Southwest Indiana Triploid Watermelon Variety Trial 2012

Southwest Indiana Triploid Watermelon Variety Trial 2012 Shubin K. Saha, Vegetable Extension Specialist, and Larry Sutterer, Agriculture Technician Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest Purdue Agriculture Program, Vincennes, Indiana Introduction Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) is one of the largest fresh market vegetable crops produced in Indiana. Watermelons account for 45% of the total fresh market vegetable acreage and 50% of the total value of fresh market vegetables in the state (USDA, 2012). In 2011, Indiana was ranked sixth in the United States in acres harvested (7,200), and its watermelon crop was valued at approximately $34.5 million (USDA, 2012). Growing watermelons, as with most vegetable crops, takes considerable planning and decision making to be successful. There are many variables in watermelon production that growers must consider. Some of these can be modified, such as choosing appropriate varieties and fertility program. There are other variables growers have no control of, such as environmental conditions (temperature, sunlight, etc.). One of the primary decisions a producer can make is selecting a suitable variety to meet his or her needs with respect to yield, quality, and disease resistance. When choosing a triploid watermelon variety, there are many aspects to consider given the planting location. Some of the traits considered important include high yield, resistance to abiotic diseases and disorders (e.g., hollow heart), good internal qualities (such as firmness), soluble solids content, and good external appearance. The objective of the project was to evaluate 33 experimental or newly released varieties to assess adaptability to growing under southwestern Indiana conditions. Materials and Methods On April 17, 2012, the experiment was established when seeds of 33 triploid watermelon varieties were sown in 50-cell black seedling flats (Myers Industries Lawn and Garden Group, Middlefield, Ohio). The media used for seed germination was Jiffy-Mix Grower s Choice Plus (Jiffy Products of America, Lorain, Ohio). All varieties were transplanted in the field on May 14, using Accomplice as the pollenizer variety. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental plots were 48 feet in length and 4 feet wide. Rows were spaced on 8-foot centers with 4-foot in-row spacing. There were 12 plants per plot in addition to six pollenizers per plot. Raised-beds were formed and covered in black plastic mulch (4 feet x 2 mil, AEP Industries, Mountain Top, Pennsylvania) after pre-plant fertilizer application of 350 lbs (46-0-0), 100 lbs (0-0-60), and 200 lbs of pelletized lime. Simultaneously the drip tape (12 inch emitter spacing, 24 gph/100 feet, RO-Drip, Roberts Irrigation, San Marcos, California) was placed under the plastic to allow for irrigation during the season as needed. Plants were harvested four times between July 17 and August 8, and each fruit was weighed after harvest. Additionally, nine fruits from each variety were evaluated for quality characteristics including percent soluble solids, size, rind thickness, and firmness. Yield data

were analyzed by Fisher s least significant difference test using SAS statistical programs (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina). Results and Discussion Overall yield in 2012 was slightly lower, ranging from 15,700-55,500 lbs/acre, compared to 42,000-60,000 lbs/acre in 2011 (Table 1) (Saha and Hoke, 2012). Average fruit weight ranged from 12.9-17.8 pounds among the varieties (Table 1). AC 5234 Plus had the highest numerical yield (489 lbs/plot) and was statistically greater than 22 of the 33 varieties (Table 1). However, AC 5234 Plus was ranked last of all varieties with regard to soluble solid content (brix) (Table 2). Olympia and SVR-8039-0257 had higher brix (11.1%) than 16 other varieties, however yields were relatively low (Tables 1 and 2). Varieties with higher yields and high brix include Crunchy Red (413 lbs/plot, 10.4% brix), Sugared (402 lbs/plot, 10.8% brix) and WDL 9408 (397 lbs/plot, 11.1) (Tables 1 and 2). Maxima had the highest numerical yield (146 lbs/plot) and had statistically greater yield compared to 29 of the varieties evaluated in the first harvest period (Table 3). Other high early yielding varieties were Sugar Coat, RWT 8231, and Sugared (Table 3). In the second week of harvest, Maxima (150 lbs/plot) continued the same trend, and although it was not numerically the highest with respect to yield, it was not statistically different from the highest AC 7387 HQ (193 lbs/plot) (Table 4). Yield for all varieties in the third and fourth individual harvests did not differ statistically (data not shown). Acknowledgements The authors would like to extend their appreciation to the following individuals for all their help and assistance with the completion of the variety trials this year: Bill Davis, Dennis Nowaskie, and Angie Thompson.

