Abstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the floral biology and pollination requirements of seeded and seedless mini watermelon varieties, and to determine the best varieties to cultivate under protected environment. Three seedless (HA-5106, HA-5158, and HA-5161) and two seeded (Minipol and Polimore) genotypes were tested. Flowers were monitored from the pre-anthesis stage to senescence, and fruit quality was also evaluated. The evaluated treatments were hand-geitonogamous pollination (MG), cross-pollination with pollen from the Polimore variety (MCP), cross-pollination with pollen from the Minipol variety (MCM), and restricted pollination. All varieties had monoecious plants with diclinous flowers, and the stigmas remained receptive throughout anthesis. Fruit set rates of 84.62% (MG), 61.54% (MCP), 48% (MCM), and 0% (restricted) were obtained for seeded varieties, but of 0% (MG), 76.36% (MCP), 82.69% (MCM), and 0% (restricted) for seedless varieties. Fruits did not differ in quality among treatments within each genotype. Therefore, all the studied varieties require a pollination agent and diploid pollen for fruit set to occur, regardless of the donor variety; and Minipol or Polimore with HA-5106 or HA-5158 are the varieties recommended for cultivation in protected environment.
Highlights
IntroductionMotivated by new consumer demands, breeders have developed smaller fruits and seedless varieties (Walters, 2009; Bomfim et al, 2013)
Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] is a plant cultivated in open field and usually produces large‐sized fruit with great amount of seeds scattered throughout their flesh
During anthesis, as temperature increased and humidity decreased, the pollen grains became loose, still forming a pollen mass adhered to the anther
Summary
Motivated by new consumer demands, breeders have developed smaller fruits and seedless varieties (Walters, 2009; Bomfim et al, 2013). The arrival of these new varieties, such as mini watermelons, make feasible the cultivation of this vegetable in protected environments, which make. Watermelon plants do not produce fruits without a pollination agent (Walters, 2005; Guerra Sanz, 2008), and this artificial environment blocks the entrance of natural pollinators in the system (Cruz & Campos, 2009). Even for seedless watermelon varieties (triploid, 3n), adequate pollination is necessary to release the amount of phytohormones needed to stimulate the fruit set, and a good fruit development (Walters, 2005). Walters (2005) stated that, for fruit set to occur in triploid varieties, these must be grown close to a diploid variety, planted as a pollen donor
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