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FCrSGC ",,'" OF i A , .I . uitlf Co t Rwurcl anO Education Cw n S007 ot St. C., ah'raton. FL 4Ms03 Bradenton QEA IRsrc h ta3port fA-19Hs3s (August) STANDAIb IATEUMN MIrETY EVALUATION P. KAyWASD $;'~ s~d tii ,I .; 1. ~.. j. GCREC Research Report BRA1995-23 STANDARD WATERMELON VARIETY EVALUATION SPRING 1995 D. N. Maynard1 Gulf Coast Research and Education Center University of Florida, IFAS 5007 60th Street East Bradenton, FL 34203 Standard watermelons weigh from 18 to 35 Ibs and represent most of the commercial crop grown in Florida. Icebox watermelons weigh 6 to 12 Ibs each and are grown on a small acreage. Seedless watermelons, weighing 12 to 18 Ibs, also are grown in Florida on a limited scale. Florida produced 8.5 million cwt of watermelons of all types from 37,000 harvested acres in 1993-94 which provided an average yield of 230 cwt/acre. The average price was $6.80/cwt resulting in a crop value exceeding $57 million which accounted for 3.7% of the gross returns to the state's vegetable growers (Freie and Pugh, 1995). Until recently, the Florida crop was about equally divided among open pollinated and hybrid varieties of Crimson Sweet, Charleston Gray, and Jubilee types. A noticeable decline in Charleston Gray and Jubilee production has been replaced largely by increases in production of Allsweet and blocky Crimson Sweet types. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate some of the recently introduced commercial and experimental hybrids of the Crimson Sweet and Allsweet types. Materials and Methods Soil samples from the experimental area obtained before fertilization were analyzed by the University of Florida Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (Hanlon and DeVore, 1989): pH = 7.2 and Mehlich I extractable P = 35, K = 12, Mg = 111, Ca = 727, Zn = 3.2, Cu = 1.9, and Mn = 2.4 ppm. The EauGallie fine sand was prepared in early February by incorporation of 0-1.2- 0 lb N-P20 -K20 per 100 linear bed feet (Ibf). Beds were formed and fumigated with methyl bromide:chloropicrin, 67:33 at 2.3 lb/100 lbf. Banded fertilizer was applied in shallow grooves on the bed shoulders at 2.7-0-3.8 lb N-P,0O-K 0/100 Ibf after the beds were pressed and before application of the black polyethylene mulch. The total fertilizer applied was equivalent to 130-60-182 lb N-P20s- K,0/acre. The final beds were 32 in. wide and 8 in. high and were spaced on 9 ft centers, with four beds between seepage irrigation/drainage ditches which were on 41 ft centers. The standard watermelons were planted in rows adjacent to the ditches and also served as pollenizers for seedless watermelons that were being evaluated in the two center beds of each land. Watermelon seeds were planted on 21 February in holes punched in the polyethylene mulch at 3 ft in-row spacing. Twenty entries (Table 1) were included in the replicated trial. The 24 ft long plots had eight plants each and were replicated 'Professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist. August three times in a randomized complete-block design. Another five entries (Table 1) were included in 20-plant observational plots. Weed control in row middles was by cultivation and applications of paraquat. Pesticides were applied as needed for control of silverleaf whitefly endosulfann and esfenvalerate) and gummy stem blight (chlorothalonil and metaxyl-chlorothalonil). Watermelons were harvested 22 May, 31 May, and 12 June. Marketable fruit (U.S. No. 1 or better) according to U.S. Standards