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2018 North Carolina Triploid Standard & Mini-Size Watermelon Cultigen Evaluation Studies

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Hort. Series # 226

Principle Investigators

Jonathan R. Schultheis, Vegetable Extension Specialist and Keith D. Starke, Research Associate, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University, Raleigh, NC

Acknowledgments: We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Rodney Mozingo (Superintendent) and Wesley Hairre (Horticulture Supervisor), Horticultural Crops Research Station, Clinton, NC, as well as, the personnel at the research station for their help in establishing, maintaining, and harvesting the cultigen evaluation studies. We want to acknowledge the following summer employees for their assistance with the studies: Shannon Dexter, Chandler Fulmer, Ben Indermaur, Elizabeth Indermaur, and Tanner Seay as well as, graduate student; Fernando Montero De Espinosa.

The cooperation and support of Bayer Crop Science; DP Seeds, LLC; Hazera; HM Clause; Origene Seeds; Sakata Seed Company; Seedway; Seminis; Syngenta Seeds, Inc. and VOLOAGRI/US Agriseeds were also appreciated. We also want to acknowledge support for this study was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, for the CucCAP Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant under award number 2015-51181-24285.

Disclaimer: This publication presents data from the triploid standard size and mini watermelon cultigen evaluation studies conducted during 2018. Information in this report is believed to be reliable but should not be relied upon as a sole source of information. Limited accompanying detail is included but exclude some pertinent information, which may aid interpretation.

Watermelon Cultural Practices for 2018 Cultigen Studies at the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Clinton, NC

Introduction

Growing conditions for the 2018 watermelon crop were generally very favorable throughout the season. North Carolina showed a modest increase in watermelon production from 2017 to 2018. In 2017 acreage was reported at 6,300 acres and in 2018 acreage was reported at 6,700. North Carolina ranks # 8 among watermelon producing states and represents 6 % of the U.S. acreage which totaled 115,800 acres in 2018. This translates into an economic value of $21 million to North Carolina. On average, watermelon fruit were significantly larger in the 2018 crop leading to greater supply of 30 and 36 count size categories and lesser availability of smaller (60 count) watermelon throughout the season (P. Westerbeek, personal communication). Recent reports indicate that standard size watermelon (wholes) still account for 80 % of the US market followed by mini-watermelon (10 %) and cut watermelon (10 %).

General Cultural Practices

The watermelon studies were grown on black plastic mulch and fertigated with drip tube. Pesticides used on all plots were chemicals labeled for that crop, (2018 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual).

Materials and Methods

Once all seeds were received from participating companies, they were planted into 72 cell Poly trays to grow transplants (Hummert Int.; Earth City, MO). Seeds of standard and mini size cultigens were sown on 20 April 2018. The planting medium used was “fine germinating mix”, a commercial soilless mix (SunGro, Agawam, MA). Approximately 3 weeks after seeding, transplants were placed in a “hardening” greenhouse for about one week before being established in the field. Standard and mini size triploid plants were established in the field on 23 May 2018. On 12 March 2018 a pre-plant fertilizer was applied in the study area at the following rates: 34-0-0 (150 lbs/ac), 0-0-50 (300 lbs/ac) and 0-0-22 (150 lbs/ac). Based on the soil test the study location was low in sulfur, thus, the 0-0-22 that contained sulfur was applied at a rate that would increase sulfur by 12 lbs/ac. The study area was fumigated with Pic-Clor 60 at a rate of 260 lbs/acre at the same time as black polyethylene plastic (1.25 mil thick high density plastic film, 60 inches wide;B.B. Hobbs, Clinton, NC) was laid in field on 23 April 2018. Plot size for standard triploid size watermelons was 1 row, 10 plants per plot, plot length was 25 feet and 10 foot alleys between plots. In most cases, plots with missing plants were replanted approximately 8 days after planting to achieve 100% plant stand. In-row diploid pollinizer plants were ‘SP-7’ (4 plants/plot) in the 2018 growing season. Row middles were 10 feet for all watermelon types and in-row spacing was2.5 feet for the standard size triploid watermelons. Drip tape (NETAFIM, 12 inch spacing, 0.24 gph; NETAFIM, Tel Aviv, Israel) was installed underneath the plastic mulch and was utilized to fertigate the crop throughout the growing season. The following herbicides were applied to row middles on 22 May 2018; Gramoxone (1 qt/ac), Sandea (0.75 oz/ac) and Strategy (4.25 pts/ac).

Insecticides used during the growing season were Asana (8.0 oz/ac), Portal (1 qt/ac), Sevin (1qt/ac) and Venom (8 oz/ac). Asana was applied on 22 June 2018; 6 July and 29 August 2018. Portal was applied on 11 and 13 July 2018; Sevin was applied on 31 May, 13 July and 3 August 2018. Venom was applied on 6 July and 3 August 2018. Insecticide products were applied in 2 rotations to avoid potential development of insect resistance.

A total of 51 lbs/ac N, 0 lbs/ac P and 183 lbs/ac K were applied pre-plant. Liquid fertilizer with 4-0-8 analysis was initially applied through drip tape fertigation on 21 May 2018 and similarly on the following dates; 25 and 30 May 2018; 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27 and 29 June 2018;2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, and 27 July 2018; 1, 8, 10, and 13 August 2018. A total of 162 lbs/ac N, 0 lbs/ac P and  323 lbs/ac K were applied via fertigation throughout the growing season.Cumulative totals of applied fertilizer for the growing season were: 213 N lbs/ac, 0 P lbs/ac, 506 K lbs/ac, respectively. Soil tests indicated that soil phosphorus levels were sufficient and therefore no fertilizer that contained phosphorus was applied. Although there were 5 harvests in this study, we anticipate reducing total N and  K fertilizer by at least 33% in 2019.

Fungicides were initially applied on 22 June 2018 and similarly on the following dates: 6 and 13 July 2018; 3 and 29 August 2018. The following fungicides were rotated to avoid potential development of resistance from diseases; Bravo (1 qt/ac), Cabrio ( 16 oz/ac), Copper (1 lb/ac), Forum (6 oz/ac), Inspire (6 oz/ac), Manzate (3 lb/ac), Presidio (4 oz/ac), Previcur (1.2 pt/ac), Procure (8 oz/ac), Ranman (2.75 oz/ac), Revus (8 oz/ac) and Tanos (16 oz/ac). Insect and disease pressure was minimal throughout the season with the exception of a flare up of spider mites that were scattered within a few plots just prior to first harvest. Two applications of Portal were applied for mite control on 11 and 13 July 2018. Overall, superior plant health supported excellent crop yields. Each fruit was harvested when ripe, weighed and categorized statistically by size category.

Standard size triploid watermelon harvests (5) took place on: 24 and 31 July 2018; 6-7, 14, and 24 August 2018. For the triploid standard size watermelon test, fruits were placed in the following categories: ≤ 9.0 lbs, 9.1 – 13.5 lbs, 13.6 – 17.5 lbs, 17.6 – 21.4 lbs, and ≥ 21.5 lbs. Fruits were considered marketable if they weighed 9.1 lbs or more. Fruit are often commercially marketed by number or count per bin with 9.1-13.5 lbs fruit termed 60-count, 13.6 – 17.5 lbs fruit termed 45 count, 17.6 – 21.4 lbs fruit termed 36-count, and fruit 21.5 lbs or larger termed 30-count. We used these weight designations to categorize the harvested fruits in this study. The most popular standard triploid fruit size has typically ranged from 12-16 lbs and the majority of fruit harvested in this study ranged between 9.1 and 13.5 lbs.The mini triploid watermelon were established in the field on 23 May 2018. Plot size for mini triploid size watermelons was 1 row, 8 plants per plot, 15 feet long with alleys of 8 feet between plots. Diploid ‘SP-7’ (4 plants/plot) was used as the pollinizer for the 2018 growing season. Row middles were 10 feet for all watermelon cultigens and in-row spacing was 1.88 feet for the mini size triploid watermelons. Mini triploid watermelon harvests (5) occurred on: 24 and 31 July 2018; 6, 14 and 24 August 2018. For the mini triploid watermelon study, fruits were placed in the following categories: ≤ 3.0 lbs, 3.1 – 7.0 lbs, 7.1 – 9.0 lbs, and ≥ 9.1 lbs. Evaluations of each watermelon entry included yields, fruit size, production earliness, soluble solids, using a hand held digital refractometer (Atago, Vernon Hills, IL), fruit shape and size, exterior and interior descriptions (rind pattern, length/width ratio, seed trace size, occurrence of hard seeds, hollow heart incidence and severity, and flesh color), and interior flesh firmness.