Table 1. Yield of triploid watermelon varieties, 2012. Variety Seed Co. Number per Plot z Avg. Fruit Fruit Number/Acre Fruit Wt./Acre AC 5234 Plus AC 30.7 a y 489.1 a 16.0 defghijk 3,478.8 a 55,488 a Maxima Origene 26.7 abcd 474.9 ab 17.8 a 3,025.0 abcd 53,867 ab AC 7187 HQ AC 30.0 ab 470.7 abc 15.7 efghijkl 3,403.1 ab 53,390 abc Declaration NU 27.7 abc 434.5 abcd 15.7 efghijk 3,138.4 abc 49,295 abcd AC 7167 AC 27.7 abc 433.9 abcde 15.7 efghijk 3,138.4 abc 49,220 abcde Distinction SY 24.3 cdef 427.8 abcdef 17.4 abc 2,760.3 cdef 48,529 abcdef Crunchy Red HM 26.0 abcde 413.4 abcdefg 16.0 defghijk 2,949.4 abcde 46,894 abcdefg ACX 6177 TSS FR AC 24.0 cdef 403.6 abcdefg 16.9 abcdef 2,722.5 cdef 45,785 abcdefg Sugared ZG 23.3 cdef 401.6 abcdefg 17.2 abcd 2,646.9 cdef 45,560 abcdefg WDL9408 SY 22.7 cdef 396.9 abcdefg 17.5 ab 2,571.3 cdef 45,018 abcdefg AC 7387 HQ AC 22.7 cdef 396.3 abcdefg 17.5 ab 2,571.3 cdef 44,951 abcdefg Melody SY 25.7 abcde 394.3 bcdefg 15.4 ghijkl 2,911.6 abcde 44,724 bcdefg Tri-X 313 SY 23.7 cdef 392.9 bcdefg 16.6 abcdefgh 2,684.7 cdef 44,567 bcdefg AC 9651 HQ AC 25.0 bcdef 388.8 bcdefg 15.5 fghijkl 2,835.9 bcdef 44,105 bcdefg Diplomat (Nun 1000) NU 25.3 bcde 388.1 bcdefg 15.3 hijkl 2,873.8 bcde 44,027 bcdefg WDL9409 SY 23.3 cdef 384.93 bcdefg 16.6 abcdefghi 2,646.9 cdef 43,666 bcdefg Majestic SM 24.3 cdef 382.5 bcdefg 15.7 efghijk 2,760.3 cdef 43,388 bcdefg Sugar Coat ZG 22.0 defg 378.9 cdefgh 17.0 abcde 2,495.6 defg 42,975 cdefgh WDL9405 SY 22.0 defg 377.8 cdefghi 17.1 abcd 2,495.6 defg 42,860 cdefghi RWT8231 SY 25.0 bcdef 366.2 defghi 14.7 kl 2,835.9 bcdef 41,537 defghi Affirmed SK 24.0 cdef 365.0 defghi 15.2 ijkl 2,722.5 cdef 41,408 defghi SVR-8039-0241 SM 23.3 cdef 362.3 defghi 15.5 ghijkl 2,646.9 cdef 41,097 defghi AC 7197 HQ AC 21.0 efg 350.8 defghij 16.7 abcdefgh 2,382.2 efg 39,789 defghij Olympia SM 21.3 efg 347.8 defghij 16.3 bcdefghi 2,420.0 efg 39,452 defghij Sugar Heart ZG 21.7 defg 347.3 defghij 16.0 cdefghij 2,457.8 defg 39,399 defghij Continued on next page

