Evaluation of fruit characteristics and plant growth of two watermelon Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.)Hybrid varieties Madison and Amphion

Abstract

A study was carried out during the period 5/5 – 31/7/2017   to evaluate some of the plant morphology and fruit characteristics for watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) Hybrid varieties Amphion and Madison grown under local conditions. Preliminary test for  seed germiantion showed that percentage of germination was 90% and 100% for Amphion and Medison respectively. Results showed there was no significant difference between both varieties for total fruit production, marketable and non-marketable fruit production, total fruit number, total marketable and non-marketable fruit number, average fruit weight, average endocarp weight per fruit, average fruit diameter and average fruit exocarp thickness per fruit, (p<0.05). However, results showed there was significant differences (p>0.05) between varieties in average fruit length, average excocarp weight per fruit, average stem length per plant and total leaves number per plant. Other results which were not statistically analyzed showed that there were differences in fruit exocarp and endocarp dry weight, total soluble solids for fruits, number of days from planting till start flowering and in average total seed number per fruit. Results emphasized, that planting watermelon depends on choosing the suitable variety, which can provide farmers with good economic returns throw high marketable yield and high fruits quality, but to reach this stage, more watermelon variety trails under local conditions is needed.

Keywords: Watermelon, Varieties,   Fruits.