Hard seed in triploid fruit was determined according to the USDA standards. Fruits were cut longitudinally in half, and then these halves w re cut laterally. The number of hard seeds exposed on the cut surface were counted and recorded.

This is the sixth year we have rated for hard seeds according to the USDA standards. Evaluations of each melon entry included; yield, fruit size, production earliness, soluble solids, fruit shape and size and interior flesh firmness. Flesh firmness was taken by using a Penetrometer FT 011 with a7/16” plunger tip, (QA Supplies LLC, Norfolk, Va.), and recorded in pounds. Soluble solids were measured by cutting a piece of fruit from the center of the fruit and squeezing out the fruit juice onto the digital refractometer (Atago, Vernon Hills, IL). Samples were obtained by cutting the center of the fruit from the stem to blossom end. Pressure was then taken in five areas of the fruit;stem end, top side, ground spot side, blossom end, and center. Pressure was not taken on fruit with hollow heart. The reported measures on flesh firmness are an average of the five sample areas and are an average value taken for five fruit per plot or 20 fruits per cultigen. Most of the quality measurements were taken at the first or second harvests.

Financial Support

In addition to seed companies, this research was supported by the College of Life and Agricultural Sciences, North Carolina Agriculture Research, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Services and the North Carolina Watermelon Association.

Table 1. Triploid Red-Flesh Watermelon Seed Sources and Descriptions; 2018.

Entry No.

Cultigen

Company

Description

1 Bottle Rocket Seminis Indistinct medium width, mainly dark green stripes on light green background; mainly blocky shape (80%) and some small round smaller sized fruit; sizes mainly large (36 count).
2 Captivation Syngenta Indistinct, medium width, mainly dark green stripes on light green background; blocky/oval shapes; sizes mainly medium to large (36 to 45 count).
3 Charismatic Sakata Indistinct, medium width, medium to dark green
stripes with light to medium green background; mainly short round shapes; thick rind; size variable. (36 to 60 count).
4 Crimson Sweet VOLOAGRI /US Agriseeds Indistinct narrow stripes on light green background; most fruit are round; average rind thickness. (mostly 45 to 60 count).
5 Crunchy Red HM Clause Elongated shape, blocky; indistinct, medium to dark
green stripes, medium width on light green background.
6 Embasy Bayer Crop
Science
Indistinct, medium wide, medium to dark green stripes
on a light green background; slightly oval to round.
7 Exclamation Syngenta Fairly distinct, medium width, medium to dark green
stripes on a light green background, short blocky
shapes or round; sizes mainly medium to large.
8 Excursion Syngenta Indistinct, medium width medium to dark green stripes with light to medium green backround; medium to large sized fruit. (36 to 45 count).
9 Fascination Syngenta Indistinct, medium to large width, dark green stripes
on light green background; oval shape in large fruit and long round in smaller fruits; size mainly medium to large.
10 Joy Ride Seminis Indistinct, medium width, medium dark green stripes
on light green background; medium sized fruit with
oval to round shape (36 to 45 count).
11 Kingman Sakata Indistinct, medium wide, medium to dark green stripes on a light green background; long round or oval shapes; smaller fruit are round; fruit size variable from small to large.
12 Lemon Ice DP Seeds Distinct, narrow, medium to dark green stripes on light green background; yellow flesh color; mainly medium to smaller fruit; 36 to 60 count.
13 Maxima Origene Fairly distinct, dark green stripes on a medium green
background; shape is round to longer than round.
14 Poseidon Seedway Indistinct medium width dark green stripes with light green background; mostly medium sized fruit; shapes round to slightly oval – oblong; 36 to 45 count.
15 Red Amber ENZA ZADEN Indistinct medium stripes on medium green background; cream to yellow ground spot on several fruit; fruit mostly oblong with consistent medium size; few larger fruit; mostly 45 to 60 count.
16 Red Garnet ENZA ZADEN Indistinct wide dark green stripes on light green
background; fruit mostly oblong in shape; sizes are small to medium; 45 to 60 count.
17 Red Opal Seedway Indistinct narrow to medium width stripes; medium green on light green background; – sizes tend to be smaller with many in 45 to 60 count range.
18 Road Trip Seminis Indistinct medium width stripes on light to medium green background; fruit are oval.
19 Secretariat Sakata Indistinct medium to light green stripes on a light green background; thick rind; round to long round or oval.
20 Style Seedway Solid dark green exterior, often with distinct cream to yellow ground spot; some ridging on rind surface; fruit are mostly round; size tends to be small to medium with a few larger.
21 Summer
Breeze
Seminis Indistinct medium dark green stripes; medium width on light green background; shape long, round, and oval; size small to large.
22 Tailgate Seminis Indistinct, medium to wide width dark green stripes with light green background; fruit are small to medium size; fruit are round to oval; 36 to 45 count.
23 Troubadour HM Clause Distinct, narrow to medium width dark green stripes on light green background; fruit are mostly small to medium size; fruit are slightly oval; smaller fruit tend to be more round than oval; 36 to 60 count.
24 Turnpike HM Clause Distinct medium width with medium to dark green stripes on light green background; fruit are consistant, medium size; mostly round to slightly oval shape; 36 to 60 count.
25 Unbridled Sakata Indistinct, medium width dark green stripes shadowed by medium to dark green on a medium green background; thick rind; fruit mostly round; size varies small to large.
26 Warrior Bayer Crop
Science
Indistinct, medium to wide width dark green stripes on medium green background; oval or blocky fruit; size varies small to large.
27 Wolverine Highmark Indistinct medium wide, medium to dark green stripes on light green background; mainly round shapes; mainly small fruit size.
28 7187 HQ Bayer Crop
Science
Indistinct, medium width, medium-dark green stripes on light green background; oval/short blocky shape; sizes range from large to small sized fruit; 36 to 60 count.
29 7197 HQ Bayer Crop
Science
Indistinct, medium width, medium to dark green stripes on light green background; oval/short blocky shapes; mainly 45 and 60 count.
30 9601 HQ Bayer Crop
Science
Fairly distinct, medium width, dark green stripes on light green background; mainly long round shape; sizes primarily medium to large and uniform in size.
31 ORS60.599 Origene Distinct narrow to medium width stripes on light green
background; fruit more round than ORS 6064F; size is
small to medium with most in the 36 to 45 count.
32 ORS6064F Origene background; mostly medium size; oval to slightly oblong fruit; 36 to 45 count.
33 ORS6151 Origene Indistinct, medium width, very dark green stripes on
medium green background; fruit are oval to round;
medium to large sized fruit; 36 to 45 count.
34 ORS6181b Origene Indistinct, narrow to medium width dark green stripes on light background; fruit are mostly round to some oval; shape and size range from 36 to 45 count; thick rind; distinct ground spot on many fruit which are cream to yellow in color when ripe.
35 ORS6203 Origene Indistinct narrow to medium width, dark green stripes on light green background; fruit are mostly oblong to few round; 45 to 60 count.
36 ORS6260d Origene Indistinct medium to wide dark green stripes on medium green background; fruit are medium to large; thick rind; fruit shape is large oval; 30 to 36 count.
37 SV0241WA Seminis Indistinct green stripes on light green background;
shapes are mainly oval or blocky; medium and large fruit, small fruit are more round; 36 to 45 count.
38 SV0502WA Seminis Indistinct dark green stripes on light green background; fruit are mostly oval; size are smaller with most fruit in the 45 to 60 count categories.

View images of each cultigen of watermelon in the pdf version of this report.

Table 2. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit weight, (cwt.), per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹ for harvests 1-2. Clinton, NC 2018.