Table 1 (continued) Variety Seed Co. Number per Plot z Avg. Fruit Fruit Number/Acre Fruit Wt./Acre Gilboa Origene 22.3 defg 346.6 defghij 15.6 efghijkl 2,533.4 defg 39,314 defghij SVR-8039-0257 SM 21.7 defg 340.5 efghij 15.7 efghijk 2,457.8 defg 38,620 efghij Imagination SY 26.0 abcde 335.7 fghij 12.9 m 2,949.4 abcde 38,082 fghij HMX 1915 HM 22.3 defg 331.2 ghij 14.8 jkl 2,533.4 defg 37,569 ghij Troubadour HM 20.0 fgh 286.5 hij 14.3 l 2,268.8 gfh 32,495 hij Fascination SY 17.3 gh 285.1 ij 16.5 abcdefghi 1,966.3 gh 32,344 ij Sugar Heart (grafted) ZG 15.3 hi 260.2 j 16.7 abcdejg 1,739.4 hi 29,553 j Fusion Origene 10.7 i 138.3 k 12.9 m 1,210.0 i 15,685 k z Plot size: 384 ft 2. y Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant test (P 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different. Table 2. Fruit quality of triploid watermelon varieties, 2012. Variety Seed Co. Brix z Degree of Seedlessness y Rind Thickness (in) Firmness (lbs-force) Fruit Length (cm) SVR-8039-0257 SM 11.1 a x 0.1 de 0.6 3.0 defghijk 10.8 abcdef 9.4 Olympia SM 11.1 a 0.3 bcde 0.7 2.5 klm 11.0 abc 9.6 WDL9408 SY 11.1 ab 0.6 bc 0.6 2.8 fghijklm 11.2 ab 9.9 Troubadour HM 11.0 abc 0.3 bcde 0.6 3.3 bcdefg 10.4 bcdefgh 9.4 RWT8231 SY 11.0 abc 0.1 de 0.6 2.3 lm 9.4 jk 8.4 Sugared ZG 10.8 abcd 0.0 e 0.6 2.7 hijklm 10.8 abcdefg 9.4 Affirmed SK 10.8 abcde 0.0 e 0.6 2.3 m 10.9 abcde 9.4 AC 7197 HQ AC 10.6 abcdef 0.7 b 0.7 3.3 bcdefg 11.1 ab 9.8 Majestic SM 10.6 abcdefg 0.2 cde 0.7 3.2 bcdefgh 10.8 abcde 9.4 WDL9405 SY 10.5 abcdefg 0.1 de 0.5 2.9 defghijk 10.8 abcdef 9.7 Sugar Heart grafted ZG 10.5 abcdefg 0.1 de 0.6 2.6 ijklm 11.3 a 9.4 AC 7387 HQ AC 10.4 abcdefgh 0.0 e 0.6 3.1 defghij 11.1 ab 9.5 Fruit Width (in) Continued on next page

Table 2 (continued) Variety Seed Co. Brix z Degree of Seedlessness y Rind Thickness (in) Firmness (lbs-force) Fruit Length (cm) Crunchy Red HM 10.4 abcdefgh 0.3 bcde 0.8 3.7 abc 10.9 abcd 9.4 Fascination SY 10.3 abcdefghi 1.1 a 0.6 3.4 bcdef 11.2 ab 9.8 Gilboa ZG 10.3 abcdefghi 0.0 e 0.6 2.5 jklm 10.8 abcde 9.3 ACX 6177 TSS FR AC 10.3 abcdefghi 0.6 bc 0.6 3.8 ab 10.3 cdefghi 9.8 Imagination SY 10.3 abcdefghi 0.0 e 0.6 2.4 klm 9.5 ijk 9.2 Diplomat (Nun 1000) NU 10.2 bcdefghi 0.1 de 0.6 2.6 hijklm 10.8 abcdef 9.3 Sugar Heart ZG 10.2 bcdefghi 0.1 de 0.6 2.3 lm 11.0 abc 9.4 HMX 1915 HM 10.2 cdefghi 0.0 e 0.7 3.4 bcdefg 10.0 fghijk 9.6 WDL9409 SY 10.2 cdefghi 0.3 bcde 0.6 3.5 bcde 10.7 abcdefg 9.6 AC 7187 HQ AC 10.1 defghij 0.1 de 0.7 3.5 abcd 10.7 abcdefg 9.6 AC 7167 AC 10.1 defghij 0.2 cde 0.6 3.1 defghij 11.2 ab 9.7 Declaration NU 10.1 defghij 0.2 cde 0.6 2.5 jklm 10.9 abcd 9.5 AC 9651 HQ AC 10.1 defghij 0.7 b 0.7 3.3 bcdefg 10.2 defghij 9.4 Melody SY 9.9 efghij 0.4 bcd 0.5 