Variation in morphological and chemical traits in red and yellow mini watermelon

Abstract

Watermelon is an annual vegetable crop from Cucurbitaceae family. Five mini watermeloncultivars (red-fleshed ′Faerie′ F1, ′Golden crown′ F1, ′Bonanza′ F1 and yellowfleshed′Sureness′ F1, ′Yellow baby′ F1) were grown in open field experiment from May toJuly 2018. Plants were grown on a fertile soil, covered with black mulch film, on a distance75x120 cm. During vegetation period regular agricultural practices were applied(fertirrigation, weeding and preventive protection against diseases and pests). Fruits wereharvested after 60 days from planting. The aim of this study was to examine morphologicaltraits of five cultivars in full physiological maturity. Fruit weight ranged between 1.57-2.65kg with the highest value in cultivar ′Sureness′. Number of fruits ranged from 20 (′Yellowbaby′, ′Sureness′) to 35 (′Faerie′). Rind thickness ranged between 5.22-11.91 mm with thehighest value in ′Yellow baby′. Total soluble solids ranged from 9.5-10.95 °Brix and randmanbetween 37-49%. Among all cultivars, red-fleshed ′Bonanza′ showed the highest randman andtotal soluble solids (49% and 10.95 °Brix, respectively). Opposite to that, the lowest totalsoluble solids showed yellow-fleshed cultivars ′Sureness′ and ′Yellow baby′. Generally,yellow cultivars showed higher fruit weight and rind thickness, whereas red cultivars showedhigher number of fruits per plant, total soluble solids and randman. The present study outlinesthat ′Bonanza′ and ′Faerie′ showed the highest quality (soluble solids content) among testedvarieties.