Cultivar

Cwt. (x100) by size

Total Fruit  Wt./Acre

Mkt. Fruit  Wt/Acre²

 ≤ 9.0

9.1 – 13.5

 13.6 – 17.5

 17.6 – 21.4

 ≥ 21.5

Bottle Rocket 0 91 220 63 161 534 534
Captivation 18 250 177 70 25 540 522
Charismatic 17 98 173 72 0 360 343
Crimson Sweet 7 121 145 21 12 306 299
Crunchy Red 9 81 151 92 36 370 360
Embasy 18 173 126 123 27 467 449
Exclamation 24 111 173 115 40 462 439
Excursion 8 62 152 134 98 453 445
Fascination 17 119 205 87 12 440 423
Joy Ride 8 93 206 107 80 494 486
Kingman 21 135 183 83 25 446 426
Lemon Ice 83 230 47 11 0 371 288
Maxima 0 43 68 174 116 401 401
Pose idon 27 182 94 50 12 365 338
Red Amber 5 94 162 112 74 448 443
Red Garnet 16 166 122 50 0 353 338
Red Opal 20 128 138 11 38 335 316
Road Trip 9 120 199 127 41 496 488
Secretariat 20 188 226 65 0 499 479
Style 32 199 105 11 0 348 316
Summe r Breeze 18 95 136 112 55 416 398
Tailgate 30 83 145 125 115 498 468
Troubador 13 188 133 52 12 399 385
Turnpike 8 134 204 51 0 396 388
Unbridled 13 171 208 43 0 436 423
Warrior 9 111 173 81 12 386 378
Wolverine 4 106 188 82 12 393 389
7187 HQ 4 69 203 76 14 364 360
7197 HQ 4 111 130 140 83 468 464
9601 HQ 5 138 174 124 0 442 437
ORS60.599 9 32 110 177 93 420 411
ORS6064F 4 79 113 20 13 228 225
ORS6151 11 93 163 116 0 382 371
ORS6181b 22 75 107 200 12 415 393
ORS6203 5 83 105 62 12 268 263
ORS6260d 8 103 174 178 38 501 493
SV0241WA 19 209 127 62 0 418 398
SV0502WA 14 168 195 30 51 457 444
Average 15 125 154 87 35 415 400
LSD (0.05) 61 184 168 201 159 255 264

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP – 7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid plants 1, 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.

Table 3. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Bin boxes per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹ for harvests 1-2. Clinton, NC 2018.

Cultivar

Bin boxes / acre by size grade²

Mkt. Bins

/ Acre³

 ≤ 9.0

9.1 – 13.5

13.6 – 17.5

17.6 – 21.4

 ≥ 21.5

Bottle Rocket 0 13 31 9 23 76
Captivation 3 36 25 10 4 75
Charismatic 2 14 25 10 0 49
Crimson Sweet 1 17 21 3 2 43
Crunchy Red 1 12 22 13 5 51
Embasy 3 25 18 18 4 64
Exclamation 3 16 25 16 6 63
Excursion 1 9 22 19 14 64
Fascination 2 17 29 12 2 60
Joy Ride 1 13 29 15 11 69
Kingman 3 19 26 12 4 61
Lemon Ice 12 33 7 2 0 41
Maxima 0 6 10 25 17 57
Pose idon 4 26 13 7 2 48
Red Amber 1 13 23 16 11 63
Red Garnet 2 24 17 7 0 48
Red Opal 3 18 20 2 5 45
Road Trip 1 17 28 18 6 70
Secretariat 3 27 32 9 0 68
Style 5 28 15 2 0 45
Summe r Breeze 3 14 19 16 8 57
Tailgate 4 12 21 18 16 67
Troubador 2 27 19 7 2 55
Turnpike 1 19 29 7 0 55
Unbridled 2 24 30 6 0 60
Warrior 1 16 25 12 2 54
Wolverine 1 15 27 12 2 56
7187 HQ 1 10 29 11 2 51
7197 HQ 1 16 19 20 12 66
9601 HQ 1 20 25 18 0 62
ORS60.599 1 5 16 25 13 59
ORS6064F 1 11 16 3 2 32
ORS6151 2 13 23 17 0 53
ORS6181b 3 11 15 29 2 56
ORS6203 1 12 15 9 2 38
ORS6260d 1 15 25 25 5 70
SV0241WA 3 30 18 9 0 57
SV0502WA 2 24 28 4 7 63
Average 2 18 22 12 5 57
LSD (0.05) 9 26 24 29 23 38

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP – 7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid plants 1, 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Values were determined based upon 700 lb bin box weight.
³ Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.

Cultivar

% Total Yield by Count4

Avg lb./ fruit

30

36

45

60

Bottle Rocket 27 11 42 20 16.9
Captivation 5 13 33 45 13.6
Charismatic 0 21 49 25 14.4
Crimson Sweet 3 7 47 40 13.1
Crunchy Red 9 25 41 22 15.1
Embasy 4 28 26 38 14.1
Exclamation 11 21 37 26 14.8
Excursion 20 30 34 14 16.7
Fascination 3 18 48 27 14.7
Joy Ride 16 21 41 20 16.2
Kingman 5 20 42 29 14.2
Lemon Ice 0 2 11 63 10.6
Maxima 35 39 17 8 18.6
Pose idon 3 13 25 51 12.6
Red Amber 19 26 34 19 15.9
Red Garnet 0 14 32 49 13.0
Red Opal 10 3 42 39 13.4
Road Trip 9 23 40 26 15.0
Secretariat 0 11 46 40 13.4
Style 0 3 30 57 12.1
Summe r Breeze 13 27 33 23 15.6
Tailgate 23 25 29 17 16.0
Troubador 3 14 33 46 13.2
Turnpike 0 13 51 34 14.0
Unbridled 0 11 48 38 13.8
Warrior 3 22 43 29 14.5
Wolverine 3 18 48 29 14.3
7187 HQ 3 22 55 19 15.2
7197 HQ 17 30 27 24 16.2
9601 HQ 0 28 40 31 14.6
ORS60.599 18 46 28 7 17.5
ORS6064F 4 6 57 32 13.7
ORS6151 0 24 48 25 14.3
ORS6181b 2 45 30 18 14.7
ORS6203 3 18 39 38 14.1
ORS6260d 8 37 34 20 16.1
SV0241WA 0 15 30 50 13.3
SV0502WA 13 6 42 37 14.4
Average 8 20 38 31 14.6
LSD (0.05) – – – – – – – – 5.0

4 Culls (≤ 9.0 lbs) are included in calculation for total yield by count for each respective bin category. Therefore, total will not equal 100 percent.

Table 4. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit number for harvests 1-2 by various weight classes (per acre) including five fruit size categories and fruit number per plant. Clinton, NC 2018.

Cultivar

Rank¹

Fruit size category

Total Number

Total Mkt. No.²

Fruit No./ Plant

 ≤ 9.0

9.1 -13.5

13.6 -17.5

17.6 -21.4

 ≥ 21.5

Bottle Rocket 4 0 762 1416 327 653 3158 3158 1.5
Captivation 1 218 2178 1143 381 109 4029 3812 1.9
Charismatic 30 218 871 1089 381 0 2559 2341 1.2
Crimson Sweet 34 109 1089 980 109 54 2341 2232 1.1
Crunchy Red 31 109 708 980 490 163 2450 2341 1.1
Embasy 5 218 1525 817 653 109 3321 3104 1.5
Exclamation 13 327 980 1089 599 163 3158 2831 1.5
Excursion 21 109 545 980 708 381 2723 2614 1.3
Fascination 16 218 980 1307 436 54 2995 2777 1.4
Joy Ride 10 109 762 1307 545 327 3049 2940 1.4
Kingman 11 272 1198 1198 436 109 3213 2940 1.5
Lemon Ice 27 1035 2069 327 54 0 3485 2450 1.6
Maxima 35 0 381 436 926 490 2232 2232 1.0
Pose idon 23 381 1579 599 272 54 2886 2505 1.3
Red Amber 171 109 817 1035 599 327 2886 2777 1.3
Red Garnet 24 218 1416 817 272 0 2723 2505 1.3
Red Opal 36 272 1089 926 54 163 2505 2232 1.2
Road Trip 3 109 1089 1307 653 163 3321 3213 1.5
Secretariat 2 272 1634 1470 327 0 3703 3430 1.7
Style 28 436 1688 708 54 0 2886 2450 1.3
Summe r Breeze 25 218 817 871 599 218 2723 2505 1.3
Tailgate 18 436 708 926 653 490 3213 2777 1.5
Troubador 14 218 1634 871 272 54 3049 2831 1.4
Turnpike 19 109 1143 1307 272 0 2831 2723 1.3
Unbridled 8 218 1416 1361 218 0 3213 2995 1.5
Warrior 22 109 980 1089 436 54 2668 2559 1.2
Wolverine 32 54 599 1307 381 54 2396 2341 1.1
7187 HQ 15 54 926 871 708 327 2886 2831 1.3
7197 HQ 9 54 1198 1143 653 0 3049 2995 1.4
9601 HQ 33 109 272 708 926 381 2396 2287 1.1
ORS60.599 38 54 708 762 109 54 1688 1634 0.8
ORS6064F 26 163 817 1089 599 0 2668 2505 1.2
ORS6151 29 327 653 708 1035 54 2777 2450 1.3
ORS6181b 37 54 708 708 327 54 1851 1797 0.9
ORS6203 6 109 871 1089 926 163 3158 3049 1.5
ORS6260d 12 272 1797 817 327 0 3213 2940 1.5
SV0241WA 7 163 1416 1252 163 218 3213 3049 1.5
SV0502WA 20 54 926 1252 436 54 2723 2668 1.3
Average – – 198 1078 1002 456 145 2877 2680 1.3
LSD(0.05) – – 825 1609 1076 1055 654 1755 1648 0.8

