Results Summary: 2003 TCE Statewide Watermelon Trial

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

Ten hybrids and 16 triploid (seedless) varieties and / or advanced breeding lines were evaluated at four locations (Crystal City, Lubbock, Overton 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 and Weslaco. 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 where the plots were harvested on eight occasions.

Total marketable yield data for each location as well as the average marketable yield across all locations is presented in Table 1. The percent fruit harvested per fruit grade is given in Table 2. On the basis of statewide average yields, only two hybrid entries produced greater yields than the check, 5413 and Dulce (74377 and 72747 lbs/A, respectively, as compared to 63031 lbs/A with ‘Royal Sweet’. Nine of the 16 triploid entries, however, produced yield greater than the check, ‘Tri X 313'. The varieties Samba, 7187 and Carousel average exceed 70,000 lbs/A.

To obtain a complete set of the data from the 2003 TCE State Wide Watermelon Trials, contact the following:

Dr. Frank J. Dainello
Extension Horticulturist- Commercial Vegetable Crops
Department of Horticultural Sciences Rm 216 MS 2134
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843
Ph 979 / 845-8567
e-mail: f-dainello@tamu.edu

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Table 1. 2003 Statewide Watermelon trial results - Average Yield.

Entries/Seed Sources

Total mkt yld (lbs/A)

Mkt yld/ location

Crystal City

Lubbock

Overton

Weslaco

Hybrids

5413 Dulce Royal Sweet Ole~ Gold Strike WX 264 Campeche 5408 DRX 4040 Rojo Grande

74377 72747 63031 61996 56600 50589 50571 50137 48701 36825

76554 34830 27211 38096 30113 39184 34104 46078 31565 17778

23130 43946 ----- 35783 38096 31157 31157 30613 21361 25387

119916 110525 68627 74045 66099 65737 57430 66821 54902 15531

77907 101686 93256 100058 92093 66279 79593 57034 86977 88605

Triploids (Seedless)

Samba 7187 Carousel Sunny Dillion Sweet Slice Tri X Palomar WX 28 5015 Tri X 313 7167 Sweet Delight Sugar Slice Vertigo Sugar Heart 7177

77258 76786 75550 65094 64661 62474 61942 61204 60100 59753 58902 57344 57272 55206 55161 48878

48618 61679 70024 72201 68573 46804 60591 34831 68210 51883 79094 58051 44627 49706 47892 52972

40681 ----- ----- 45579 31973 55647 20545 44219 23946 35238 33606 19184 15783 12789 38912 44219

97522 65015 67904 68988 81991 69349 64654 56346 62487 67182 40814 81269 105830 36119 69710 31063

122209 103663 88721 73605 76105 77733 101977 109419 85756 84709 82093 70872 62849 6570 64128 63256

 

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Table 2. 2003 Statewide Watermelon trial results - Average % Fruit Harvested / Size Grade

Entry

% > 30 lbs

% 25-30 lbs

% 20-25 lbs

% 15-20 lbs

% 10-15 lbs

% culls

Hybrids

5413 Dulce Royal Sweet Ole~ Gold Strike WX 264 Campeche 5408 DRX 4040 Rojo Grande

10 8 9 8 13 9 10 13 3 8

14 9 24 14 20 14 18 13 9 9

23 30 14 23 14 21 18 16 28 18

14 19 10 11 7 16 16 16 23 8

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39 36 43 44 46 40 38 42 37 57

Triploids (Seedless)

Samba 7187 Carousel Sunny Dillion Sweet Slice Tri X Palomar WX 28 5015 Tri X 313 7167 Sweet Delight Sugar Slice Vertigo Sugar Heart 7177

13 3 8 3 1 4 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 7 7 1

12 9 7 8 5 7 6 15 6 6 3 6 15 2 9 4

23 26 18 25 20 20 15 26 18 18 14 25 18 18 14 10

9 13 20 22 24 16 24 17 27 20 30 22 13 17 13 26

15 24 26 13 30 24 23 13 24 28 22 18 16 22 25 29

28 25 21 29 20 29 31 27 24 27 30 26 36 34 32 30