Botanical Name: Citrullus lanatus Thunb.

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Chromosome Number: 2n=22

Origin: Tropical Africa

Importance Points

• Watermelon is a climacteric vegetable.
• The toxic substance present in watermelon is Serotonin.
• Pigment present in watermelon is anthocyanin and lycopene.
• Bitter principal cucurbitacin (Tetracyclic titerpenes) present in water melon.
• Arka Manik – Multiple disease-resistant varieties of watermelon and suitable for long-distance transport.
• White heart at central position shows poor quality fruits.
• Fruit contains 95% water and 160mg /100 gm of Potassium.
• TSS of fruits 8 – 13%.

Area and production

It is grown in garden lands and river beds in India.

Source :- NHB 2018

Economic importance

• The fruits contain 95% water, 0.2% protein 0.3% minerals, 3.3% CHO, and 160 mg Potassium per 100g fresh weight. It is also a rich source of iron.
• The seed kernels are also used in various sweets and other delicious.
• The unripe fruits are also cooked as a vegetable in some parts of India. The sweet, juicy pulp of the ripe fruit is eaten fresh throughout the tropics and subtropical regions.
• The fruit has a cooling effect and is used as an expectorant, diuretic and stomachic, and is allaying thirst
• The juice is delicious and nourishing and exerts a cooling effect in the hot summer months.

Varieties

1. Introduction: –

2. Selection: –

Durgapura Kesar – Yellow pulp

Durgapura Meetha

Pusa Rasal

3. Hybrids: –

Madhur

Milan

Arka Akash

Arka Jyoti – IIHR 20 X Crimson Sweet (released by IIHR, Bangalore)

Arka Manik – IIHR X Crimson Sweet (released by IIHR, Bangalore)

Pusa Bedana (Triploid) – Tetra-2 X Pusa Rasal (Seedless Variety) (Developed by Dr. Kihara)

4. Other Varieties: –

Arka Muthu

Arka Aiswarya

Special No.1

Arka Madhura

PKM 1

Crimson Sweet

Climate

Generally, a long period of warm, preferably dry weather with abundant sunshine is required for the development of flavour and high sugar content. It cannot withstand frost. Melons require a tropical climate and fairly high temperatures of 35-40⁰C during fruit development.

The seed does not germinate below 21⁰C.

Soil

Lighter soils that warm quickly in spring one usually used for early yields. Deep sandy loam soil is best for watermelon crops. Watermelon prefers a soil PH of 5.5 – 7.0

Season

In UP and Delhi areas Jan-Feb months are preferred for sowing but there should be high temperatures at the time of fruit maturity and ripening which increases the sweetness.

In central India sowing is done from February to the end of March and from middle July.

Preparation of field

Land should be thoroughly prepared to get fine tilth for a seed bed.

Seed Rate

The recommended seed rate for watermelon is 2.5 to 3.5kg/ha.

Sowing

The seeds may be sown in ordinary beds or raised beds on both the side or in the pits. The seeds are sown 2.5 to 5.0 cm deep in beds at 4X1m spacing or in pits at 3X3m spacing. In every pit, 3-4 seeds are sown.

 In some cases where early crop is taken seeds can be sown in polyethylene bags (10X15 cm) of 100-200 gauge and germinated under cover to protect them from low temperature and then could be transplanted at 2 true leaf stage.

Pruning

Fruit quality and yield are increased with pruning in watermelon. Retaining 3-4 main shoots per plant.

Thinning

 The fruit thinning increases the size and quality of the fruit. Normally 3-4 fruits per vine should be kept in order to get good quality fruits.

Nutrition

Watermelon responds well to manuring.

Fertilizer recommendations for various states of India.

Along with fertilizers well rotten FYM 1200 to 1400 kg/hac are also applied at the time to last ploughing. All fertilizers and half of the nitrogen are given at the last ploughing and the remaining Nitrogen is given after 30 to 35 days of sowing as a top dressing.

Irrigation

Watermelons require more frequent irrigation in summer to spring crops, while in rainy season crops, irrigation may not be necessary at all. In summer irrigate the crops at 3-5 days intervals.

At the time of top dressing with nitrogenous fertilizers, weeding and earthing up are done when the vines start spreading. For the successful growing of watermelon, plots are kept free from weeds. During the early stage of crops, beds, ridges, etc need to be kept free from weeds. Herbicides are also beneficial in watermelon crops and reduce weed growth like Simazine, Beutachlore, Dichloremate, etc. These weedicides are used at pre-emergence.

Use of Growth regulators

These chemicals/plant growth regulators must be applied at the 2-true leaf stage, and repeat the spray at 4- the true leaf stage.

Harvesting and yield

In watermelon where fruits have to be picked at full maturity stage, ready to be consumed as a dessert fruit, usually takes 40-45 days from anthesis to harvesting or 90-120 days from sowing to harvesting.

Maturity standards

• Dull sound when the fruit is thumped in contrast to the metallic sound.
• The withering of tendril at the fruit axil
• Ground spot (Where the fruit touches the ground) turning yellow or lighter in colour in green-coloured cultivars.
• The rind of the ripe melon yields to presume.
• The average sweetness will record around 9-10% TSS.

Yield

The average yield is 200-250 quantal/ hac but from the hybrid cultivars it is 300 quantal / hac.