¹ Ranked according to total marketable number.
² Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.

Table 5. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit weight, (cwt.), per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹ for harvests 3-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Cwt. (x100) by size

Total / Acre

Mkt / Acre³

 ≤ 9.0

9.1 – 13.5

13.6 – 17.5

17.6 – 21.4

 ≥ 21.5

Bottle Rocket 48 142 60 83 26 360 311
Captiv ation 61 113 25 21 0 220 159
Charismatic 44 126 95 0 51 316 272
Crimson Sweet 42 189 112 39 0 382 340
Crunchy Red 54 162 250 113 24 603 549
Embasy 48 107 74 31 0 261 213
Exclamation 23 100 102 31 0 257 233
Excursion 37 90 101 83 12 323 286
Fascination 43 97 63 10 0 213 170
Joy Ride 45 109 57 21 0 232 187
Kingman 96 170 33 33 0 331 236
Lemon Ice 136 202 33 0 0 371 235
Maxima 28 114 173 136 159 609 581
Poseidon 48 120 32 0 0 200 152
Red Amber 53 126 125 79 26 410 356
Re d Garnet 53 121 123 20 0 317 265
Re d Opal 69 149 55 20 0 293 224
Road Trip 66 146 122 10 0 344 278
Secretariat 52 97 71 0 13 233 181
Style 83 168 65 0 0 316 233
Summer Breeze 60 111 74 31 26 303 242
Tailgate 46 74 56 32 13 222 176
Troubador 100 173 66 32 0 371 270
Turnpike 37 127 93 21 0 277 240
Unbridled 77 140 105 31 0 352 276
Warrior 43 134 81 41 0 299 256
Wolverine 67 177 122 33 0 399 332
7187 HQ 46 177 105 20 0 348 302
7197 HQ 53 166 98 81 25 423 370
9601 HQ 28 173 148 93 0 441 413
ORS60.599 49 150 165 180 103 647 598
ORS6064F 45 320 265 61 0 692 646
ORS6151 52 144 115 71 0 383 331
ORS6181b 68 169 117 71 0 425 357
ORS6203 55 292 186 103 12 648 593
ORS6260d 17 98 98 77 79 367 351
SV0241WA 39 128 116 20 26 329 290
SV0502WA 50 84 75 21 24 254 205
Average 54 144 102 46 16 362 308
LSD (0.05) 84 181 203 160 157 379 376

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP-7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid plants 1, 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Ranked according to total marketable weight.
³ Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.

Table 6.1. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Bin boxes per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹ for harvests 3-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Bin boxes / acre by size grade²

Mkt. Bins / Acre³

 ≤ 9.0

9.1 – 13.5

13.6 – 17.5

17.6 – 21.4

> 21.5

Bottle Rocket 7 20 9 12 4 44
Captiv ation 9 16 4 3 0 23
Charismatic 6 18 14 0 7 39
Crimson Sweet 6 27 16 6 0 49
Crunchy Red 8 23 36 16 3 78
Embasy 7 15 11 4 0 30
Exclamation 3 14 15 4 0 33
Excursion 5 13 14 12 2 41
Fascination 6 14 9 1 0 24
Joy Ride 6 16 8 3 0 27
Kingman 14 24 5 5 0 34
Lemon Ice 19 29 5 0 0 34
Maxima 4 16 25 19 23 83
Poseidon 7 17 5 0 0 22
Red Amber 8 18 18 11 4 51
Re d Garnet 8 17 18 3 0 38
Re d Opal 10 21 8 3 0 32
Road Trip 9 21 17 1 0 40
Secretariat 7 14 10 0 2 26
Style 12 24 9 0 0 33
Summer Breeze 9 16 11 4 4 35
Tailgate 7 11 8 5 2 25
Troubador 14 25 9 5 0 39
Turnpike 5 18 13 3 0 34
Unbridled 11 20 15 4 0 39
Warrior 6 19 12 6 0 37
Wolverine 10 25 17 5 0 47
7187 HQ 7 25 15 3 0 43
7197 HQ 8 24 14 12 4 53
9601 HQ 4 25 21 13 0 59
ORS60.599 7 21 24 26 15 85
ORS6064F 6 46 38 9 0 92
ORS6151 7 21 16 10 0 47
ORS6181b 10 24 17 10 0 51
ORS6203 8 42 27 15 2 85
ORS6260d 2 14 14 11 11 50
SV0241WA 6 18 17 3 4 41
SV0502WA 7 12 11 3 3 29
Average 8 21 15 7 2 44
LSD (0.05) 12 26 29 23 16 54

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP – 7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid plants 1, 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Values were determined based upon 700 lb bin box weight.
³ Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.

Table 6.2. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Bin boxes per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹ for harvests 3-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

% Total Yield by Count4

30

36

45

60

Avg lb./ fruit

Bottle Rocket 5 23 15 42 12.2
Captiv ation 0 8 9 54 10.3
Charismatic 10 0 32 35 11.9
Crimson Sweet 0 9 26 51 11.6
Crunchy Red 3 17 46 25 13.5
Embasy 0 9 21 46 11.1
Exclamation 0 8 32 27 12.2
Excursion 4 26 32 27 13.5
Fascination 0 4 20 52 10.4
Joy Ride 0 6 23 51 11.0
Kingman 0 9 9 51 10.3
Lemon Ice 0 0 8 55 8.9
Maxima 21 21 34 20 15.3
Poseidon 0 0 14 63 10.2
Red Amber 3 18 29 34 12.5
Re d Garnet 0 8 41 36 12.3
Re d Opal 0 6 19 48 10.2
Road Trip 0 3 34 41 11.2
Secretariat 5 0 29 45 11.2
Style 0 0 18 54 10.1
Summer Breeze 4 15 15 37 10.9
Tailgate 3 7 21 28 11.8
Troubador 0 6 16 45 10.7
Turnpike 0 7 30 51 11.7
Unbridled 0 9 30 41 11.2
Warrior 0 12 30 41 11.6
Wolverine 0 8 30 46 11.6
7187 HQ 0 5 28 53 11.6
7197 HQ 5 19 22 41 12.1
9601 HQ 0 21 32 40 13.1
ORS60.599 13 26 28 24 14.1
ORS6064F 0 8 38 48 12.7
ORS6151 0 17 30 37 12.0
ORS6181b 0 14 27 40 11.6
ORS6203 2 17 27 45 12.9
ORS6260d 28 14 21 30 15.3
SV0241WA 7 4 37 36 12.3
SV0502WA 11 6 31 32 12.5
Average 3 10 26 41 11.8
LSD (0.05) – – – – – – – – 4.1

Culls (≤ 9.0 lbs) are included in calculation for total yield by count for each respective bin category. Therefore, total will not equal 100 percent.

