WATERMELON AND MUSKMELON VARIETY TRIALS 2010 Shubin K. Saha and Dan Egel, SWPAC
The Indiana monthly precipitation and temperature data for May through September and the rank of each period out of the 115-year average. Precipitation Temperature Month 2010 115 yr. average Rank* 2010 115 yr. average Rank* May 5.44 4.25 91 64.3 61.54 92 June 7.81 4.12 115 74.1 70.73 105 July 4.07 3.87 71 76.5 74.61 93 August 1.81 3.50 3 75.8 72.93 104 September 1.36 3.25 12 67.3 66.06 77 May- September 4.09 3.79 58.40 71.60 69.17 94.20 * The wettest month would be ranked 115; the hottest month would be ranked 115.
Production Problems of 2010
Production Methods Plasticulture black plastic mulch and drip tape Pre-plant fertilizer: 350 lbs 46-0-0 100 lbs 0-0-60 200 lbs pelletized lime Muskmelon plots: 6 centers, 55 rows, 30 in-row, 22 plants/plot Watermelon plots: 8 centers, 48 rows, 48 in-row, 12 plants/plot, 6 pollinators/plot (SP-5) Personal watermelons: 6 centers, 48 rows, 24 in-row, 24 plants/plot 3 replicates
Transplants Muskmelon: Seeded 4/15/09 and planted 5/10/09 Triploid Watermelon: Seeded 4/20/09 and planted 5/14/09 Diploid Watermelon: Seeded 4/16/09 and planted 5/11/09 Personal Watermelon: Seeded 4/21/09 and Personal Watermelon: Seeded 4/21/09 and planted 5/13/09
MUSKMELON
% of Fruits Harvested by Date Variety Seed Company Cwt/Acre Tons/Acre Fruit No./Acre Avg. Fruit Weight (lbs) 7/7 7/197/19 7/21 8/2 8/4 8/138/13 Fantasista TAK 506.0 25.302 bcd z 10648 a 4.8 f 47.1 14.0 38.8 Athena SY 479.1 23.955 de 8624 b 5.6 e 55.1 14.3 30.6 E 1023 TAK 485.7 24.286 cde 8580 b 5.7 de 21.0 41.0 37.9 E 1016 TAK 410.11 20.504 efg 7964 bc 5.1 ef 54.7 24.9 20.4 ACX428ES AC 638.1 31.905 a 7832 bc 8.1 b 15.2 48.3 36.5 Jaipur SW 531.1 26.5555 bcd 7744 bcd 6.9 c 40.9 31.8 27.3 Aphrodite SY 568.4 28.422 abc 7392 bcde 7.7 b 51.4 18.1 30.5 Ariel SY 467.7 23.386 def 7260 bcdef 6.5 c 62.7 14.7 22.7 E 1031 TAK 344.1 17.2055 gh 7084 cdef 4.9 f 10.7 50.0 39.3 SME1029 SK 587.3 29.367 ab 6424 def 9.1 a 63.0 16.4 20.5 E 1030 TAK 380.9 19.0445 gh 6116 efg 6.3 cd 1.4 34.5 64.0 ACX3497XWS AC 393.0 19.65 fgh 5984 fg 66c 6.6 22 2.2 50.00 47.8 ACX 3477XWS AC 309.9 15.495 h 5016 gh 6.2 cd 15.8 52.6 31.6 ACX 4356XEA AC 222.8 11.139 i 3960 h 5.7 de 48.1 38.3 13.6
Variety Seed Company %SS Firmness (lbs force) Fruit Length (in) Fruit Width (in) Seed Cavity Length (in) Seed Cavity Width (in) ACX3477XWS AC 13.2 a 84 8.4 cde 78dfh 7.8 defgh 69 6.9 cd 50 5.0 efg 30df 3.0 defg ACX4356XEA AC 12.5 ab 9.6 bc 7.7 defgh 6.9 cd 4.8 fg 2.5 g ACX3497XWS AC 12.5 ab 10.3 ab 8.4 bcd 7.2 c 5.4 cde 3.1 def E 1031 TAK 12.3 ab 9.5 bc 7 h 6.2 e 4.5 g 2.6 efg E 1023 TAK 12.0 bc 11.3 a 7.5 fgh 6.5 de 5.5 bcde 2.6 fg E 1016 TAK 11.9 bc 8.9 bcd 7.6 efgh 6.5 de 5.2 def 2.8 defg E 1030 TAK 11.4 bcd 9.3 bc 8.2 def 6.8 cd 5.4 cde 3.0 defg Jaipur SW 11.1 cd 6.0 f 7.4 gh 6.8 cde 4.6 fg 2.9 defg Fantasista TAK 10.8 cde 9.5 bc 7.2 gh 6.2 e 5.1 def 2.6 efg Athena SY 10.6 def 79cde 7.9 83cde 8.3 70c 7.0 52def 5.2 31de 3.1 Aphrodite SY 9.9 efg 9.2 bc 9.1 abc 8.4 a 6.1 ab 4.3 a Ariel SY 9.7 fg 7.3 def 7.8 defg 6.9 cd 5.7 abcd 4.0 ab ACX428ES AC 9.0 gh 10.5 ab 9.1 ab 7.8 b 5.9 abc 3.3 cd SME1029 SK 8.3 h 6.8 ef 9.6 a 8.2 ab 6.2 a 3.6 bc
