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Copyright 2005, Board of Trustees, University
of Florida

A/!- North Florida Research and Education Center
IFAS, University of Florida
/-f Route 3 Box 4370
Quincy, FL 32351

NFREC Research Report 91-9

Seedless Watermelon
Cultivar Evaluation, Spring 1990

J. M. Snell and S. M. Olson
Sr. Biological Scientist and Associate Profesomfiral ;~ ,

.INTRODUCTION O'. 2 193S

/ unir: rs of pra
Production of seedless watermelons is not a new concept:-Some-ofjhe problem s of
seedless production include expensive seed, must use transplants, higher management level and
need to plant a portion of the field to normal varieties. Some of the benefits include high yields,
no seeds in melons and higher prices. Many new seedless cultivars are now offered. In a
cooperative trial with other research and education centers 30 seedless entries were evaluated
for production at NFREC, Quincy.

Materials and Methods

This evaluation was conducted at the North Florida Research and Education Center on
an Orangeburg loamy fine sand soil. Seed were planted on February 19, 1990 into 1 1/2 in. X
1 1/2 in. expanded polystyrene flats. Transplants were placed in the field on March 28, 1990.
Plant spacing was 3 ft. in row X 10 ft. between rows. The watermelons were grown with black
polyethylene mulch and trickle irrigation. Total fertilizer applied was 117-36-117 lb/A N-P205-
K20. Weeds, insects and diseases were controlled with timely applications of registered chemical
products.

This evaluation included 30 entries (Table 1) of commercially available or experimental
seedless watermelon cultivars. Standard (seeded) watermelons were planted as pollinators with
1 row per 2 rows of seedless watermelons. Plots were 1 row X 36 ft. with 4 replications in a
randomized complete block design. Plots were harvested 3 times from June 8 June 22, 1990.
Watermelons were weighed, percent soluble solids were measured and ratings were made for
flesh color, hollow heart and hard seed content.

Results

Table 2 is a listing of yield (cwt/A), average fruit size (lb), percent soluble solids and
ratings for flesh color, hollow heart and hard seed content. There were few significant
differences in yield for most entries. Yields ranged from 341.6 cwt/A ('Tiffany') to 646.7
cwt/A ('Ssupersweet 5244'). Percent soluble solids ranged from 11.8% ('Nova') to 14.4%
('CFREC 89-8'). None of the entries displayed intense red color. Most entries had severe
hollow heart and all contained some hard seed.

Table 1. Seedless watermelon cultivars and experimental triploids, fruit description, and seed source,
Spring 1990.

Entry Fruit Description Seed Source

CFREC 88-4

CFREC 88-7

CFREC 89-4

CFREC 89-6

CFREC 89-8

CFREC 89-10

CFREC 89-11

CFREC 90-1

CFREC 90-2

Crimson Trio

Blocky-elongated. Distinct very dark-
green stripe on dark-green background,
few with lighter background.

Oval. Thin, distinct dark-green stripe
on light-green background. Similar to
Queen of Hearts.

Oval. Distinct dark-green stripe on
light-green background. Similar to
Queen of Hearts.

Oval. Thin. distinct dark-green stripe
on medium-green background.

Oval. Thin, distinct dark-green stripe
on light-green background. Similar to
Queen of Hearts.

Oval. Indistinct, wide medium-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Tri X-313.

Oval. Thin, distinct dark-green stripe
on light-green background. Similar to
Queen of Hearts.

Oval. Indistinct, wide, medium-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Tri X-313.

Oval. Indistinct, wide medium-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Tri X-313.

Oval. Indistinct, wide, medium-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Tri X-313.

CFREC Leesburg

CFREC-Leesburg

CFREC-Leesburg

CFREC-Leesburg

CFREC-Leesburg

CFREC-Leesburg

NFREC-Leesburg

CFREC-Leesburg

CFREC-Leesburg

Northrup King

Table 1. (Continued).