Table 7. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit number for harvests 3-5 by various weight classes (per acre) including fruit number per plant. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Rank¹

Fruit size category

Total Number

Total Mkt. No.²

Fruit No./ Plant

 ≤ 9.0

9.1 – 13.5

13.6 – 17.5

17.6- 21.4

 ≥ 21.5

Bottle Rocket 14 653 1307 381 436 109 2886 2232 1.3
Captivation 36 817 1035 163 109 0 2124 1307 1.0
Charismatic 24 599 1089 599 0 218 2505 1906 1.2
Crimson Sweet 8 599 1688 762 218 0 3267 2668 1.5
Crunchy Red 3 708 1525 1579 599 109 4519 3812 2.1
Embasy 31 599 980 490 163 0 2232 1634 1.0
Exclamation 30 381 871 653 163 0 2069 1688 1.0
Excursion 21 490 817 653 436 54 2450 1960 1.1
Fascination 35 599 871 436 54 0 1960 1361 0.9
Joy Ride 32 599 980 381 109 0 2069 1470 1.0
Kingman 25 1307 1525 218 163 0 3213 1906 1.5
Lemon Ice 17 2015 1906 218 0 0 4138 2124 1.9
Maxima 5 381 1035 1143 708 653 3920 3539 1.8
Pose idon 37 653 1089 218 0 0 1960 1307 0.9
Red Amber 11 708 1089 817 436 109 3158 2450 1.5
Red Garnet 22 708 1035 817 109 0 2668 1960 1.2
Red Opal 7 980 1361 381 109 0 2831 1851 1.3
Road Trip 16 871 1307 817 54 0 3049 2178 1.4
Secretariat 34 653 871 490 0 54 2069 1416 1.0
Style 26 1198 1470 436 0 0 3104 1906 1.4
Summer Breeze 29 871 980 490 163 109 2614 1742 1.2
Tailgate 38 599 653 381 163 54 1851 1252 0.9
Troubador 18 1307 1525 436 163 0 3430 2124 1.6
Turnpike 28 490 1143 599 109 0 2341 1851 1.1
Unbridled 19 1035 1252 708 163 0 3158 2124 1.5
Warrior 23 599 1198 545 218 0 2559 1960 1.2
Wolverine 13 599 1579 708 109 0 2995 2396 1.4
7187 HQ 7 762 1525 653 436 109 3485 2723 1.6
7197 HQ 6 381 1525 980 490 0 3376 2995 1.6
9601 HQ 4 708 1307 1089 926 436 4465 3757 2.1
ORS60.599 1 599 2777 1742 327 0 5445 4846 2.5
ORS6064F 12 708 1307 762 381 0 3158 2450 1.5
ORS6151 9 926 1525 762 381 0 3594 2668 1.7
ORS6181b 2 708 2505 1252 545 54 5064 4356 2.3
ORS6203 15 218 871 653 381 327 2450 2232 1.1
ORS6260d 20 545 1089 762 109 109 2614 2069 1.2
SV0241WA 33 653 762 490 109 109 2124 1470 1.0
SV0502WA 10 926 1525 817 163 0 3430 2505 1.6
Average – – 741 1287 671 242 69 3009 2268 1.4
LSD(0.05) – – 1141 1628 1342 839 649 2671 2507 1.2

¹ Ranked according to total marketable number.
² Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.

Table 8. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Cumulative weight, (cwt.), per acre of fruit harvested by various weight classes including average fruit size¹. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Rank²

Cwt. (x100) by size

Total / Acre

Mkt / Acre³

 ≤ 9.0

9.1 – 13.5

13.6 – 17.5

17.6 – 21.4

 ≥ 21.5

Bottle Rocket 7 48 233 280 146 187 894 846
Captivation 18 80 362 202 92 25 760 681
Charismatic 32 61 224 268 72 51 676 615
Crimson Sweet 29 49 310 257 60 12 688 638
Crunchy Re d 3 64 244 400 205 60 973 909
Embasy 22 66 280 201 154 27 727 661
Exclamation 20 47 211 275 146 40 719 672
Excursion 13 45 152 253 217 110 776 731
Fascination 34 59 216 268 97 12 652 593
Joy Ride 19 53 201 263 128 80 726 672
Kingman 23 116 305 216 116 25 777 661
Lemon Ice 37 219 432 81 11 0 742 524
Maxima 2 28 157 241 310 275 1,010 982
Poseidon 38 75 301 126 50 12 565 490
Red Amber 10 58 220 287 192 100 857 799
Red Garnet 33 69 287 245 70 0 671 602
Red Opal 36 89 277 194 32 38 629 540
Road Trip 11 75 266 321 138 41 841 766
Secretariat 24 71 285 297 65 13 732 660
Style 35 115 367 170 11 0 663 548
Summer Breeze 28 79 207 210 142 81 719 640
Tailgate 27 76 158 201 157 128 720 645
Troubador 25 114 361 199 84 12 769 656
Turnpike 31 44 260 297 72 0 673 629
Unbridled 16 90 311 313 74 0 788 698
Warrior 30 52 245 254 122 12 685 633
Wolverine 14 71 283 310 115 12 792 721
7187 HQ 21 49 246 308 95 14 712 663
7197 HQ 9 57 278 228 220 108 891 834
9601 HQ 6 33 311 322 217 0 883 850
ORS60.599 1 58 182 275 357 195 1,067 1,009
ORS6064F 4 49 400 377 82 13 920 871
ORS6151 15 63 237 278 187 0 764 702
ORS6181b 12 90 244 224 270 12 840 750
ORS6203 5 59 375 291 166 25 916 857
ORS6260d 8 25 200 272 254 117 868 843
SV0241WA 17 58 337 243 82 26 746 688
SV0502WA 26 63 252 270 52 75 712 648
Average – – 69 269 256 133 51 777 709
LSD (0.05) – – 92 222 258 257 211 401 421

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP – 7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid plants 1, 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Ranked according to total marketable weight.
³ Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.

Table 9.1. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Bin boxes per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Rank²

Bin Boxes / Acre

 ≤ 9.0

9.1-

13.5

13.6-

17.5

17.6-

21.4

 ≥ 21.5

Total

Total Mkt.³

Bottle Rocket 7 7 33 40 21 27 128 121
Captivation 18 11 52 29 13 4 109 97
Charismatic 32 9 32 38 10 7 97 88
Crimson Sweet 29 7 44 37 9 2 98 91
Crunchy Red 3 9 35 57 29 9 139 130
Embasy 22 9 40 29 22 4 104 94
Exclamation 20 7 30 39 21 6 103 96
Excursion 13 6 22 36 31 16 111 104
Fascination 34 8 31 38 14 2 93 85
Joy Ride 19 8 29 38 18 11 104 96
Kingman 23 17 44 31 17 4 111 94
Lemon Ice 37 31 62 12 2 0 106 75
Maxima 2 4 22 34 44 39 144 140
Poseidon 38 11 43 18 7 2 81 70
Red Amber 10 8 31 41 27 14 122 114
Red Garnet 33 10 41 35 10 0 96 86
Red Opal 36 13 40 28 5 5 90 77
Road Trip 11 11 38 46 20 6 120 109
Secretariat 24 10 41 42 9 2 105 94
Style 35 16 52 24 2 0 95 78
Summer Breeze 28 11 30 30 20 12 103 91
Tailgate 27 11 23 29 22 18 103 92
Troubador 25 16 52 28 12 2 110 94
Turnpike 31 6 37 42 10 0 96 90
Unbridled 16 13 44 45 11 0 113 100
Warrior 30 7 35 36 17 2 98 90
Wolverine 14 10 40 44 16 2 113 103
7187 HQ 21 7 35 44 14 2 102 95
7197 HQ 9 8 40 33 31 15 127 119
9601 HQ 6 5 44 46 31 0 126 121
ORS60.599 1 8 26 39 51 28 152 144
ORS6064F 4 7 57 54 12 2 131 124
ORS6151 15 9 34 40 27 0 109 100
ORS6181b 12 13 35 32 39 2 120 107
ORS6203 5 8 54 42 24 4 131 122
ORS6260d 8 4 29 39 36 17 124 120
SV0241WA 17 8 48 35 12 4 107 98
SV0502WA 26 9 36 39 7 11 102 93
Average – – 10 38 37 19 7 111 101
LSD (0.05) – – 13 32 37 37 30 57 60

Table 9.2. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Bin boxes per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size1. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