Muskmelon Fruit #/acre: 2009 yields ranged from 3432 6204 fruits/acre as compared to 3960 10648 fruits/acre in 2010 (Saha et al., 2009). Average fruit weight: 48 4.8-9.1lbs 91lb Fantasista had the greatest yield at 10648 fruits/acre, however %SS was not the highest at 10.8 % Varieties with higher yields and high %SS were E1023 and E1016 ACX3477XWS has the highest numerical %SS at 13.2%, however it was one of the lowest yielding varieties
Watermelon
Variety Seed Company Cwt/Acre Tons/Acre Fruit No./Acre Avg. Fruit Weight (lbs) Troubadour HM 560.5 28.0 a z 3781.3 a 14.8 ghij AC4674 AC 546.1 27.3 ab 3403.1 abc 16.2 cdefgh Watermelon (seedless) Melody SY 541.8 27.1 ab 3592.2 ab 15.1 fghij Crunchy Red HM 537.7 26.9 ab 3289.7 abcd 16.3 bcdefgh Cooperstown SM 537.2 26.9 ab 3365.3 abc 15.9 defgh AC7167 AC 507.7 25.4 abc 3025.0 abcde 16.7 bcdefgh AC6177 AC 504.9 25.2 abc 2873.8 abcdef 17.9 abcd Pl Palomar SY 493.5 24.7 abcd bd 2873.88 abcdef bdf 16.8 bdf bcdef Tri X 313 SY 492.3 24.6 abcd 2911.6 abcdef 17.2 abcde Fresh Cut WI 490.9 24.5 abcd 3025.0 abcde 16.1 defgh RWT8228 SY 472.9 23.6 abcde 2457.8 bcdefg 19.1 a AC6277 AC 458.9 22.9 abcde 2722.5 abcdefg 16.8 bcdef Imagination SY 446.8 22.3 abcdef 3365.3 abc 13.3 ij Treasure Chest SD 442.5 22.1 abcdef 2571.3 bcdefg 17.1 bcdef ACR4106 AC 441.4 22.1 abcdef 2684.7 abcdefg 16.4 bcdefgh AC7197 AC 427.3 21.4 abcdefg 2646.9 abcdefg 16.2 cdefgh WX4838 WI 423.9 21.22 abcdefg 2873.77 abcdef 14.7 ghij Cut Master WI 418.7 20.9 abcdefg 2798.1 abcdefg 15.2 efghi Fascination SY 416.9 20.8 abcdefg 2571.2 bcdefg 16.4 bcdefgh Cronos SM 412.9 20.6 abcdefg 2268.8 cdefg 18.1 abc Distinction SY 385.2 19.3 abcdefg 2117.5 efg 18.3 ab Majestic SM 364.0 18.2 bcdefg 2268.8 cdefg 15.9 defgh AC6127 AC 359.8 18.0 bcdefg 2155.3 defg 16.6 bcdefgh Summer King SY 355.3 17.8 bcdefg 2306.6 cdefg 15.3 efghi Fenway SM 328.1 16.4 cdefg 2420.0 cdefg 13.5 ij AC7197 AC 311.2 15.6 defg 1890.6 efg 16.7 bcdefg Triple Threat SY 307.6 15.4 defg 2306.6 cdefg 13.1 j Indiana SW 288.0 14.4 efg 1815.0 fg 15.5 efgh Sorbet HL 266.2 13.3 fg 2041.9 efg 13.1 j Ruby HL 250.0 12.5 g 1663.8 g 14.7 hij
Variety Seed Company %SS Firmness (lbs force) Fruit Length (in) Fruit Width (in) Rind Thickness (in) Degree of Seedlessness Fenway SM 12.4 a 2.4 k 9.2 l 8.8 fghi 0.56 i 1.3 abc Indiana SW 12.4 a 2.6 hijk 9.7 kl 9.1 efghi 0.66 bcdefghi 1.3 abc Triple Threat SY 11.8 ab 2.7 ghijk 9.4 l 8.8 fghi 0.61 efghi 1.3 abc Sorbet HL 11.7 abc 3.1 efghij 9.3 l 9.1 cdefghi 0.67 bcdefghi 1.6 a WX4838 WI 11.6 abcd 2.8 ghijk 9.4 l 8.8 efghi 0.63 cdefghi 1.3 abc Troubadour HM 11.5 abcde 4.3 a 11.4 cdefg 9.0 efghi 0.72 bcdef 1.4 ab AC6277 AC 11.3 bcdef 33efg 