Improving yield of quality seedless watermelons
The project aimed to develop techniques that would maximise the yield of seedless watermelons while maintaining adequate quality.
Why study this?
Watermelons are increasingly popular with consumers, who will pay a premium for seedless melons, and expect high quality. The study addressed problems of low yield, internal cracking and hollowness, poor flesh colour and seeds.
What was done
Over four years from 2003, trials were conducted in six sites in Australia into varieties, nutrition, irrigation, density and pollination.
What we found
The researchers formulated a water management strategy, and identified how to use plant density and pollinator ratio to maximise yield, and determined the best varieties for each growing region.
Resources
Recommendations for water management, treatments to improve pollination, strategies to increases yields, varieties best suited to particular regions and other techniques are contained in the report Improving agronomic management for seedless watermelons
For more information contact
Dr Gordon Rogers, Applied Horticultural Research Pty Ltd