% Total Yield by Count4

Avg lb./ fruit

30

36

45

60

Bottle Rocket 17 15 32 29 14.6
Captivation 3 12 26 48 12.4
Charismatic 6 10 40 34 13.2
Crimson Sweet 2 8 37 45 12.3
Crunchy Re d 5 21 43 25 14.0
Embasy 3 20 26 40 13.0
Exclamation 5 20 36 32 13.6
Excursion 14 28 33 20 15.1
Fascination 2 13 42 34 13.1
Joy Ride 10 18 36 28 14.2
Kingman 3 15 28 40 12.1
Lemon Ice 0 1 10 58 9.7
Maxima 27 31 24 16 16.5
Pose idon 2 8 22 55 11.6
Red Amber 11 22 34 27 14.1
Re d Garnet 0 10 37 44 12.4
Re d Opal 5 5 32 43 11.7
Road Trip 5 15 38 33 13.2
Secretariat 1 8 41 39 12.6
Style 0 1 25 56 11.1
Summe r Breeze 8 20 30 30 13.3
Tailgate 17 19 29 24 14.1
Troubador 1 10 26 48 11.9
Turnpike 0 11 44 39 13.1
Unbridled 0 9 39 40 12.4
Warrior 2 19 37 35 13.1
Wolverine 2 13 39 37 12.8
7187 HQ 2 14 42 36 13.1
7197 HQ 12 25 26 31 14.0
9601 HQ 0 25 37 35 13.8
ORS60.599 18 33 26 17 15.5
ORS6064F 1 8 42 44 12.9
ORS6151 0 24 37 31 13.1
ORS6181b 1 30 28 29 13.0
ORS6203 3 18 31 41 13.3
ORS6260d 13 29 30 25 15.4
SV0241WA 3 9 31 47 12.7
SV0502WA 10 7 38 36 13.5
Average 6 16 33 36 13.2
LSD (0.05) – – – – – – – – 3.3

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP – 7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid plants 1, 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Ranked according to total marketable weight.
³ Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.
4 Culls (≤ 9.0 lbs) are included in calculation for total yield by count for each respective bin category. Therefore, total will not equal 100 percent.

Table 10. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit number for cumulative harvests, (5), by various weight classes (per acre) including fruit number per plant. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Rank¹

Fruit size category

Total Number

Total Mkt. No.²

Fruit No./ Plant

 ≤ 9.0

9.1 – 13.5

13.6 – 17.5

17.6- 21.4

 ≥ 21.5

Bottle Rocket 8 653 2069 1797 762 762 6044 5391 2.8
Captivation 13 1035 3213 1307 490 109 6153 5118 2.8
Charismatic 33 817 1960 1688 381 218 5064 4247 2.3
Crimson Sweet 19 708 2777 1742 327 54 5608 4901 2.6
Crunchy Red 2 817 2232 2559 1089 272 6970 6153 3.2
Embasy 22 817 2505 1307 817 109 5554 4737 2.6
Exclamation 27 708 1851 1742 762 163 5227 4519 2.4
Excursion 24 599 1361 1634 1143 436 5173 4574 2.4
Fascination 35 817 1851 1742 490 54 4955 4138 2.3
Joy Ride 31 708 1742 1688 653 327 5118 4410 2.4
Kingman 20 1579 2723 1416 599 109 6425 4846 3.0
Lemon Ice 25 3049 3975 545 54 0 7623 4574 3.5
Maxima 6 381 1416 1579 1634 1143 6153 5772 2.8
Poseidon 38 1035 2668 817 272 54 4846 3812 2.2
Red Amber 11 817 1906 1851 1035 436 6044 5227 2.8
Red Garnet 30 926 2450 1634 381 0 5391 4465 2.5
Red Opal 36 1252 2450 1307 163 163 5336 4084 2.5
Road Trip 9 980 2396 2124 708 163 6371 5391 2.9
Secretariat 21 926 2505 1960 327 54 5772 4846 2.7
Style 32 1634 3158 1143 54 0 5990 4356 2.8
Summer Breeze 34 1089 1797 1361 762 327 5336 4247 2.5
Tailgate 37 1035 1361 1307 817 545 5064 4029 2.3
Troubador 17 1525 3158 1307 436 54 6480 4955 3.0
Turnpike 26 599 2287 1906 381 0 5173 4574 2.4
Unbridled 14 1252 2668 2069 381 0 6371 5118 2.9
Warrior 28 708 2178 1634 653 54 5227 4519 2.4
Wolverine 12 980 2450 2069 599 54 6153 5173 2.8
7187 HQ 23 653 2178 2015 490 54 5391 4737 2.5
7197 HQ 7 817 2450 1525 1143 436 6371 5554 2.9
9601 HQ 5 436 2723 2124 1143 0 6425 5990 3.0
ORS60.599 4 817 1579 1797 1851 817 6861 6044 3.2
ORS6064F 1 653 3485 2505 436 54 7133 6480 3.3
ORS6151 18 871 2124 1851 980 0 5826 4955 2.7
ORS6181b 15 1252 2178 1470 1416 54 6371 5118 2.9
ORS6203 3 762 3213 1960 871 109 6915 6153 3.2
ORS6260d 10 327 1742 1742 1307 490 5608 5282 2.6
SV0241WA 16 817 2886 1579 436 109 5826 5009 2.7
SV0502WA 29 817 2178 1742 272 327 5336 4519 2.5
Average – – 939 2364 1672 698 214 5886 4948 2.7
LSD(0.05) – – 1215 1981 1667 1344 875 2374 2435 1.1

¹ Ranked according to total marketable number, largest being 1, smallest being 38.
² Includes fruit ≥ 9.1 pounds.

Table 11.1. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Interior fruit quality. Clinton, NC, 2018.1

Cultivar

Flesh SS2

Flesh Color3

Sd. Trace Size4

Hard Seed Population5

LD6

Rind7

Flesh Firmness8

Bottle Rocket 11.9 3.3 1.4 0.8 1.2 16.3 2.4
Captivation 11.4 2.9 1.8 1.1 1.2 16.3 2.4
Charismatic 11.3 3.0 1.3 1.1 1.1 22.0 2.3
Crimson Sweet 12.0 2.9 1.8 0.7 1.1 19.0 2.6
Crunchy Red 11.6 2.4 2.0 4.4 1.3 20.8 2.7
Embasy 11.6 2.8 1.5 0.8 1.2 17.3 2.4
Exclamation 11.8 3.0 1.8 0.5 1.1 16.9 2.6
Excursion 11.0 3.4 1.6 0.5 1.2 15.7 2.4
Fascination 12.1 3.5 1.4 2.9 1.2 15.4 2.4
Joy Ride 12.0 2.8 1.5 0.3 1.2 17.4 2.5
Kingman 11.6 2.9 1.8 1.2 1.1 16.9 2.3
Lemon Ice 11.2 1.0 2.0 0.3 1.0 18.0 2.7
Maxima 11.4 3.2 2.3 0.5 1.1 19.8 2.5
Poseidon 11.4 3.0 1.3 0.4 1.2 20.7 2.0
Red Amber 11.0 2.8 1.8 0.0 1.3 18.0 2.5
Red Garnet 11.4 3.1 1.4 0.1 1.3 15.3 2.2
Red Opal 11.7 3.0 2.4 0.2 1.2 17.2 2.2
Road Trip 12.2 3.0 1.3 0.8 1.3 16.8 2.4
Secretariat 11.4 3.0 1.4 2.0 1.2 18.6 2.5
Style 12.0 3.5 2.0 0.2 1.1 15.6 2.1
Summer Breeze 11.9 3.2 1.2 0.7 1.1 16.0 2.6
Tailgate 11.7 3.5 1.5 0.3 1.2 17.9 2.6
Troubador 11.2 3.1 2.7 2.6 1.2 16.1 2.9
Turnpike 11.6 3.2 2.2 0.8 1.1 16.5 2.6
Unbridled 12.1 2.9 1.2 0.2 1.1 19.4 2.2
Warrior 11.5 3.2 1.7 0.5 1.2 17.9 2.4
Wolverine 11.4 2.7 2.0 0.3 1.1 20.0 2.4
7187 HQ 11.3 3.1 1.4 0.5 1.2 17.7 2.4
7197 HQ 11.6 3.2 1.7 0.8 1.2 18.0 2.3
9601 HQ 11.6 3.1 1.8 0.9 1.1 19.5 2.5
ORS60.599 11.6 3.0 2.0 0.5 1.1 22.2 2.1
ORS6064F 11.2 3.5 3.0 0.4 1.2 15.9 2.7
ORS6151 12.0 3.5 2.6 0.6 1.1 20.2 2.4
ORS6181b 12.1 3.7 1.7 0.8 1.2 21.5 2.4
ORS6203 10.9 3.2 2.6 0.2 1.3 15.7 2.6
ORS6260d 11.2 3.3 2.1 0.0 1.2 20.7 2.5
SV0241WA 11.5 3.1 1.8 0.1 1.2 17.1 2.5
SV0502WA 11.5 3.1 1.2 0.4 1.3 18.7 2.7
Average 11.6 3.0 1.8 0.8 1.2 18.1 2.4
LSD(0.05) 1.4 0.8 1.0 2.3 0.1 5.1 0.5

