Olericulture Hort 320 Lesson 20, Cucurbits (abbreviated) Jeremy S. Cowan WSU Spokane County Extension 222 N. Havana St. Spokane, WA 99202 Phone: 509-477-2145 Fax: 509-477-2087 Email: jeremy.cowan@wsu.edu
"The true southern watermelon is a boon apart and not to be mentioned with commoner things. It is chief of this world s luxuries, king by the grace of God over all the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he knows what the angels eat." Mark Twain
Watermelon fruit
Watermelon Taxonomy Dicotyledon Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus and species: Related species: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai melons, gourds, luffa, cucumber
Watermelon Origin and Domestication Indigenous to south-central Africa (dry savannah regions) Ancient cultivation in the Mediterranean Taken into China from India Unknown in Europe before 1600 AD Taken to North America by 1630 AD
Watermelon Market Evolution Important source of water for foragers in savannah regions Became a staple of subsistence farmers nutrition, water storage Developed into an item of local trade Now an important cash crop used in worldwide export activity
Watermelon Use and importance Nutritionally lean due to high water content Good source of carbohydrates, energy, and calories Moderate source of vitamin A and vitamin C
Watermelon Genetics and breeding Diploid Chromosome number 2n=22 Tetraploid forms used to create seedless melons 4n X 2n = 3n (seedless) Hybrids becoming common in the U.S (good for uniformity rather than vigor and yield)
Watermelon Climate and soils Warm season, tender crop Cannot withstand frost Susceptible to chilling injury (<45 degrees) Optimum temperatures 70-100 degrees Produces best quality in climates with low humidity Grows in most soils, earlier in light soils
Traditional
Seedless
Yellow flesh
Orange flesh
Icebox
Melon Taxonomy Dicotyledon Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus and species: Related species: Cucumis melo L. watermelon, gourds, luffa, cucumber
Melon Domestication Indigenous to Africa Secondary centers of diversity in India, Iran, Russia, China Cultivated in Egypt prior to 2400 BC Name after Cantaluppi, Italy
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuosus snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon oriental pickling melon Chito mango melon Dudaim pomegranate melon Momordica Snap melon Agrestis wild type
Melon Production Harvest and handling Must be harvested fully ripe Harvest indices Muskmelon Full slip Yellow ground color Winter melons Slightly spongy stem end Yellow or gold ground color