3.3 11.8 abcd 93bcde 9.3 061defghi 0.61 11bc 1.1 Cooperstown SM 11.2 bcdefg 3.0 fghijk 11.1 efghi 9.0 efghi 0.73 bcde 1.0 c AC7197 AC 11.2 bcdefg 4.0 abc 11.3 cdefgh 9.1 efghi 0.69 bcdefgh 1.3 abc Majestic SM 11.2 bcdefg 3.5 cdef 11.3 cdefgh 8.9 efghi 0.77 ab 1.3 abc Crunchy Red HM 11.1 bcdefgh 4.2 ab 12.1 ab 9.0 efghi 0.75 abc 1.3 abc Fresh Cut WI 11.0 bcdefghi 2.6 jk 11.6 abcdef 9.0 efghi 0.69 bcdefgh 1.3 abc Palomar SY 11.0 bcdefghi 2.8 ghijk 10.2 jk 9.7 abc 0.68 bcdefghi 1.3 abc AC7167 AC 11.0 bcdefghi 3.3 defg 11.2 defgh 9.0 efghi 0.57 hi 1.0 c Ruby HL 11.0 bcdefghi 2.6 jk 10.2 jk 8.6 i 0.65 bcdefghi 1.1 bc Tri X 313 SY 10.9 bcdefghi 2.6 ijk 11.5 bcdefg 9.3 bcde 0.69 bcdefgh 1.11 bc Cut Master WI 10.9 bcdefghi 3.1 efghij 11.1 efghi 8.8 ghi 0.71 bcdefg 1.0 c AC6127 AC 10.8 defghi 3.1 efghij 10.9 ghi 8.6 i 0.59 ghi 1.1 bc RWT8228 SY 10.8 defghi 3.2 efgh 12.2 a 9.9 a 0.73 bcdef 1.3 abc Summer King SY 10.8 defghi 3.0 fghijk 11.6 abcdef 8.7 hi 0.65 bcdefghi 1.1 bc ACR4106 AC 10.7 defghi 3.2 efgh 11.7 abcde 9.3 bcdef 0.70 bcdefgh 1.0 c AC7197 AC 10.7 defghi 3.9 abcd 11.9 abc 9.2 cdefgh 0.69 bcdefgh 1.3 abc AC6177 AC 10.6 efghi 4.1 ab 10.9 ghi 9.8 ab 0.74 bcd 1.1 bc Treasure Chest SD 10.6 efghi 2.9 ghijk 10.7 hij 9.9 a 0.60 fghi 1.1 bc Fascination SY 10.5 fghi 3.7 bcde 11.4 cdefg 9.3 bcdef 0.63 cdefghi 1.3 abc AC4674 AC 10.4 ghi 2.8 ghijk 11.3 cdefgh 8.6 i 0.71 bcdefg 1.4 ab Imagination SY 10.3 hi 3.1 efghij 9.9 kl 9.2 cdefg 0.63 cdefghi 1.1 bc Distinction SY 10.3 hi 4.4 a 10.5 ij 9.9 a 0.63 cdefghi 1.3 abc Cronos SM 10.2 i 4.1 ab 11.0 fghi 9.6 abcd 0.87 a 1.1 bc M l d SY 10 2 i 32 fhi 98kl 91dfhi 065bdfhi 11b
Cultivar Company AUDPC z Treasure Chest..................................... Seeds by Design 303.5 a y Triple Threat................................... Syngenta 297.1 ab WX 4838....................................... Willhite 288.8 ab Sorbet................................... Hollar 271.22 abc Melody......................................... Syngenta 262.6 abcd Cooperstown..................................... Seminis 251.4 abcd AC 7187 HQ.................................... Abbott & Cobb 226.3 abcde Crunchy Red...................................... Harris Moran 224.8 abcde ACR 6277....................................... Abbott & Cobb 216.6 abcdef Tri X 313...................................... Syngenta 212.1 abcdefg Ruby........................................ Hollar 207.2 abcdefg ACR 4106T...................................... Abbott & Cobb 203.6 abcdefg Troubadour...................................... Harris Moran 196.1 abcdefg AC 7197 HQ..................................... Abbott & Cobb 189.3 abcdefg Imagination..................................... Syngenta 185.8 bcdefg Cut Master....................................... Willhite 169.1 cdefgh Fresh Cut....................................... Willhite 169.0 cdefgh ACR 6177....................................... Abbott & Cobb 153.6 