for Grades (1978) 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.during the experimental period was higher than normal and rainfall was less than normal which provided excellent watermelon growing conditions (Table 2). Early yields (first of three harvests) in the replicated trial (Table 3) ranged from 48 cwt/acre for 'Patriot' to 435 cwt/acre for RWM 121. Average fruit weight varied from 17.0 lb for 'Royal Majesty' to 24.8 lb for 'Royal Sweet'. Soluble solids ranged from 11.8% for 'Patriot', 'Summer Flavor 500', and WM 8025 to 13.7% for W0013. Soluble solids for all entries exceeded the 10% specified for optional use to designate very good internal quality in the U.S. Standards for Grades of Watermelons (1978). The proportion of fruit with hollowheart varied from 0 for 'Patriot', WM 8025, 'Summer Flavor 500', 'Fiesta', 'Royal Sweet', W0053, and 'Royal Majesty' to 50% for 'Desert Storm' and 'Regency'. The severity (average width of fruit cracks) of hollowheart ranged from 0 to 0.5 in. for W0013. Total yields in the replicated trial (Table 3) varied from 456 cwt/acre for SWM 3303 to 712 cwt/acre for 'Patriot'. Average fruit weight ranged from 15.3 lb for 'Royal Majesty' to 25.6 lb for 'Summer Flavor 500'. Soluble solids concentrations for the entire season were uniformly high ranging from 11.3% for 'Ferrari' and WM 8025 to 13.2% for W0013. The incidence and severity of hollowheart for the entire season was generally less than for the early harvest. Nonetheless, hollowheart was noted in 17 of the 20 entries in replicated trial. The average fruit crack width, however, did not exceed 0.2 in. The performance of five experimental entries in the observational trial also is shown in Table 3. The proportion of fruit in market weight classes is shown in Table 4. More than 50% of the fruit of 'Baron', 'Desert Storm', 'Fiesta', 'Patriot', 'Royal Sweet', RWM 118, 'Sangria', 'Summer Flavor 420', SWM 2301, and WM 8007 were in the desirable 18-26 lb weight class. More than 70% of the fruit of 'Desert Storm', 'Patriot', RWM 118, 'Summer Flavor 420', 'Summer Flavor 500', 'SWM 2301', and WM 8007 exceeded 18 lb. Watermelon yields were higher than those obtained at this location in 1991 (Maynard, 1991), 1992 (Maynard, 1992), and 1994 (Maynard, 1994) but not as high as those obtained in 1993 (Maynard, 1993). Based on results of this and previous trials, the following Allsweet type and blocky Crimson Sweet type varieties are expected to perform well in Florida: 'Fiesta', 'Regency', 'Royal Star', 'Royal Sweet', and 'Sangria'. 'Ferrari', 'Patriot', and 'Summer Flavor 500' performed well in their first appearance in GCREC trials and should be considered in planning for the 1996 season. 'Starbrite' was not included in this trial, but has performed well in previous years. 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. Acknowledgement The author appreciates the financial support for watermelon variety evaluation provided by American Sunmelon, Asgrow Seed Co., Petoseed, Pioneer Seed Co., Rogers Seed Co., Sakata Seed Co., and Shamrock Seed Co. Literature Cited Freie, R. L. and N. L. Pugh. 1994. Florida Agricultural Statistics. Vegetable Summary, 1992-93. Florida Agricultural Statistics Service, Orlando. Hanlon, E. A. and J. M. DeVore. 1989. IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory Chemical Procedures and Training Manual. Fla. Coop. Ext. Circ. 812. Maynard, D. N. 1991. Standard watermelon variety evaluation. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Res. Rept. BRA1991-18. Maynard, D. N. 1992. Standard and icebox watermelon variety evaluations, spring 1992. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Res. Rept. BRA1992-19. Maynard, D. N. 1993. Standard watermelon variety evaluation, spring 1993. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Res. Rept. BRA1993-20. Maynard, D. N. 1994. Standard watermelon variety evaluation, spring 1994. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Res. Rept. BRA1994-22. Stanley, C. D. 1994. Weather report for 1993. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Res. Rept. BRA1994-08. U.S. Standards for Grades of Watermelons. 1978. U.S.D.A., AMS, Washington, D.C. Table 1. Standard hybrid watermelon entries, fruit descriptions, and seed sources. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton. Spring 1995. Entry Description Source Elongated, blocky, medium green. American Sunmelon Oval. Narrow, green stripes background. Oval. stripe ground. distinct medium- on a light-green Indistinct medium-green on a light-green back- Desert Storm Ferrari Fiesta Patriot Regency Blocky/oblong. Medium green back- ground with darker pencil lines. Elongated. Alternating wide dark- green stripes with narrow light- green stripes. Allsweet type. Elongated. Indistinct light-green stripes on dark-green background. Allsweet type. Blocky/oblong. Wide indistinct dark-green stripes on a light- green background. Oblong. Indistinct, dark-green stripe on a light-green back- ground. Abbott & Cobb Shamrock Rogers Abbott & Cobb Petoseed Royal Majesty Elongated. Narrow, stripes on very background. Allsweet light-green dark-green type. Royal Star Royal Sweet RXW 118 Oblong, stripes ground. blocky. Dark-green on light-green back- Oblong. Wide, dark-green stripes on light-green background. Oblong. Wide, dark-green stripes on light-green background. Baron 6564) (ASM CLF 4008 CLF 4009 Pioneer Pioneer Petoseed Petoseed Petoseed Rogers Table 1 (continued). Entry Description Source RXW 121 Sangria Summer Flavor 420 Summer Flavor 500 Elongated. Indistinct light-green stripes on dark-green background. Allsweet type. Elongated. Light-green stripes on dark-green background. Allsweet type. Oblong. Wide, dark-green stripes on light-green background. Blocky/oblong. Wide, indistinct dark-green stripes on a light- green background. Rogers Rogers Abbott & Cobb Abbott & Cobb Oblong, stripes ground. blocky. Dark-green on light-green back- Allsweet type. Elongated. Wide, indistinct dark- green stripes on a light-green background. Allsweet type. Elongated. Narrow dark-green stripes on light-green back- ground. Jubilee type. Round/oval. Indistinct, wide, dark-green stripes on medium green background. Oval. Very dark-green narrow indistinct stripes on a dark- green background. Oblong. Wide dark-green stripes on light-green background. Oval. Narrow dark-green distinct stripes on a light-green back- ground. Yellow flesh. Oval. Wide, stripes on ground. Oval. Wide, stripes on ground. indistinct dark-green a light-green back- indistinct dark-green a light-green back- SWM 2301 SWM 3303 W0008 W0013 W0050 Sakata Sakata Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer Pioneer W0053 W3062 WM 8007 WM 8025 Rogers Rogers 6 Table 2. Temperature and rainfall at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton from 21 February to 12 June 1995 and 40-year monthly averages (Stanley, 1994). Average daily temperature (F) 1995 40-yr average Rainfall (in.) Month' High Low High Low 1995 40-yr average February (15-28) 76 53 74 52 0.85. 