] `Millionaire' watermelons were produced when `Crimson Sweet' was used as the pollinizer compared to `Fiesta', which resulted in `Crimson Sweet' leading to greater marketable and total `Millionaire' yields. Pollinizers responded similarly over the pollinizer frequencies for `Millionaire' watermelon yields as no pollinizer by pollinizer frequency interaction was observed. The 20% and 33% pollinizer frequencies produced similar `Millionaire' yields per acre and both resulted in greater yields compared to the 11% pollinizer frequency. Soluble solids in `Millionaire' fruits were not influenced by pollinizer or pollinizer frequency. However, hollow heart disorder followed a quadratic response with respect to pollinizer frequency with the lowest amount of hollow heart observed at the 33% pollinizer frequency and greatest at the 11% pollinizer frequency. No significant interaction (P ≤ 0.05) was observed for pollinizer by pollinizer frequency for hollow heart disorder in `Millionaire'; although, more hollow heart disorder in `Millionaire' was observed when `Fiesta' was used as the pollinizer.

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 Effect of 2,4-D and CPPU on Triploid Watermelon Production and Quality

HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Victoria Huitrón ◽  
Manuel Diaz ◽  
Fernando Diánez ◽  
Francisco Camacho ◽  
Antonio Valverde
Keyword(s):  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ◽  
Cucurbita Moschata ◽  
Average Production ◽  
Pollinating Insects ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid

Pollination is one problem with intensive seedless watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) production under unfavorable environmental conditions (low solar radiation and temperature) due to the lowered activity of pollinating insects, such as the bee (Apis mellifera L.). An alternative to overcome these problems is the use of plant growth regulators. For this reason, experiments were conducted for 2 years in plastic greenhouses in the fields of Almeria, southwestern Spain, to evaluate the production and quality of ‘Reina de corazones’ triploid watermelon grafted onto RS841 rootstock (Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata). Two phytoregulators were used for the development of the ovary: 1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Concentrations of CPPU evaluated were 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg·L−1. An application of 0.6 mL was applied to each ovary in addition to 4, 6, 8, or 12 mg·L−1 of 2,4-D to the foliar mass at a proportion of 1000 L·ha−1. Results showed that the production and number of fruit obtained with CPPU treatments were similar to what is obtained by using bees for fruit pollination. Maximum production was reached at concentrations of 100–200 mg·L−1. Average production was 32% to 83% higher than results from 2,4-D at 8 mg·L−1. The number of fruit per plant was 33% to 35% higher as well. In the first assay, a positive correlation was also observed between production and CPPU concentration. CPPU treatments had a lower accumulation of sugars than those with 2,4-D; nevertheless, both treatments showed values of commercially acceptable soluble solids.

scholarly journals Predicting Hollow Heart Incidence in Triploid Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 1926-1930
Author(s):  
Marlee A. Trandel ◽  
Penelope Perkins-Veazie ◽  
Jonathan Schultheis
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Hollow Heart ◽  
Placental Tissue ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Flesh Firmness ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

In triploid (seedless) watermelon [Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus (Thunb. Matsum. and Nakai)], hollow heart (HH) is a disorder that is expressed as a crack in the center of the fruit that expands to an open cavity. Although HH incidence and severity is part of a screening process for marketable watermelon fruit during cultigen evaluations, HH incidence is highly variable with growing season, even when the best cultural practices are used. Placental tissue firmness is also measured because firmness is related to the marketability of watermelon and may be related to HH. Genetic and environmental factors can influence watermelon HH development, including plant genetics, pollen amount and viability, pollinator activity, and temperature and rainfall fluctuations. We used seedless watermelon cultigen evaluation data collected over 3 years (2012–14) to determine the relationship between germplasm HH and tissue firmness. Transplanted watermelon representing 30 to 44 cultigens per year were grown at the Central Crops Research Station, Clayton, NC, and interplanted with pollenizers ‘Ace’ and/or ‘SP-6’. Harvested fruit were cut length-wise and rated for HH incidence and severity. Flesh firmness was determined by a handheld penetrometer at five locations in the flesh (stem end, top side, ground spot, blossom end, and heart). A common cultigen subset, consisting of 13 cultigens that were grown in all three experiments, was used for analysis of HH severity and incidence, and placental firmness. The presence of HH was negatively correlated with tissue firmness in both the large multiyear cultigen set (R2 = −0.32; P = 0.0001) and the common cultigen set (R2 = −0.78; P = 0.0001). Cultigens with lower watermelon tissue firmness values had higher HH incidence and severity. By using multiyear cultigen studies and logistic regression, we were able to detect trends for cultigen susceptibility to this highly variable disorder. Using logistic regression, the probability of HH development was highest for ‘Bold Ruler’, ‘Liberty’, and ‘Affirmed’, and lowest for ‘Maxima’ and ‘Captivation’. The identification of cultigens with a tendency for higher or lower rates of HH will be useful for further research of the causes of HH. Measurements of placental flesh firmness may be useful indicators of susceptible cultigens.