Entry Fruit Description Seed Source

HMX 7924

HMX 7928

HMX 7932

Jack of
Hearts

King of
Hearts

Long Dragon

Nova

No. 157

No. 158

Queen of
Hearts

Scarlet Trio

Oval. Indistinct, wide, dark-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Tri X-313.

Ova. Dark-green with indistinct
darker green lines.

Oval. Thin, distinct dark-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Queen of Hearts.

Oval-round. Wide, indistinct
medium-green stripe on light-green
background.

Oval. Indistinct, wide, dark-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Tri X-313.

Oval. Thin, distinct, dark-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Queen of Hearts.

Round-oval. Distinct, very dark-
green stripe on medium-green
background.

Round-oval. Dark-green background
with darker green lines.

Round-ova. Very dark-green indistinct,
wide stripe on light-green background.

Oval. Distinct, dark-green stripe
on medium-green background.

Oval. Thin, distinct, dark-green
background. Similar to Queen of
Hearts.

Harris Moran

Harris Moran

Harris Moran

Petoseed

Petoseed

Sunseeds

Sakata

Sakata

Sakata

Petoseed

Northrup King

Table 1. (Continued).

Entry Fruit Description Seed Source

Ssupersweet
2532

Ssupersweet
4073

Ssupersweet
5032

Ssupersweet
5244

Ssupersweet
5344

Sunrise

Sun 90-6160

Tiffany

Tri X-313

Oval. Thin, distinct, dark-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Queen of Hearts.

Oval-round. Wide, indistinct,
medium-green stripe on light-green
background.

Oval-round. Wide, indistinct,
medium-green stripe on light-green
background.

Oval. Indistinct, wide dark-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Tri X-313.

Oval. Indistinct, wide dark-green
stripe on light-green background.
Similar to Tri X-313.-

Oval. Distinct, dark-green stripe
on medium-green background. Similar
to Queen of Hearts.

Oval. Distinct, narrow dark-green
stripe on medium-green background.
Yellow flesh.

Round-oval. Wide, indistinct, dark-
green stripe on medium-green background.

Oval. Indistinct, wide medium-green
stripe on light-green background.

Abbott & Cobb

Abbott & Cobb

Abbott & Cobb

Abbott & Cobb

Abbott & Cobb

American Sunmelon

Sunseeds

Asgrow

American Sunmelon

Table 2. Yield and fruit characteristics for seedless watermelon, Spring 1990.

Average Soluble Ratings
Yield Fruit Wt Solids
Entry Source (cwt/A) (Ib) (%) -Colorz Heart Seed"

Ssupersweet 5244 Abbott & Cobb 646.7 aw 17.6 b-d 12.8 f-i 2.45 de 3.00 a-e 0.20 e
'Crimson Trio Northrup King 615.6 ab 16.9 b-e 13.1 d-h 2.92 a-d 3.18 a-d 0.45 c-e
HMX 7924 Harris Moran 591.1 a-c 17.6 b-d 13.6 a-g 2.33 e 2.70 c-e 0.78 c-e
Ssupersweet 5344 Abbott & Cobb 578.2 a-c 17.4 b-d 12.9 d-h 2.83 a-d 3.58 a-c 0.28 e
HMX 7932 Harris Moran 549.0 a-c 13.3 f-h 12.3 hi 3.02 ab 1.48 de 2.25 a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFREC 88-7 CFREC 548.3 a-c 16.0 a-c 14.3 ab 2.88 a-d 3.53 a-c 0.78 c-e
Jack of Hearts Petoseed 545.7 a-c 16.2 b-e 12.9 e-h 2.95 a-c 4.83 a 0.58 c-e
CFREC 90-1 CFREC 528.1 a-c 16.4 b-e 13.8 a-f 2.78 b-e 3.33 a-d 0.40 de
CFREC 89-10 CFREC 513.2 a-c 18.2 be 13.6 a-g 2.70 b-e 3.60 a-c 0.38 de
CFREC 90-2 CFREC 511.2 a-c 16.6 b-e 13.5 a-g 2.88 a-d 4.83 a 0.78 c-e

