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 Yield and Quality of Triploid Watermelon Cultivars and Experimental Hybrids Grown in Mississippi

2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent E. Cushman ◽  
Richard G. Snyder ◽  
David H. Nagel ◽  
Patrick D. Gerard
Keyword(s):  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Commercial Production ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Trial Basis ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Evaluations of 21 entries (commercial cultivars and breeders' experimental hybrids) of triploid watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) were conducted in northern and central Mississippi during 2000 and 2001. The purpose of this research was to identify high-yielding, medium-sized triploid cultivars with good horticultural characteristics and consumer qualities for commercial production in Mississippi. Most entries were similar to `Tri-X 313' and had red flesh, oval shape, and a mottle stripe rind pattern. SXW 5052, `Triple Crown,' `Crimson Trio,' `SeedWay 4502,' and `Millionaire' produced the highest total marketable yields; however, SXW 5052 is no longer available. `Crimson Trio' produced slightly smaller-sized melons compared to other entries and `SeedWay 4502' produced melons with relatively low soluble solids concentration. Based on total marketable yield, average size of melons, soluble solids concentration, and lack of undesirable characteristics such as hollowheart, black and colored seed, and rind necrosis, `Triple Crown,' `Millionaire,' `Cooperstown,' `Summer Sweet 5244,' and `Crimson Trio' can be recommended as mid- to late-maturing cultivars for commercial production in Mississippi. Based on early marketable yield, and using the same criteria listed above, `Tri-X 313' and `Tri-X Carousel' can be recommended as early-maturing cultivars for commercial production in Mississippi. `Tri-X 313' exhibited only one undesirable trait, producing a relatively high number of black and colored seeds. `Diamond' had high early and total yields, as well as high soluble solids concentration, but it should be recommended only on a trial basis to determine its potential susceptibility to hollowheart.

Cell Size and Pretransplant Nutritional Conditioning Influences Early Vine Growth and Yield of Transplanted Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 594e-594
Author(s):  
Charles J. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Cell Volume ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Research is needed to better understand the influence of cell volume and fertility on watermelon transplant size and field performance in order to determine the most economic production practices. `Jubilee' watermelon transplants were grown using a 4 x 4 factorial experimental design consisting of 4 cell volumes (30.7, 65.5, 147.5, and 349.6 cm3) and 4 fertility rates (0, 1/4, 1/2, and full-strength Hoagland's solution). Transplant shoot dry weight significantly increased as cell volume and fertility increased. Increasing cell volume linearly increased watermelon number/ha and tons/ha for early and total harvest in 1995. The average weight per watermelon significantly increased for early-harvested fruit but not for total harvest as cell volume increased in 1995. Soluble solids concentration linearly increased with increasing cell volume for early and total harvests in 1995. Cell volume had no significant influence on the harvest parameters measured in 1997. In 1995, increasing fertility linearly increased watermelon number/ha and tons/ha for early harvests. Increasing fertility increased the soluble solids concentration linearly for early-harvested watermelons in 1997 but not in 1995. Fertility rate had no significant influence on any of the other harvest parameters measured in 1995 and 1997. The growing conditions and disease pressure in 1997 reduced melons/ha, yield, and soluble solids content when compared to 1995 values. The half-strength Hoagland's solution produced the greatest number of watermelons/ha, tons/ha, and the highest soluble solids concentration in 1995 and 1997. Pretransplant nutritional conditioning had no significant effect on total `Jubilee' watermelon production in Louisiana for 1995 and 1997.

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 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 2005 PERSONAL SIZE “MINI” TRIPLOID WATERMELON VARIETY TRIAL

