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Gulf Coast Research and Education Center 14 I i:,, .Lnce 5007 60th St. E., Bradenton, Florida 34203-9324 ' Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida GULF COAST RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTER IFAS, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 5007 60th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 Bradenton GCREC Research Report BRA1992-19 October STANDARD AND ICEBOX WATERMELON VARIETY EVALUATION SPRING 1992 D. N. Maynard1 Standard watermelons weigh from 18 to 35 lbs and represent most of the commercial crop grown in Florida. Icebox watermelons weigh 6 to 12 lbs each and are grown on a small acreage. Seedless watermelons, weighing 12 to 18 lbs, also are grown in Florida on a limited scale. Florida produced 7 million cwt of watermelons of all types from 36,000 harvested acres in 1990-91 which provided an average yield of 195 cwt/acre. The average price was $11.52/cwt providing a crop value exceeding $80 million which accounted for 4.9% of the gross returns to the state's vegetable growers (1). Until recently, the Florida crop was about equally divided among open pollinated and hybrids of the Crimson Sweet, Charleston Gray, and Jubilee types. A noticeable decline in Charleston Gray and Jubilee production has been replaced largely by increased acreage of Allsweet and blocky Crimson Sweet types. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate some of the recently introduced varieties, hybrids, and experimental lines of the Crimson Sweet, Jubilee, and Allsweet standard types and three icebox types. Materials and Methods Soil samples from the experimental area obtained before fertilization were analyzed by the IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (2): pH = 7.2 and Mehlich I extractable P = 101, K = 15, Mg = 126, Ca = 938, Zn = 10.8, Cu = 4.4, and Mn = 3.9 ppm. The EauGallie fine sand was prepared in early February 1991 by incorporation of 0-1.2-0 lb N-P20O-K20 per 100 linear bed feet (Ibf). Beds were formed and fumigated with methylbromide:chloropicrin, 67:33 at 2.3 lb/100 Ibf. Banded fertilizer was applied in shallow grooves on the bed shoulders at 2.1-0-2.9 Ib N-P205-K20/00 Ibf after the beds were pressed and before the black polyethylene mulch was applied. The total fertilizer applied was equivalent to 102-58-140 lb N-P 0 -K20/acre. The final beds were 32 in. wide and 8 in. high and were spaced on ft centers, with four beds between seepage irrigation/drainage ditches which were on 41 ft centers. The standard and icebox watermelons were planted in rows adjacent to the ditches to serve as pollenizers for seedless watermelons that were being evaluated in the two center beds of each land. 'Professor of Horticultural Sciences and Extension Vegetable Specialist. Twenty standard watermelon entries and three icebox watermelon entries (Table 1) were direct-seeded on 27 February in holes punched in the polyethylene at 3 ft in-row spacing for standard entries and 2 ft in-row spacing for icebox entries. The 24 ft long plots had 8 plants and were replicated three times in a randomized, complete block design. Weed control in row middles was by cultivation and applications of paraquat. Pesticides were applied as needed for control of sweetpotato whitefly endosulfann and esfenvalerate) and gummy stem blight (chlorothalonil and metaxyl-chlorothalonil). The watermelons were harvested on 2, 12 and 18 June. Marketable melons (U.S. No. 1 or better) according to U.S. Standards for Grades (5) were separated from culls and counted and weighed individually. Soluble solids determinations were made with