The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

Watermelon production is of great importance in the state of Indiana. The industry was valued at $32 million in 2011, with the majority of the acreage located in southwest Indiana. Additionally, watermelons are also the largest in terms of acreage for fresh market vegetables in Indiana.  Due to the significance of the watermelon industry in Indiana, improving production practices for increased sustainability and profitability is of great importance. There are various practices in commercial production that can affect yield and quality. One of the fundamental starting points is the selection of a variety with good yield, desirable fruit quality traits, and one that is suited to growing under local conditions. A field study with triploid watermelon cultivars was established (May 2011) in Vincennes, IN, at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate yield and fruit quality of twenty-five triploid watermelon cultivars. The field site was selected and prepared by tillage, bed formation, and installation of plastic mulch and drip irrigation. Application of fertilizer was completed prior to bed formation in the following amounts: 350 lbs (46-0-0), 100 lbs (0-0-60), and 200 lbs of pelletized lime.  Transplants were taken to the field on May 16, 2011, and planted in the designated plots as dictated by the randomized complete block design. Plants were irrigated as needed throughout the season and treated with pesticides as dictated by MelCast and presence of any arthropod pests. There were no statistically significant differences in harvest data among the twenty-five cultivars with the exception of average fruit size. WDL9408 had greater average fruit weight than nine of the twenty five cultivars evaluated. Numerically the three varieties with the highest yield were AC7187, Troubadour, and AC7267. With respect to fruit quality, RWT8231 had higher soluble solids content than twenty-one of the twenty-five cultivars. The other cultivars that did not differ with regards to soluble solids content included Indiana, Wrigley, and Affirmed. Although RWT8231 had high soluble solids, it was one of the lowest yielding varieties numerically. Fruit firmness of the varieties was not statistically significant. There was some statistical variation with regards to degree of seedlessness, however they all fell in the range of no seeds with the exception of ACX6177FR. Presence of hollow heart this season was also very minimal. Of all the varieties, AC7267 had both relatively high sugar content and was one of the highest yielding varieties.