CFREC 89-6 CFREC 509.7 a-c 17.6 b-d 13.9 a-e 2.75 b-e 3.70 a-c 1.45 a-d
Nova Sakata 497.6 a-c 14.5 e-g 11.8 i 2.70 b-e 3.25 a-d 0.58 c-e
King of Hearts Petoseed 494.8 a-c 16.8 b-e 13.7 a-g 2.58 b-e 3.70 a-c 0.15 e
CFREC 89-11 CFREC 493.3 a-c 17.7 b-d 14.2 a-c 2.73 b-e 2.78 c-e 1.48 a-c
Tri-X 313 Amer. Sunmelon 489.3 a-c 16.1 c-e 13.3 b-h 2.65 b-e 3.88 a-c 0.43 c-e

Queen of Hearts Petoseed 485.7 a-c 15.3 d-f 13.2 b-h 2.95 a-c 3.90 a-c 0.45 c-e
Long Dragon Sunseeds 485.2 a-c 12.7 g-i 12.9 d-h 2.88 a-d 3.90 a-c 0.20 e
Ssupersweet 2532 Abbott & Cobb 478.3 a-c 16.3 b-e 13.8 a-f 2.65 b-e 3.48 a-c 0.40 de
No. 157 Sakata 461.2 a-c 12.9 g-i 12.8 f-i 2.95 a-c 3.23 a-d 0.28 e
Sunrise Amer. Sunmelon 460.3 a-c 16.5 b-e 13.5 a-g 2.70 b-e 4.25 a-c 0.40 de
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 2. Continued

Average Soluble Ratings
Yield Fruit Wt Solids
Entry Source (cwt/A) (lb) (%) Colorz Heart Seedx

CFREC 89-4 CFREC 458.4 a-c 17.6 b-d 13.9 a-e 2.58 b-e 4.03 a-c 1.93 ab
HMX 7928 Harris Moran 453.6 a-c 14.9 e-g 13.7 a-g 2.53 c-e 1.28 e 0.65 c-e
Ssupersweet 5032 Abbott & Cobb 445.8 a-c 18.6 ab 13.1 c-h 2.70 b-e 3.85 a-c 0.28 e
Scarlet Trio Northrup King 419.9 a-c 15.8 c-e 13.8 a-f 2.88 a-d 4.45 a-c 0.70 c-e
CFREC 88-4 CFREC 414.3 a-c 20.4 a 13.5 a-g 2.45 de 2.83 b-e 0.38 de
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 158 Sakata 392.4 a-c 15.6 de 13.0 d-h 2.58 b-e 4.08 a-c 0.25 e
Sun 90-6160 Sunseeds 389.1 a-c 10.9 i 12.8 f-i ---- 3.95 a-c 1.10 b-e
CFREC 89-8 CFREC 378.7 be 15.8 c-e 14.4 a 3.28 a 4.20 a-c 0.73 c-e
Ssupersweet 4073 Abbott & Cobb 370.9 be 12.1 hi 12.6 g-i 2.58 b-e 4.30 a-c 0.83 c-e
Tiffany Asgrow 341.6 c 16.9 b-e 14.0 a-d 2.65 b-e 4.75 ab 0.73 c-e

zScale 1 to 5; 5 = most intense red color.
yO = no separation of flesh, 1 = 1-5 mm separation, 2 = 6-10 mm, 3 = 11-20 mm, 4 = 21-30 mm, 5
0" = no hard seed. 1 = 1 or 2 hard seed, 2 = 3-5 hard seed, 3 = 6-15 hard seed, 4. = 15-150 seed, 5
"Mean separation in columns by Duncan's Multiple Range Test, 5% level.
'Yellow fleshed melon.

= 30+ mm.
= fully seeded.