1 Most measurements were obtained from fruits in harvest 1 and 2.
2 SS = Indicates sweetness, average of 5 melons per replication (20 total).
3 Rating: 1 = yellow, 2 = pink, 3 = red, 4 = medium-dark red, 5 = blood red.
4 Rating: 1=small (i.e. tomato), 3=medium, 5=large.
5 Average number of hard seeds couted within 5 melons per replication (20 total).
6 LD = Length and diameter ratio, average of 5 melons per replication (20 total).
7 Rind = Rind thickness (mm), measured from rind to where white and colored flesh meet.
8 Fruit pressure was taken by a penetrometer, Fruit Pressure Tester – FT011**HH3 & HH4 = Non-marketable from QA Supplies LLC, Norfolk, Va.

Table 11.2. Triploid Red-Flesh watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Holow Heart Ratings9. Clinton, NC, 2018.1

Cultivar

HHO

HH1

HH2

HH3

HH4

Bottle Rocket 80 5 15 0 0
Captivation 95 0 0 5 0
Charismatic 65 20 5 10 0
Crimson Sweet 90 5 0 5 0
Crunchy Red 95 5 0 0 0
Embasy 100 0 0 0 0
Exclamation 100 0 0 0 0
Excursion 90 10 0 0 0
Fascination 95 0 0 5 0
Joy Ride 95 5 0 0 0
Kingman 90 10 0 0 0
Lemon Ice 85 0 5 5 5
Maxima 95 0 5 0 0
Poseidon 25 10 45 20 0
Red Amber 95 0 5 0 0
Red Garnet 75 20 5 0 0
Red Opal 95 5 0 0 0
Road Trip 100 0 0 0 0
Secretariat 90 0 0 0 10
Style 100 0 0 0 0
Summer Breeze 95 5 0 0 0
Tailgate 100 0 0 0 0
Troubador 100 0 0 0 0
Turnpike 95 0 0 5 0
Unbridled 75 10 5 5 5
Warrior 75 5 10 5 5
Wolverine 95 5 0 0 0
7187 HQ 80 10 5 5 0
7197 HQ 85 10 5 0 0
9601 HQ 90 0 10 0 0
ORS60.599 100 0 0 0 0
ORS6064F 100 0 0 0 0
ORS6151 65 10 0 5 20
ORS6181b 65 15 15 0 5
ORS6203 100 0 0 0 0
ORS6260d 100 0 0 0 0
SV0241WA 50 30 20 0 0
SV0502WA 90 10 0 0 0
Average 87 5 4 2 1
LSD(0.05) – – – – – – – – – –

9HH Percentage Rating Scale:
HH0: No crack in flesh
HH1: Slight crack in flesh
HH2: Small crack in flesh
HH3: Med. separation in flesh
HH4: Complete separation in flesh to rind.
**HH3 & HH4 = Non-marketable from QA Supplies LLC, Norfolk Va.

Table 12. Triploid-Mini Watermelon Seed Sources and Descriptions; 2018.

Entry No.

Cultigen

Company

Description

1 Extazy Hazera Indistinct, medium to wide very dark green stripes on a medium green background; round to long round; thick rind; standard cultivar; lumpy-like fruit, lacks some symmetry.
2 Mini Crimson Sweet VOLOAGRI / US Agriseeds Indistinct, narrow to medium width, medium to dark green stripes on a medium to light green background; round to long round; thick rind.
3 Mini Serval Seedway Indistinct, wide very dark green stripes on a medium to light green background; round to long round; thick rind.
4 Ocelott Hazera Distinct, thin medium to dark green stripes on a light green background; medium to thin rind; round to long round in shape.
5 Petite Perfection Syngenta Distinct, very narrow, dark green stripes on a light green background; fruit mainly just long of round; thin rind.
6 Poquito DP Seeds, LLC Distinct, very narrow, dark green stripes on a  light to medium green background; fruit mainly round; thin rind.
7 Primavera Origene Indistinct, medium to wide, very dark green stripes shadowed by medium dark green on a medium green background; round; larger than mini size; very thick rind.

Table 13. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit weight, (cwt.), per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹ for early season harvests 1-2. Clinton, NC 2018.

Cultivar

Cwt. (x100) by size

Total Fruit Wt. / Acre

Mkt. Fruit  Wt. /Acre²

Avg. Mkt. Fruit Wt.³

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 0 159 151 101 411 310 6.7
Mini Crimson Sweet 0 180 159 98 437 339 6.5
Mini Serval 2 253 45 0 299 298 5.5
Ocelott 0 239 46 0 285 285 5.8
Petite Perfection 2 246 16 0 263 261 5.3
Poquito 0 196 99 64 358 294 6.4
Primavera 4 161 123 133 421 284 6.6
Average 1.1 205 91 57 354 296 6.1
LSD (0.05) 11 208 113 127 149 194 1.2

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP – 7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid plants 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Average of fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.
³ Includes fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.

Table 14. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit weight, (cwt.), per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹ for mid to late season, harvests 3-5. Clinton, NC 2018.

Cultivar

Cwt. (x100) by size

Total Fruit Wt. / Acre

Mkt. Fruit  Wt. /Acre²

Avg. Mkt. Fruit Wt.³

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 33 168 94 14 309 261 5.3
Mini Crimson Sweet 34 187 81 43 344 267 5.7
Mini Serval 56 312 24 0 391 355 4.7
Ocelott 39 338 57 0 435 395 5.3
Petite Perfection 63 277 5 0 345 282 4.6
Poquito 35 255 66 30 386 320 5.1
Primavera 26 171 45 7 249 216 5.1
Average 41 244 53 13 351 299 5.1
LSD (0.05) 491 184 108 921 286 245 1.1

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP – 7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid
plants 1, 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Average of fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.
³ Includes fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.

Table 15. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit number for early¹ season harvests 1-2.

Cultivar

Fruit size category

Total Fruit  No. /  Acre

Total Mkt. No. / Acre²

Frt. No./ Plant

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 0 2759 1888 1016 5663 4646 2
Mini Crimson Sweet 0 3194 2033 944 6171 5227 2.1
Mini Serval 73 4937 581 0 5590 5518 1.9
Ocelott 0 4283 581 0 4864 4864 1.7
Petite Perfection 73 4719 218 0 5009 4937 1.7
Poquito 0 3485 1234 581 5300 4719 1.8
Primavera 145 2831 1597 1307 5881 4429 2.0
Average 42 3744 1162 550 5497 4906 1.9
LSD(0.05) 445.5 3759.4 1478.8 1209.9 2930 3416 1.0

¹ Ranked according to total marketable number.
² Average of fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.

Table 16. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit number for mid to late season¹ harvests 3-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Fruit size category

Total Fruit  No. / Acre

Total Mkt. No. / Acre²

Frt. No./ Plant

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 1379 3848 1162 145 6534 5009 2.3
Mini Crimson Sweet 1597 3775 1016 436 6824 4792 2.4
Mini Serval 2396 6824 290 0 9511 7115 3.3
Ocelott 1742 6752 726 0 9220 7478 3.2
Petite Perfection 2831 6098 73 0 9002 6171 3.1
Poquito 1452 5300 871 290 7913 6171 2.7
Primavera 1162 3630 581 73 5445 4211 1.9
Average 1794 5175 674 135 7778 5850 2.7
LSD(0.05) 2146 3867 1379 921 5518 4506 1.9v

1 Ranked according to total marketable number.
2 Average of fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.

Table 17. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Percent1 of fruit weight per acre per indicated size category – Early¹ season, harvests 1-2. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Fruit Size Category

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 0 39 37 25
Mini Crimson Sweet 0 41 36 22
Mini Serval 1 84 15 0
Ocelott 0 84 16 0
Petite Perfection 1 93 6 0
Poquito 0 55 28 18
Primavera 1 38 29 32
Average 0 62 24 14

1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number.