a hand-held refractometer on six fruit of each entry at each harvest, and the incidence of hollowheart was recorded for these fruits. The resulting data were subjected to analysis of variance and mean separation was by Duncan's multiple range test. Results and Discussion Temperature and rainfall (Table 2) during the experimental period from 27 February to 18 June were very similar to the 1954-1991 averages (4). Early yields ranged from 22 cwt/acre-for 'Summer Flavor 200' to 304 cwt/acre for CLF 1041 (Table 3). Fifteen other entries had early yields similar to those of 'Summer Flavor 200' and three other entries had early yields similar to those of CLF 1041. Average fruit weights for the early harvest ranged from 8 Ibs for CLF 1029 to 23.4 Ibs for 'Oasis', however, these differences were not significant. CLF 1041 had a high incidence and severity of hollowheart and 'Paradise', 'Sultan', and 'Crimson Tide' had a high incidence of the disorder in the early- harvested fruit. Total yields (Table 3) ranged from 239 cwt/acre for 'Crimson Tide' to 609 cwt/acre for CLF 1030. Fifteen other entries had yields similar to those of 'Crimson Tide' and CLF 1030. Average fruit weight varied from 9.0 Ibs for CLF 1029 to 22.4 Ibs for 'Royal Sweet'. Only one other entry had an average weight similar to CLF 1029, whereas ten other entries had average fruit weight similar to 'Royal Sweet'. Soluble solids ranged from 11.2% for 'Royal Sweet' and 'Summer Flavor 400'to 12.9% for 'Summer Flavor 710'. Fourteen other entries had soluble solids concentrations similar to 'Royal Sweet' and 'Summer Flavor 400', and sixteen entries were similar to 'Summer Flavor 710'. Soluble solids concentration in all entries exceeded the 10% specified for optional use in the U.S. Standards for Grades of Watermelons (5). CLF 1030, WM5010, 'Summer Flavor 400', 'Summer Flavor 610' and 'Summer Flavor 700' were free of hollowheart, whereas 'Crimson Sweet', CLF 1041, 'Summer Flavor 710', and 'Oasis' had a high incidence and severity of hollowheart. The reason for the abnormally high incidence and severity of hollowheart this season is not known, however, commercial watermelon growers in the area also had a severe hollowheart problem in the Spring 1992 season. There were few differences in performance of the three icebox watermelon entries (Table 3). Yields, average fruit weight, and soluble solids were quite acceptable for this fruit type. On the other hand, the incidence and severity of hollowheart were higher than usually observed in icebox-type melons. The distribution of watermelon fruit weights into various size classes is shown in Table 4. 'Sultan', 'Crimson Sweet', 'Oasis', 'Summer Flavor 400', and 'Royal Sweet' produced the highest proportion of fruit exceeding 25.1 Ibs in weight. A very high proportion of CLF 1029, CLF 1030, and CLF 1041 fruit were less than 15 Ibs. Based on average fruit weight and distribution, it appears that CLF 1029 should be classed as an icebox watermelon. Although there were no differences in fruit weight distribution of the icebox watermelons (Table 5), all entries had a very high proportion of their fruit in the desirable 6 to 12 lb weight range. Yields of standard watermelons were somewhat greater than those obtained at this location in the spring 1991 season (3) when severe gummy stem blight restricted yields. However, yields were not as high as expected in spring 1992 because of vine decline from an undetermined cause. Nonetheless, soluble solids were uniformly high. Note The information contained in this report is a summary of experimental results and should not be used as recommendations for crop production. Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied. Literature Cited 1. Freie, R. L. and H. V. Young. 1991. Florida Agricultural Statistics. Vegetable Summary. Florida Agricultual Statistics Service, Orlando. 2. Hanlon, E. A. and J. M. DeVore. 1989. IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory Chemical Procedures and Training Manual. Fla. Coop. Ext. Circ. 812. 3. Maynard, D. N. 1991. Standard watermelon variety evaluation. GCREC Res. Rept. BRA1991-18. 4. Stanley, C. D. 1992. Temperature and rainfall report for 1991. GCREC Res. Rept. BRA1992-2. 5. U.S. Standards for Grades of Watermelons. 1978. U.S.D.A., AMS, Washington, D.C. Table 1. Standard and icebox watermelon varieties, fruit descriptions, and seed sources. Spring 1992. Entry Description Source Standard CLF 1029 CLF 1030 CLF 1041 Crimson Sweet Crimson Tide Fiesta NVH 4317 Oval. Dark-green, narrow stripes on light-green background. Blocky elongated. Dark-green fine lines on light-green background. Round, stripes Oval. stripes Oval. stripes Crimson oval. Dark-green narrow on light-green background. Distinct broken dark-green on light-green background. Distinct broken dark-green on light-green background. Sweet type. Hybrid. Elongated. Indistinct stripes on dark-green Allsweet type. Hybrid. Elongated. light-green type. Dark-green background. light-green background. stripe on Jubilee CFREC-Leesburg CFREC-Leesburg CFREC-Leesburg Petoseed Rogers NK Rogers NK Rogers NK Oasis Paradise Royal Sweet Sangria Starbrite Sultan Oval. Narrow dark-green stripes on light-green background. Hybrid. Oval. Narrow dark-green stripes on light-green background. Hybrid. Oblong. Wide dark-green stripes on light-green background. Hybrid. Elongated. Light-green stripes on dark-green background. Allsweet type. Hybrid. Oblong. Distinct dark-green stripes on light-green background. Royal Sweet type. Hybrid. Blocky, oval. on light-green Medium-green stripes background. Hybrid. Harris Moran Harris Moran Petoseed Rogers NK Asgrow Harris Moran Table 1 (continued). Entry Description Source Summer Flavor 200 Summer Flavor 400 Summer Flavor 410 Summer Flavor 610 Summer Flavor 700 Summer Flavor 710 Blocky, round. Very wide, dark-green stripes on background. Hybrid. Blocky, stripes Hybrid. Blocky, stripes Hybrid. oblong. Wide, on light-green indistinct, light-green dark-green background. oblong. Wide dark-green on light-green background. Oblong. Wide dark-green stripes on light-green background. Hybrid. Blocky, stripes Hybrid. Blocky, stripes Hybrid. oblong. Narrow dark-green on light-green background. oblong. Narrow dark-green on light-green background. Abbott & Cobb Abbott & Cobb Abbott & Cobb Abbott & Cobb Abbott & Cobb Abbott & Cobb Oval. Wide light-green Sweet type. dark-green background. Hybrid. stripes on Crimson Line 3050 Mickylee Tiger Baby Oval. Wide dark-green light-green background. Oval, round. Gr dark-green lines. stripe on *ay background with Oval. Distinct dark-green stripes on light-green background. Hybrid. WM 5010 Icebox Rogers NK Rogers NK Petoseed Petoseed Table 2. Mean temperature and rainfall at the Gulf Coast Research & Education Center from 27 February to 18 June 1992 and 1954- 1991 monthly averages (4). Average daily temperature (oF) 1992 1954-91 average Rainfall (in.) Month (date) Max. Min. Max. Min. 1992 1954-91 average February (27-29) 73 54 73 51 0 3.11 March 78 56 77 55 4.05 3.38 April 81 61 81 59 2.93 1.65 May 86 62 87 65 0.15 3.24 June (1-18) 90 72 89 70 4.90 7.58 11992 data are for the dates shown; 1954-91 averages are for the entire month. Table 3. Early and total yield, average fruit weight, soluble solids and the incidence and severity of hollowheart of standard and icebox watermelons. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. Spring 1992. Early harvest Total harvest Holloy- Hollow- Avg. Hollow- heart Avg. Soluble Hollow- heart2 Weight fruit heart avg. Weight fruit solids heart avg, Entry (cwt/A)' wt (lbs) (%) (in.) (cwt/A)' wt (Ibs) %) (%) (in.) Standard CLF 1030 WM 5010 Starbrite Crimson Sweet Fiesta 217 36 31 41 205 14.6 17.6 23.3 20.5 17.5 609 603 585 556 531 13.3 20.0 20.0 21.1 15.6 gh a-d a-d ab e-g 11.9 11.4 11.6 11.8 12.0 a-d b-d a-d a-d a-d d d b-d a-c cd 0 0 0.08 0.98 0.01 Sangria 209 ab 18.0 a 0 b 0 b 528 a-c 16.8 c-g 11.7 a-d 11 cd 0.09 c Summer Flavor 700 Royal Sweet Summer Flavor 610 CLF 1041 Summer Flavor 710 Summer Flavor 410 Summer Flavor 200 Summer Flavor 400 Oasis 20.0 a 20.2 a Ob 17 b 19.1 a O b 13.4 a 67 a 20.4 a 17 b 24.4 a 16.2 a Ob Ob 20.4 a O b 23.4 a 17 b Ob 0.01 b Ob 1.14 a 0.16 b Ob Ob Ob 0.30 b 528 a-c 19.9 a-d 11.5 a-d 0 d 520 a-c 22.4 a 11.2 cd 26 a-c 482 a-c 17.8 b-f 11.6 a-d 0 d 475 a-c 11.9 hi 12.3 a-d 42 a 461 a-c 18.6 a-f 12.9 a 36 ab 0 c 0.34 bc Oc 1.02 ab 1.28 a 448 a-c 19.2 a-e 11.8 a-d 14 b-d 0.09 c 440 a-c 16.1 d-g 11.6 a-d 8 cd 0.01 c 421 a-c 22.1 a 11.2 d 0 d 0 c 365 a-c 20.2 a-c 12.2 a'-d 28 a-c 0.54 a-c 54 c 53 c 106 bc 304 a 83 bc 33 c 22 c 50 c 149 bc Table 3 (continued). Early harvest Total harvest Holloy- Hollow- Avg. Hollow- heart Avg. Soluble Hollow- heart2 Weight fruit heart avg. Weight fruit solids heart avg, Entry (cwt/A) wt (lbs) (%) (in.) (cwt/A)1 wt (lbs) (%) (%) (in.) Paradise 83 bc 15.7 a 33 ab 0.04 b 318 a-c 15.3 f-h 12.8 ab 19 a-d 0.12 c NVH 4317 82 bc 23.2 a 0 b 0 b 317 bc 19.2 a-e 12.0 a-d 11 cd 0.54 a-c CLF 1029 44 c 8.0 a 0 b 0 b 294 bc 9.0 i 12.7 ab 18 b-d 0.96 ab Sultan 95 bc 22.7 a 33 ab 0.20 b 281 bc 21.5 ab 12.6 a-c 11 cd 0.20 bc Crimson Tide 117 bc 16.7 a 33 ab 0.09 b 239 c 16.8 c-g 11.8 a-d 28 a-c 0.21 bc Icebox Line 3050 116 ab 9.4 a 40 a 0.7 a 493 a 9.6 a 12.1 a 32 a 1.2 a Mickylee 272 a 8.7 a 33 a 1.4 a 482 a 8.6 ab 12.0 a 23 a 1.3 a Tiger Baby 7 b 6.9 a 0 a 0 a 388 a 8.3 b 12.4 a 7 a 0.1 a 2Acre = 4840 Ibf. 2Average width of fruit cracks of fruit with hollowheart. Mean separation in columns within standard and icebox entries by Duncan's multiple range test, 5% level. Table 4. Fruit weight distribution of the total yield of standard watermelons. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. Spring 1992. Fruit weight (Ibs) <15 15.1-20 20.1-25 25.1-30 >30 Entry Percentage of fruit CLF 1029 CLF 1030 CLF 1041 Crimson Sweet Crimson Tide Fiesta NVH 4317 Oasis Paradise Royal Sweet 99 a' 69 a-c 79 ab 11 e 40 c-e 52 b-d 23 de 20 de 52 b-d 4e Sangria 32 de Starbrite 7 e Sultan 17 de Summer Flavor 200 35 c-e Summer Flavor 400 14 de Summer Flavor 410 16 de Summer Flavor 610 30 de Summer Flavor 700 17 de Summer Flavor 710 18 de WM 5010 17 de 1b Oe Od Ob 22 ab 6 de 2 cd 0 b 20 ab 2 e 0 d 0 b 28 ab 38 ab 23 ab 0 b 43 a 10 de 7 b-d 0 b 42 a 4 e 2 cd O b 48 a 16 b-e 6 b-d 7 b 36 ab 21 a-e 18 a-c 6 b 41 a 7 de 0 d 0 b 33 ab 40 a 14 a-d 10 ab 45 a 21 a-c 2 cd 0 b 45 a 40 a 6 b-d 2 b 20 ab 34 a-c 29 a 0 b 50 a 12 c-e 4 cd 0 b 26 ab 34 a-c 9 b-d 17 a 52 a 21 a-e 12 b-d 0 b 47 a 19 a-e 4 cd O b 44 a 27 a-d 10 b-d 2 b 46 a 33 a-c 2 cd 0 b 36 ab 33 a-c 9 b-d 4 b 'Mean separation in columns by Duncan's multiple range test, 5% level. Table 5. Fruit weight distribution of icebox watermelon. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. Spring 1992. Fruit weight (Ibs) < 6 6.1-12.0 12.1-18.0 Entry Percentage of fruit Line'3050 2 a' 85 a 14 a Mickylee 15 a 78 a 7 a Tiger Baby 14 a 80 a 6 a 'Mean separation in columns by Duncan's multiple range test, 5% level. The Gulf Coast Research and Education Center The Gulf Coast Research and Education Center is a unit of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sci- ences, University of Florida. The Research Center originated in the fall of 1925 as the Tomato Disease Laboratory with the primary objective of developing control procedures for an epidemic out- break of nailhead spot of tomato. Research was ex- panded in subsequent years to include study of sev- eral other tomato diseases. In 1937, new research facilities were established in the town of Manatee, and the Center scope was enlarged to include horticultural, entomological, and soil science studies of several vegetable crops. The ornamental program was a natural addition to the Center's responsibilities because of the emerging in- dustry in the area in the early 1940's. The Center's current location was established in 1965 where a comprehensive research and extension program on vegetable crops and ornamental plants is conducted. Three state extension specialists posi- tions, 16 state research scientists, and two grant supported scientists from various disciplines of training participate in all phases of vegetable and ornamental horticultural programs. This interdisci- plinary team approach, combining several research disciplines and a wide range of industry and faculty contacts, often is more productive than could be ac- complished with limited investments in independent programs. The Center's primary mission is to develop new and expand existing knowledge and technology, and to disseminate new scientific knowledge in Florida, so that agriculture remains efficient and economically sound. The secondary mission of the Center is to assist the Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS campus departments, in which Center faculty hold appropri- ate liaison appointments, and other research centers in extension, educational training, and cooperative research programs for the benefit of Florida's pro- ducers, students, and citizens. Program areas of emphasis include: (1) genetics, breeding, and variety development and evaluation; (2) biological, chemical, and mechanical pest manage- ment in entomology, plant pathology, nematology, bacteriology, virology, and weed science; (3) produc- tion efficiency, culture, management, and counteract- ing environmental stress; (4) water management and natural resource protection; (5) post-harvest physiol- ogy, harvesting, handling and food quality of horti- cultural crops; (6) technical support and assistance to the Florida Cooperative Extension Service; and (7) advancement offundamental knowledge ofdisciplines represented by faculty and (8) directing graduate student training and teaching special undergraduate classes. Location of GCREC Bradenton IFAS IS: IJ The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Q A statewide organization dedicated to teaching, research and extension. O Faculty located in Gainesville and at 13 research and education centers, 67 county extension offices and four demonstration units throughout the state. U A partnership in food and agriculture, and natural and renewable resource research and education, funded by state, federal and local government, and by gifts and grants from individuals, founda- tions, government and industry. I An organization whose mission is: Educating students in the food, agricultural, and related sciences and natural resources. Strengthening Florida's diverse food and agricultural industry and its environment through research. Enhancing for all Floridians, the application of research and knowledge to improve the quality of life statewide through IFAS exten- sion programs. |