3.08 March 80 59 77 55 2.57 3.35 April 83 63 82 60 3.41 1.72 May 91 70 87 64 1.48 3.20 June (1-9) 89 73 89 70 6.68 7.48 11995 data are for the dates shown; 40-year 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 watermelons. Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Bradenton. Spring 1995. Early Harvest' Total Harvest Weight Avg. fruit Soluble Hollowheart Weight Avg. fruit Soluble Hollowheart Entry (cwt/A)2 wt (Ib) solids (%) (in.) (cwt/A)2 wt (Ib) solids (%) (in.)' Patriot 48 f4 24.0 ab 11.8 b 0 a 0 b 712 a 23.1 ab 11.6 bc 0 a 0 b Ferrari 333 a-d 21.8 a-d 12.1 ab 17 a 0.1 b 638 ab 19.0 c-g 11.3 c 22 a 0.1 ab SWM 2301 137 ef 22.0 a-d 12.6 ab 33 a 0.1 b 629 ab 22.1 bc 12.3 a-c 24 a 0.1 ab Baron 387 a-c 19.8 a-d 12.5 ab 17 a 0.1 b 627 ab 19.1 c-g 11.8 bc 12 a 0.1 ab Desert Storm 246 a-e 20.9 a-d 12.9 ab 50 a 0.2 b 620 ab 21.6 b-e 12.3 a-c 38 a 0.1 ab Royal Star 129 ef 24.7 a 12.9 ab 33 a 0.1 b 609 ab 23.6 ab 12.6 ab 22 a 0.1 ab WM 8025 308 a-e 20.0 a-d 11.8 b 0 a 0 b 596 ab 19.4 c-g 11.3 c 13 a 0.1 ab Regency 232 b-f 23.2 a-c 12.9 ab 50 a 0.4 ab 576 ab 21.6 b-e 12.1 a-c 42 a 0.2 a Sangria 390 ab 19.4 a-d 12.9 ab 33 a 0.2 b 571 ab 18.9 c-g 12.2 a-c 25 a 0.1 ab RWM 121 435 a 19.7 a-d 12.3 ab 17 a 0.1 b 557 ab 18.5 e-g 11.5 bc 20 a 0.1 ab Summer Flavor 500 353 a-c 24.1 ab 11.8 b 0 a 0 b 556 ab 25.6 a 11.9 bc 25 a 0.1 ab Fiesta 402 ab 18.7 b-d 12.4 ab 0 a 0 b 539 ab 18.7 d-g 12.4 a-c 8 a 0.1 ab Summer Flavor 420 158 d-f 19.6 a-d 13.1 ab 17 a 0.1 b 533 ab 20.4 b-f 12.5 a-c 18 a 0.2 a WM 8007 317 a-e 22.4 a-c 12.3 ab 17 a 0.1 b 522 ab 22.1 bc 12.4 a-c 21 a 0.1 ab W0013 246 a-e 17.4 b 13.7 a 17 a 0.5 a 520 ab 16.5 gh 13.2 a 19 a 0.2 a Royal Sweet 195 c-f 24.8 a 12.9 ab 0 a 0 b 519 ab 21.9 b-d 12.6 ab 0 a 0 b W0053 253 a-e 17.7 cd 13.2 ab 0 a 0 b 507 b 17.6 f-h 12.6 ab 6 a 0.1 ab RWM 118 197 c-f 21.7 a-d 13.2 ab 20 a 0.1 b 483 b 20.7 b-f 12.5 a-c 29 a 0.1 ab Royal Majesty 275 a-e 17.0 d 13.4 ab 0 a 0 b 470 b 15.3 h 12.3 a-c 0 a 0 b SWM 3303 246 a-e 19.6 a-d 13.1 ab 33 a 0.3 b 456 b 18.0 f-h 12.4 a-c 40 a 0.2 a Observational CLF 4008 155 19.2 13.9 0 0 741 18.1 13.0 0 0 CLF 4009 27 16.8 13.4 50 1.8 708 16.8 12.8 17 0.6 W0008 258 15.2 12.8 50 0.4 642 14.6 12.3 17 0.1 W0050 86.1 21.3 13.8 50 1.2 639 17.3 12.9 33 0.6 W3062 224 11.6 12.2 50 2.2 573 11.7 11.5 67 3.3 'Early harvest represents the first of three harvests. 2Acre = 4840 Ibf. Average width of fruit cracks of those fruit sampled. Mean separation in columns 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, Bradenton. Spring 1995. Fruit Wt (Ib) s12.0 12.1-18.0 18.1-26.0 >26 Entry Percentage of fruit Replicated Entries: Baron (ASM 6564) 2 33 64 2 Desert Storm 2 25 58 17 Ferrari 0 52 38 10 Fiesta 0 46 51 2 Patriot 0 17 53 30 Regency 0 36 47 18 Royal Majesty 2 71 27 0 Royal Star 5 35 33 30 Royal Sweet 7 25 59 10 RWM 118 3 24 60 14 RWM 121 4 48 43 5 Sangria 0 42 56 2 Summer Flavor 420 0 24 54 20 Summer Flavor 500 0 15 46 38 SWM 2301 0 24 54 22 SWM 3303 7 53 36 4 W0013 5 61 33 0 W0053 2 66 28 3 WM 8007 0 25 56 19 WM 8025 0 41 27 30 Observational Entries: CLF 4008 12 62 24 2 CLF 4009 7 49 44 0 W0008 11 51 30 8 W0050 30 57 14 0 W3062 65 31 4 0 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 of fundamental knowledge ofdisciplines represented by faculty and (8) directing graduate student training and teaching special undergraduate classes. Location of GCREC Bradenton IFAS IS: Q 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. Q 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. O 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. |