2.8 ghijklm 10.0 ghijk 9.5 SVR-8039-0241 SM 9.8 fghij 0.0 e 0.6 3.3 bcdefg 10.9 abcd 9.4 Maxima Origene 9.7 ghij 0.3 bcde 0.7 3.8 ab 10.2 efghij 10.2 Tri-X 313 SY 9.6 hij 0.1 de 0.7 2.9 efghijkl 10.9 abcde 9.6 Sugar Coat ZG 9.5 ij 0.2 cde 0.7 2.8 fghijklm 10.9 abcde 9.8 Distinction SY 9.5 ij 0.1 de 0.6 3.1 cdefghi 9.9 hijk 9.8 Fusion Origene 9.5 ij 0.7 b 0.6 4.1 a 9.3 k 9.2 AC 5234 Plus AC 9.3 j 0.3 bcde 0.7 3.3 bcdefg 11.0 abcd 9.3 z Brix: percent soluble solid. y Degree of Seedlessness: 1=0 seeds, 2=1-5 seeds, 3=more than 5 seeds. x Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant difference test (P< 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different. Fruit Width (in)

Table 3. Early yield of triploid watermelon varieties July 17, 2012. Variety Seed Co. Number per Plot z Avg. Fruit Maxima Origene 7.7 a y 145.6 a 19.4 a Sugar Coat ZG 5.7 abc 106.7 ab 17.7 a RWT8231 SY 6.7 ab 104.6 abc 15.9 ab Sugared ZG 5.7 abc 100.4 abcd 17.7 a WDL9405 SY 5.0 abcd 85.5 bcde 17.0 ab Distinction SY 4.0 bcdef 74.2 bcdef 18.2 a SVR-8039-0241 SM 4.3 bcde 73.82 bcdef 17.0 ab AC 9651 HQ AC 4.3 bcde 69.10 bcdefg 16.0 ab Olympia SM 3.7 cdefg 64.3 bcdefgh 17.4 ab AC 7197 HQ AC 3.7 cdefg 64.2 bcdefgh 17.3 ab SVR-8039-0257 SM 3.7 cdefg 64.0 bcdefgh 16.3 ab AC 7187 HQ AC 3.7 cdefg 62.3 bcdefghi 16.9 ab WDL9409 SY 3.3 cdefgh 61.1 bcdefghi 18.6 a ACX 6177 TSS FR AC 3.0 cdefghi 56.1 bcdefghij 18.9 a Diplomat (Nun 1000) NU 3.3 cdefgh 55.6 cdefghij 16.6 ab AC 7387 HQ AC 2.7 defghi 49.9 defghij 12.1 abc Sugar Heart ZG 2.7 defghi 49.7 defghij 18.5 a Tri-X 313 SY 2.7 defghi 47.4 efghij 17.7 a Crunchy Red HM 2.7 dfghi 43.5 efghij 16.4 ab Fascination SY 2.3 defghi 43.2 efghij 18.9 a WDL9408 SY 2.3 defghi 42.3 efghij 19.2 a Majestic SM 2.3 defghi 40.9 efghij 17.6 a Imagination SY 2.7 defghi 38.1 efghij 13.9 ab Affirmed SK 2.3 defghi 37.7 efghij 16.2 ab Declaration NU 2.3 defghi 37.2 efghij 15.8 ab AC 5234 Plus AC 2.0 efghi 35.0 efghij 17.9 a Melody SY 2.0 efghi 32.0 fghij 16.4 ab AC 7167 AC 1.7 efghi 26.2 fghij 15.9 ab Troubadour HM 1.3 fghi 20.3 ghij 10.1 bc Sugar Heart grafted ZG 1.0 ghi 18.3 hij 6.1 c Gilboa Origene 0.7 hi 12.3 ij 12.7 abc Fusion Origene 0.3 i 6.2 j 6.2 c HMX 1915 HM 0.3 i 5.6 j 5.6 c z Plot size: 384 ft 2. y Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant test (P 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different.