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 PENGARUH ANTHESIS JANTAN DAN WAKTU POLINASI TERHADAP TINGKAT KEBERHASILAN PEMBENTUKAN BENIH SEMANGKA TANPA BIJI (Citrullus Lanatus Thunberg.)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 364-373
Author(s):  
Ahmad Ihwanudin ◽  
Sri Hartatik ◽  
Kacung Hariyono ◽  
Josi Ali Arifandi
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Pollen Viability ◽  
Block Design ◽  
The Other ◽  
Seed Formation ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

Triploid watermelon seeds are produced from the crossing between watermelon diploid as males and tetraploid watermelons as females. The success of triploid seed formation is influenced by the success of pollination determined by pollen viability which is characterized by the period of anthesis and peptic receptivity by the time of pollination. This experiment was conducted in Jember  on 2018. The Factorial Randomized Block Design, 3x3  with three replications, was concucted to determine the effect of male anthesis period and pollination time on the success rate of seedless watermelon seed formation. The results showed that no significant interaction of the male anthesis period and the time of pollination effect. Pollens harvested during pre anthesis give the best pollination results. On the other hand, the best pollination can be done at 07.30 – 08.30 am  Keywords: anthesis, pollination, seeds, seedless watermelon.

scholarly journals YIELD AND QUALITY OF TRIPLOID WATERMELON HYBRIDS.

HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 859f-859
Author(s):  
Donald N. Maynard ◽  
Gary W. Elmstrom
Keyword(s):  
Total Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Triploid Watermelon

Evaluations of 30 triploid (seedless) watermelon hybrids were conducted in the Spring 1989 season at Bradenton and Leesburg, Florida. There was considerable variation in relative cultivar yields at the two locations. However, consistency in some cultivars did occur. 'HMX 7924' produced the highest total yield and 'CFREC 88-2' had high total yields at both locations. On the other hand, 'ACX 882322', 'Fengshan No. 1', 'FMX 28', 'Fummy', 'Honeyheart', 'Nova', and 'NVH 4295' produced low total yields at both locations. Average fruit weight was high for 'Ssuper Sweet Brand 5244', 'CFREC 88-4', and 'HMX 7924' whereas 'ACX 882322', 'FMX 28', 'Fengshan No. 1', 'Nova', and 'PSR 49087' produced low average fruit weight. Soluble solids exceeded 11% in all entries at Bradenton whereas two entries were lower than 10% at Leesburg. Several experimental lines out performed the named cultivars suggesting that future introductions will be superior to those already available.

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 Effect on Production and Quality of Intensifying Triploid Watermelon Crops Using ‘Temporary Trellises’ and CPPU for Fruit Development

HortScience ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-152
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Núñez ◽  
Maria Victoria Huitrón ◽  
Manuel Díaz ◽  
Fernando Diánez ◽  
Francisco Camacho-Ferre
Keyword(s):  
Plant Density ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
Crop Intensification ◽  
Production Techniques ◽  
Seedless Watermelon ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Improve Cost

In Spain, the adoption of the triploide ‘Queen of Hearts’ (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) watermelon cultivar has brought important changes in the production of seedless watermelon thanks to its magnificent acceptance by the market. The experiments on triploid watermelon presented here examined innovative production techniques that would guarantee the productivity and quality of this cultivar in plastic greenhouses and improve cost-effectiveness, serving growers. Crop intensification was tested under a “temporary trellis” management system, increasing plant density from 2500 plants/ha in the traditional or creeping crop system to 10,000 plants/ha. The “temporary trellis” system was combined with fruit set through the localized application of a 150- to 200-mg·L−1 solution of 1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU). The increase of grafted watermelon plant density to 1 plant/m2 gave rise to an increase in early harvest measured as the number of fruits per surface area compared with the traditional system with a density of 0.25 plant/m2. In addition, a process of temporary trellising facilitates choosing female flowers for applying CPPU. The °Brix and pulp firmness quality parameters did not show significant differences between “temporary trellised” and creeping crops.

scholarly journals Use of Commercially Available Pollenizers for Optimizing Triploid Watermelon Production

HortScience ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 541-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Dittmar ◽  
David W. Monks ◽  
Jonathan R. Schultheis
Keyword(s):  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Hollow Heart ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
The Other ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Marketable Fruit ◽  
The Hill ◽  
Pollen Movement ◽  
Selection Of

An experiment was conducted during 2005 and 2006 in Kinston, NC, with the objective of maximizing triploid watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nak.] fruit yield and quality by optimizing the choice and use of pollenizers. Treatments were pollenizer cultivars planted singly [‘Companion’, ‘Super Pollenizer 1’ (‘SP1’), ‘Summer Flavor 800’ (‘SF800’), and ‘Mickylee’] or in pairs (‘Companion’ + ‘SP1’, ‘Companion’ + ‘SF800’, and ‘SP1’ + ‘SF800’). All pollenizers from these seven treatments were interplanted with the triploid cultivar Tri-X-313. Planting arrangement was compared by establishing ‘SF800’ in a hill versus an interplanted field arrangement. Effect of pollenizer establishment timing on triploid fruit yields and quality was evaluated by establishing ‘SP1’ 3 weeks after planting and comparing it with the establishment of ‘SP1’ at the time of triploid plant establishment. Finally, a triploid planting with no pollenizer (control) was included to determine pollen movement. Fruit yield from the control was 22% or less of yield of the other treatments containing a pollenizer and less than 10% in the initial or early harvests. Pollen movement was minimal among plots and differences in yield and fruit quality could be attributed to pollenizer treatment. In 2005, the use of ‘Companion’, ‘SP1’, or ‘Mickylee’ as pollenizers produced similar total yields, whereas ‘SF800’ produced the lowest yield. In 2005, ‘Companion’ produced more large fruit than the other individual pollenizer treatments. Combining the pollenizers generally did not enhance triploid yields or quality. Interplanting of pollenizers consistently resulted in greater yield compared with the hill system. Late planting of ‘SP1’ increased the incidence of hollow heart in the marketable fruit and decreased yield compared with simultaneously planting ‘SP1’ and triploid plants. Thus, selection of pollenizer, planting arrangement, and time of pollenizer establishment are all important considerations to optimizing triploid yield and quality.

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