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 510A-510
Author(s):  
Thomas Horgan ◽  
Richard Snyder ◽  
Peter Hudson ◽  
Edgar Vinson ◽  
Joseph Kemble
Keyword(s):  
Total Yield ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Plant Spacing ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Variety Trial ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Black Plastic ◽  
Triploid Watermelon ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Ten “mini” or personal size seedless watermelons were evaluated at three locations: north and central Mississippi and in central Alabama. `Betsy', `Bobbie', `Demi-Sweet', `Extazy', `Mini Yellow', `Petite Treat', `Solitaire', `Valdoria', `Vanessa', and `Wonder' were the cultivars trialed. Seedlings were started, in a greenhouse, four weeks before planting. All locations used drip irrigation and black plastic mulch and were fertilized according to soil testing lab recommendations. A personal size diploid (seeded) variety, `Jenny', was used as the pollinator. One pollinator was planted, and interspaced evenly, for every three triploid plants. Four harvests were made at each location on 7-day intervals. Yields reported are based on 2,074 triploid plants per acre and 1,037 pollinizer plants per acre. Only the triploid yield reported. Plant spacing was 14 ft2 per plant. For total yield (lb/acre) the cultivars `Petite Treat' (27,210), `Valdoria' (25,700), and `Demi-Sweet' (26,400) were among the top producers at each location. `Mini Yellow' was a top producer at all locations averaging 22,480 lb/acre. For total yield (fruit/acre) the cultivars `Valdoria' (3,380), `Petite Treat' (3,470), `Bobbie' (3,470), `Betsy' (3,380), and `Vanessa' (2,740), were among the top producers at each location. For total yield (lb/fruit) `Betsy' (6.9), `Wonder' (6.7), and `Vanessa' (6.1) had the overall lowest individual fruit weights. `Demi-Sweet' had the highest individual fruit weight in central Alabama (10.0) and north Mississippi (8.8). One problem observed was that a number of melons among cultivars were above or below size class. Also determining melon ripeness was a challenge. Melon quality was good. The soluble solids concentration (sweetness) of all melons was excellent. `Demi-Sweet' had the highest incidence of hollowheart. `Wonder' and `Extazy' had no incidences of hollowheart at any location. Rind thickness had no significant differences, however in both locations measured `Mini Yellow' had the thinnest rind. Rind necrosis was not encountered.

scholarly journals EcoLyst Application Timing and Juice Corrected Soluble Solids (Brix) of Processing Oranges and Grapefruit in Florida

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick S. Davies ◽  
Glenn R. Zalman ◽  
Ed Stover ◽  
Scott Ciliento
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Sweet Orange ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Application Timing ◽  
Time Of Application ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Best Response ◽  
Florida Citrus ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

EcoLyst, a formulation of N-N-diethyl-2-(4-methylbenzyloxy) ethylamine hydrochloride containing 1 g/floz [4.5 oz/gal (33.8 g·L-1)] a.i., is a plant growth regulator that has been reported to increase soluble solids concentration (SSC) in juice oranges by 0.6% to 1.2%. Our objectives were to determine the effectiveness of EcoLyst application for increasing SSC in Florida oranges (Citrus sinensis) and grapefruit (C. paradisi), and to identify the optimum rate and time of application. Experiments were conducted for three seasons using `Hamlin,' `Pineapple,' and `Valencia' sweet oranges; and for two seasons using `Flame,' `Marsh,' and `Ray Ruby' grapefruit, all in commercial groves. EcoLyst was applied at 6 and 12 floz/acre (0.44 and 0.88 L·ha-1) for oranges and 16 and 32 ppm (mg·L-1) [effectively 9 and 18 floz/acre (0.66 and 1.32 L·ha-1) in most sprays] for grapefruit, and included Silwet L-77 adjuvant at 0.05%. Applications were made at several stages of development from prebloom to initial fruit set. In all cases, SSC was determined as juice corrected SSC, by adjusting refractometer readings based on titratable acidity. In 13 trials with sweet orange only five displayed significant increases in SSC (P ≤ 0.05) resulting from EcoLyst application. Two additional trials produced SSC increases significant at P < 0.10. Even where significant increases in SSC occurred they were typically observed in only one harvest and at one time of application and were always relatively low in magnitude (highest increase over controls was 0.38%). No rate or timing of EcoLyst application was consistently associated with best response, although eight of nine SSC increases observed in orange occurred with applications ranging from prebloom to 25% open flowers. Only one significant increase in SSC was observed in five trials with grapefruit. In these studies, increases in SSC resulting from EcoLyst application were neither sufficiently consistent nor large enough to justify a recommendation for commercial use in Florida citrus.