Table 4. Second harvest of triploid watermelon varieties July 24, 2012. Variety Name Seed Co. Number per Plot z (lbs) Avg. Fruit (lbs) AC 7387 HQ AC 10.7 ab y 193.3 a 18.1 AC 9651 HQ AC 11.0 a 173.5 ab 15.9 Declaration NU 10.3 abc 169.5 abc 16.3 WDL9408 SY 8.7 abcde 154.8 abcd 18.0 AC 7167 AC 9.0 abcd 153.1 abcd 17.1 Maxima Origene 8.0 abcdef 149.3 abcde 18.7 Tri-X 313 SY 8.3 abcde 142.2 abcde 17.2 AC 7187 HQ AC 8.3 abcde 138.8 abcde 16.7 Majestic SM 8.0 abcdef 137.2 abcde 17.1 Sugar Coat ZG 7.3 abcdef 133.8 abcde 17.7 WDL9409 SY 7.7 abcdef 133.6 abcde 17.4 AC 7197 HQ AC 7.3 abcdef 132.4 abcde 18.1 Diplomat (Nun 1000) NU 8.0 abcdef 131.2 abcde 16.4 AC 5234 Plus AC 8.0 abcdef 130.6 abcde 16.2 Distinction SY 7.3 abcdef 127.3 abcde 17.3 RWT8231 SY 8.3 abcde 127.0 bcde 15.2 Crunchy Red HM 7.7 abcdef 124.6 bcde 16.2 Sugar Heart ZG 7.0 bcdef 118.4 bcde 16.9 ACX 6177 TSS FR AC 6.3 def 114.4 bcde 18.1 Imagination SY 8.0 abcdef 112.3 bcde 13.8 Olympia SM 6.7 cdef 111.5 bcde 16.7 Affirmed SK 6.7 cdef 109.9 bcde 16.5 Fascination SY 6.0 def 109.2 bcde 18.1 Gilboa Origene 6.7 cdef 108.7 bcde 16.0 HMX 1915 HM 6.7 cdef 106.1 cde 15.9 Sugared ZG 6.0 def 105.7 cde 17.2 Sugar Heart grafted ZG 6.0 def 104.7 cde 17.3 Troubadour HM 6.3 def 100.3 de 15.7 Melody SY 6.0 def 97.1 de 16.4 SVR-8039-0257 SM 5.3 def 89.3 de 16.8 SVR-8039-0241 SM 5.0 efg 85.1 ef 17.0 WDL9405 SY 4.3 fg 83.1 ef 19.2 Fusion Origene 1.3 g 19.5 f 11.0 z Plot size: 384 ft 2. y Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant test (P 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different.

Literature Cited Saha, S.K. and S. Hoke, 2012. Midwest Triploid Watermelon Variety Trial in Southwest Indiana 2011. Midwest Vegetable Trial Report for 2011. United States Department of Agriculture, 2012. National Agricultural Statistics Service. Vegetables 2011 Summary. usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/vegesumm/vegesumm- 01-26-2012.pdf.