Table 18. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Percent¹ of fruit weight per acre per indicated size category – Mid to late season, harvests 3-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Fruit Size Category

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 11 54 30 5
Mini Crimson Sweet 10 54 23 12
Mini Serval 14 80 6 0
Ocelott 9 78 13 0
Petite Perfection 18 80 1 0
Poquito 9 66 17 8
Primavera 10 69 18 3
Average 12 69 15 4

¹ Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number.

Table 19. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Percent¹ of fruit number per acre per indicated size category – Early Season, harvests 1-2. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Fruit Size Category

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 0 49 33 18
Mini Crimson Sweet 0 52 33 15
Mini Serval 1 88 10 0
Ocelott 0 88 12 0
Petite Perfection 1 94 4 0
Poquito 0 66 23 11
Primavera 2 48 27 22
Average 1 69 20 9

¹ Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. 

Table 20. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Percent¹ of fruit number per acre per indicated size category – Mid to late season¹, harvests 3-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Fruit Size Category

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 21 59 18 2
Mini Crimson Sweet 23 55 15 6
Mini Serval 25 72 3 0
Ocelott 19 73 8 0
Petite Perfection 31 68 1 0
Poquito 18 67 11 4
Primavera 21 67 11 1
Average 23 66 10 2

¹ Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number.

Table 21. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit weight, (cwt.), per acre by various weight classes including average fruit size¹ for all harvests, 1-5. Clinton, NC 2018.

Cultivar

Cwt. (x100) by size

Total Fruit Wt. / Acre

Mkt. Fruit  Wt. /Acre²

Avg. Mkt. Fruit Wt.³

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 33 327 245 115 720 572 6.0
Mini Crimson Sweet 34 367 239 140 781 606 6.1
Mini Serval 57 564 68 0 690 633 5.0
Ocelott 40 577 103 0 720 680 5.5
Petite Perfection 66 522 21 0 609 543 4.9
Poquito 35 450 165 94 744 615 5.6
Primavera 30 331 169 140 670 501 5.8
Average 42 448 144 70 705 593 5.6
LSD (0.05) 22 40 23 18 309 270 0.8

¹ Yields are calculated using 100 percent seedless watermelon population. SP – 7 pollenizers were interplanted after triploid plants 1, 4, 7 and 10 (4 pollenizer plants/plot). Fruit weights for each category are rounded to the nearest whole number.
² Average of fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.
³ Includes fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.

Table 22. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Fruit number for all harvests, 1-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Fruit size category

Total Fruit  No. /  Acre

Total Mkt. No. / Acre²

Frt. No./ Plant

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 1379 6607 3049 1162 12197 9656 4.2
Mini Crimson Sweet 1597 6970 3049 1379 12995 10019 4.5
Mini Serval 2468 11761 871 0 15101 12632 5.2
Ocelott 1742 11035 1307 0 14084 12342 4.9
Petite Perfection 2904 10817 290 0 14012 11108 4.8
Poquito 1452 8785 2105 871 13213 10890 4.6
Primavera 1307 6461 2178 1379 11326 8639 3.9
Average 1836 8919 1836 684 13275 10755 4.6
LSD(0.05) 2219 4013 2299 1827 5744 4626 2.0

¹ Ranked according to total marketable number.
² Includes fruit ≥ 3.1 to 9 pounds.

Table 23. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Percent¹ of fruit weight per acre per indicated size category for all harvests, 1-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Fruit Size Category

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 5 45 34 16
Mini Crimson Sweet 4 47 31 18
Mini Serval 8 82 10 0
Ocelott 5 80 14 0
Petite Perfection 11 86 3 0
Poquito 5 61 22 13
Primavera 4 49 25 21
Average 6 64 20 10

¹ Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest nearest whole number. 

Table 24. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Percent¹ of fruit number per acre per indicated size category for all harvests, 1-5. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Fruit Size Category

 ≤ 3.0 lb

3.1 – 7.0 lb

7.1 – 9.0 lb

 ≥ 9.1 lb

Extazy 11 54 25 10
Mini Crimson Sweet 12 54 23 11
Mini Serval 16 78 6 0
Ocelott 12 78 9 0
Petite Perfection 21 77 2 0
Poquito 11 66 16 7
Primavera 12 57 19 12
Average 14 66 14 6

¹ Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. 

Table 25. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Percent¹ of total fruit weight per acre per indicated harvests. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Harvests

1 to 2

Harvests

3 to 5

Total Fruit Weight

Extazy 57% 43% 71997
Mini Crimson Sweet 56% 44% 78067
Mini Serval 43% 57% 69006
Ocelott 40% 60% 71968
Petite Perfection 43% 57% 60853
Poquito 48% 52% 74408
Primavera 63% 37% 67017
Average 50% 50% 70474

¹ Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were
rounded to the nearest whole number.

Table 26. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Percent¹ of total fruit number per acre per indicated harvests. Clinton, NC, 2018.

Cultivar

Harvests 1 – 2

Harvests 3 – 5

Total Fruit No.

Extazy 46% 54% 12197
Mini Crimson Sweet 47% 53% 12995
Mini Serval 37% 63% 15101
Ocelott 35% 65% 14084
Petite Perfection 36% 64% 14012
Poquito 40% 60% 13213
Primavera 52% 48% 11326
Average 42% 58% 13275

¹ Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were
rounded to the nearest whole number.

Table 27.1. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Interior fruit quality. Clinton, NC, 2018.¹

Cultivar

SS2

Flesh Color3

Seed Trace Size4

Hard Seed Population 5

LD6

Rind7

Flesh Firmness8

Extazy 11.1 3.4 1.8 1.5 1.1 18.5 2.9
Mini Crimson Sweet 10.4 3.0 1.5 0.7 1.1 15.6 2.7
Mini Serval 10.3 3.5 1.8 0.4 1.1 15.9 2.8
Ocelott 11.1 3.4 1.5 0.5 1.1 14.1 3.4
Petite Perfection 11.8 3.2 1.8 0.7 1.1 6.5 3.0
Poquito 11.8 2.8 2.4 0.7 1.1 11.9 2.2
Primavera 11.0 3.1 1.4 1.7 1.0 19.7 3.2
Average 11.1 3.2 1.7 0.9 1.1 14.6 2.9
LSD(0.05) 1.1 0.7 1.1 2.7 0.1 3.6 0.6

1 Most measurements w ere obtained from fruits in harvest 1 and 2.
2 SS = Indicates sw eetness, average of 5 melons per replication (20 total).
3 Rating: 1 = yellow , 2 = pink, 3 = red, 4 = medium-dark red, 5 = blood red.
4 Rating: 1=small (i.e. tomato), 3=medium, 5=large.
5 Average number of hard seeds couted w ithin 5 melons per replication (20 total).
6LD = Length and diameter ratio, average of 5 melons per replication (20 total).
7 Rind = Rind thickness (mm), measured from rind to w here w hite and colored f lesh meet.
8 Fruit pressure w as taken by a penetrometer, Fruit Pressure Tester – FT011  from QA Supplies LLC, Norf olk Va.

Table 27.2. Triploid-Mini watermelon hybrid cultivar trial. Interior fruit quality. Hollow Heart Ratings9 Clinton, NC, 2018.¹

Cultivar

HH1

HH2

HH3

HH4

HH5

Extazy 100 0 0 0 0
Mini Crimson Sweet 100 0 0 0 0
Mini Serval 100 0 0 0 0
Ocelott 100 0 0 0 0
Petite Perfection 100 0 0 0 0
Poquito 84 6.3 10 0 0
Primavera 100 0 0 0 0
Average
LSD(0.05)

9 HH Percentage Rating Scale:
HH1: No crack in flesh
HH2: Slight crack in flesh
HH3: Small crack in flesh
HH4: Med. separation in flesh
HH5: Complete separation in flesh to rind
**HH4 & HH5 = Non-marketable