scholarly journals BLOOM THINNING OF FUJI, ROYAL GALA, AND BRAEBURN APPLE WITH MONOCARBAMIDE DIHYDROGENSULFATE

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 591f-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen C. Myers ◽  
Steven McArtney ◽  
Stuart Tustin ◽  
Wendy Cashmore ◽  
Richard Mangin
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Linear Effect ◽  
Fruit Drop ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Root Stock ◽  
Drying Conditions ◽  
Mature Apple ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Foliar applications of monocarbamide dihydrogensulfate (D-88, Unocal Chemicals Division) at rates of 0, 2.5 ml/1, 3.75 ml/1 or 5.0 ml/1 were made to mature apple trees of “Fuji”, “Royal Gala” or “Braeburn” on MM106 root-stock. Treatments were applied dilute when spurs were at 95% full bloom. D-88 was applied at 5.0 ml/1 to “Fuji” at three different times during the day (0730, 1400 or 1810) with and without surfactant in an attempt to evaluate the effect of different atmospheric and drying conditions. Fruit set (number of fruit per 100 flower clusters) was determined after natural fruit drop. D-88 had no effect on fruit set of “Royal Gala” or “Braeburn”. There was a linear effect between D-88 rate and fruit set on “Fuji”, with the 5.0 ml/1 rate reducing set by 30%. D-88 affected the number of fruit at individual fruiting sites, most significantly the percentage of flower clusters setting 3 fruits decreasing with increasing rate. Timing and surfactant had no effect. Fruit finish, mean fruit weight, seed number and soluble solids concentration were measured at harvest.

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 Reduced Rates and Multiple Sprays of Paclobutrazol Control Growth and Improve Fruit Quality of `Delicious' Apples

1991 ◽  
Vol 116 (5) ◽  
pp. 807-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane W. Greene
Keyword(s):  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
First Year ◽  
Tight Cluster ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Control Growth ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

`Gardiner Delicious'/MM.lO6 apple (Malus domestics Borkh.) trees were initially sprayed in 1985 with paclobutrazol (PB) at 250 mg.liter-1 at tight cluster and again on 10 and 25 June and 29 July. From 1986 through 1988, PB sprays of 85 or 100 mg·liter-1 were applied at either petal fall (PF) + 2 or PF + 4 weeks and one to two additional sprays were applied per year when growth resumed. Promalin was applied to one group of trees that received PB starting at PF + 2 weeks. PB reduced terminal, lateral, and total shoot growth the year of application and in subsequent years. Although average shoot length of lateral and terminal shoots was reduced, the greatest reduction in growth occurred because PB prevented spurs from growing into lateral and terminal shoots. Compared to unsprayed trees, PB reduced pruning time in all 4 years by 23% to 70%. PB increased bloom only the first year after application, but increased fruit set for 2 years due to a carryover effect. Application of PB in 1985 caused a reduction in fruit size, sometimes in soluble solids concentration, length: diameter (L : D) ratio, and pedicel length. Promalin either overcame the reduction in the ratio or increased it in 1986. Reduced rates of PB in subsequent years caused few adverse effects on the fruit. PB increased flesh firmness when applied at PF + 2 weeks but not at PF + 4 weeks. Trees treated with PB produced fruit with higher flesh Ca and less bitter pit, cork spot, and senescent breakdown following regular air storage. Chemical names used: ß -(4 -chlorophenyl)methyl α -(1,1-dimethylethyl) -1H-l,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol (paclobutrazol, PB); gibberellins A4+7 plus N-(phenylmethyl) -1H-purine-6-amine (Promalin).

scholarly journals Pollination and Pollen Source Influence Fruit of Oriental Persimmon `Fuyu' and `Tanenashi'

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.R. Woodburn ◽  
P.C. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Diospyros Kaki ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Fruit Characteristics ◽  
Solids Concentration ◽  
Hand Pollination ◽  
Soluble Solids Concentration

Fruit characteristics of Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) [`Fuyu' (Expts. 1 and 2) and `Tanenashi' (Expt. 3)] were assessed as a function of five pollination treatments: 1) hand-pollination (HP) with `Gailey' pollen (G); 2) HP with `Nishimura Wase' pollen (NW); 3) HP with `Turkeytown' pollen (T) (not used for `Tanenashi'); 4) open-pollination (OP), which did not necessarily result in pollination; and 5) nonpollination (NP) where pollination was prevented by covering the flower. Final fruit set of `Fuyu' and `Tanenashi' was higher for G and NW pollen than for NP. Differences in fruit set among the remaining treatments depended on the particular experiment. For example, fruit set for OP was higher than for NP in Expts. 1 and 3 but not Expt. 2. Fruit weight and soluble solids concentration (SSC) of `Fuyu' were not affected by treatment in Expts. 1 and 2; however, in Expt. 2, fruit height and diameter of G, NW, T, or OP were larger than for NP. Seed count per fruit was inversely related to fruit development period but did not influence fruit size or SSC. Fruit height, diameter, weight, and total soluble solids of `Tanenashi' for G, NW, and OP exceeded those for NP, although rarely were seeds present.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document