Effect of Rootstocks on Watermelon Quality and Composition

Watermelon rootstocks were used with scions to determine effects on field holding quality, fresh cut quality, and composition.  Watermelon fruit could be held a week in the field (attached to the vine) without loss of quality (firmness, lycopene, sugars) if grafted to interspecific squash hybrid rootstocks.  Lycopene content was enhanced by 10 to 20% with rootstock, but citrulline content was slightly lower in grafted fruit.  Fresh cut watermelon from fruit field-stored up to 7 days and held at 4 C for 10 days had little drip loss although juice pH increased compared to 0 day field stored fruit.  Watermelons field-stored 14 days had loss of firmness, loss of lycopene, and high pH when fresh cut.  Our results show that grafted watermelons can be held attached to the vine in the field under high temperatures after full ripeness to 7 days without negative effects on fruit flesh characteristics or fresh cut life.