Results Summary: 2004 TCE Statewide
Watermelon Trial

By
Eric Cox, Extension Assistant & Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist - Commercial Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University

Fifteen hybrids and 28 triploid (seedless) varieties and / or advanced breeding lines were evaluated at four locations (Crystal City, Lubbock, College Station and Weslaco). The entries were evaluated using a randomized complete block design having a minimum of three replicates / entry. All trials were established on 6’ - 8‘ wide, black plastic mulched raised beds. Transplants were set at an in row spacing of 2.5‘ - 3‘ spacing depending upon the availability of transplanting units. Drip irrigation was used at all locations to supply water needs. Windbreaks were established in the trials at Lubbock, Weslaco and College Station. The varieties ‘Royal Sweet’ and ‘TriX 313’ were considered the hybrid and triploid checks respectively. Once-over harvest was employed at all locations except Weslaco and College Station, where the plots were harvested on three occasions.

Total marketable yield data for each location as well as the average marketable yield across all locations is presented in Table 1. On the basis of statewide average yields, no triploid entries produced greater yield than the check, ‘Tri-X 313’, which produced 78,117 lbs/A. Two of the hybrid entries, however, produced yield greater than the check, WX-260 and Summer Flavor 800 (81,411 and 79,918 lbs/A, respectively, as compared to 75,205 lbs/A with ‘Royal Sweet’).

 

To obtain a complete set of the data from the 2004 TCE State Wide Watermelon Trials, contact the following:

Dr. Juan Anciso
Extension Horticulturist
Texas Agricultural Research & Extension Center
2401 E. Highway 83
Weslaco, TX 78596-8398
Ph 956/ 968-5581
e-mail: janciso@ag.tamu.edu

You can also check our new web site at: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/varietytrials/index.html