dfhi defghi Fenway............................................... Seminis 127.7 efghij ACR 6127............................................... Abbott & Cobb 121.7 efghij Palomar....................................... Syngenta 103.6 fghijk AC 7167....................................... Abbott & Cobb 98.4 ghijk Fascination.................................... Syngenta 61.4 hijk Summer King..................................... Syngenta 58.5 hijk Majestic......................................... Seminis 56.4 hijk Indiana......................................... Seedway 53.2 ijk Distinction...................................... Syngenta 53.0 ijk Cronos........................................ Seminis 49.6 ijk RWT 8228..................................... Syngenta 30.5 jk Tri X 313 control w............................... Syngenta 25.8 jk AC 4674..................................... Abbott & Cobb 6.3 k
Watermelon (triploid) Overall yield similar: 2009 yields ranged from 19.8-31.4 tons/acre as compared to 12.5-28.0 tons/acre in 2010. Average fruit weight: 13.1-19.1 lbs %SS(Brix) Fenway and Indiana numerically had the highest at 12.4 % SS, however yields were relatively low. Troubadour had the highest numerical yield at 28 tons/acre and had high %SS at 11.5 % Varieties with higher yields and high %SS were AC6277 and WX4838 Varieties with partial resistance to Fusarium wilt include Palomar, AC7167, and Fascination.
Variety Seed Company Cwt/Acre Tons/Acre Fruit No./Acre Avg. Fruit Weight (lbs) RWT8225 SY 771.4 38.6 a 9882.0 ab 7.8 a Vanessa NH 757.77 37.9 a 11495.0 a 66b 6.6 RWT8212 SY 591 29.6 ab 9025.0 ab 6.5 b WDL8312 SY 566.5 28.3 ab 8369.0 b 6.8 b Little Deuce Coupe SY 545 27.3 b 8621.0 ab 6.4 b Petite Perfection SY 539.15 27.0 b 8420.0 b 6.5 b
Variety Seed Firmness Fruit Fruit Rind Degree of %SS Company (lbs force) Length (in) Width (in) Thickness (in) Seedlessness WDL8312 SY 12.9 a 2.8 7.7 b 7.2 b 0.25 c 1.8 b Petite Perfection SY 12.22 ab 32 3.2 74b 7.4 70b 7.0 021c 0.21 24a 2.4 RWT8225 SY 12.1 b 3.7 8.4 a 7.8 a 0.63 a 1.4 b RWT8212 SY 11.9 b 2.8 8.1 a 7.2 b 0.41 b 1.8 b Little Deuce Coupe SY 11.7 b 3.0 7.7 b 7.1 b 0.31 bc 1.8 b Vanessa NH 10.7 c 3.0 8.3 a 7.7 a 0.56 a 1.3 b
Variety Seed Company lbs/acre Cwt/Acre Tons/Acre Fruit No./Acre Royal Sweet Seminis 53341 533.4 26.7 a 2420 Sangria Syngenta 50113 501.1 25.1 ab 2533.4 Ole Wilhite 47223 472.2 23.6 ab 2155.3 Denver Hollar 40382 403.82 20.2 b 1890.6 Gold Flower Johnny's 16675 166.8 8.3 c 2722.5
Variety Seed Company %SS Firmness (lbs force) Fruit Length (in) Fruit Width (in) Rind Thickness (in) Denver Hollar 12.1 a 2.5 b 11.0 e 9.8 a 0.70 ab Royal Sweet Seminis 11.9 a 1.8 c 13.8 c 8.9 b 0.79 a Sangria Syngenta 11.7 a 23bc 2.3 16.66 a 81c 8.1 062b 0.62 Ole Wilhite 11.4 a 2.6 b 15.1 b 8.7 b 0.66 b Gold Flower Johnny's 9.4 b 3.5 a 12.4 d 5.1 d 0.34 c
Acknowledgements Dennis Nowaskie Bill Davis Angie Thompson Sara Hoke Chelsey Cardinal