WATERMELON

Dr Khushbu Kholiya Dr K K Misra and Rajnish Kumar

Family : Cucurbitaceae

Botanical name : Citrullus lanatus

Chromosome no : 2n=2x=22

Origin : The watermelon is widely distributed in Africa and Asia.

INRODUCTION

Watermelon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae or gourd family. It is a trailing annual with stems, as
long as 400 cm and chayote. The roots are shallow (40-50 cm) and extensive (60-90 cm), with
taproot and many lateral roots. It is an annual that has a prostrate or climbing habit. Stems are
up to 3 m long and new growth has yellow or brown hairs. Leaves are 60 to 200 mm long and
40 to 150 mm wide. These usually have three lobes which are themselves lobed or doubly
lobed. Plants have both male and female flowers on 40-mm-long hairy stalks. These are yellow,
and greenish on the back.

It is a warm season crop and is not chill-resistant. It requires a long

growing season in the subtropics, but fast growing in the tropical regions. Flowering and fruit
development are promoted by high light intensity and high temperature.

HISTORY

The watermelon is a flowering plant that originated in northeast Africa, where it is found
growing wild. Citrullus colocynthis has sometimes been considered to be a wild ancestor of the
watermelon; its native range extends from north and west Africa to west India.
Evidence of the cultivation of both C. lanatus and C. colocynthis in the Nile Valley has been
found from the second millennium BConward, and seeds of both species have been found
at Twelfth Dynasty sites and in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun

In the 7th century, watermelons were being cultivated in India, and by the 10th century had
reached China, which is today the world's single largest watermelon producer.
The Moors introduced the fruit into Spain and there is evidence of it being cultivated
in Córdoba in 961 and also in Seville in 1158. It spread northwards through southern Europe,
perhaps limited in its advance by summer temperatures being insufficient for good yields. The
fruit had begun appearing in European herbals by 1600, and was widely planted in Europe in the
17th century as a minor garden crop.

European colonists and slaves from Africa introduced the watermelon to the New World.
Spanish settlers were growing it in Florida in 1576, and it was being grown in Massachusetts by
1629, and by 1650 was being cultivated in Peru, Brazil and Panama, as well as in many British
and Dutch colonies. Around the same time, Native Americans were cultivating the crop in the
Mississippi valley and Florida. Watermelons were rapidly accepted in Hawaii and other Pacific
islands when they were introduced there by explorers such as Captain James Cook

Seedless watermelons were initially developed in 1939 by Japanese scientists who were able to
create seedless triploid hybrids which remained rare initially because they did not have
sufficient disease resistance. Seedless watermelons became more popular in the 21st century,
rising to nearly 85% of total watermelon sales in the United States in 2014.

CLIMATE

Being a warm season crop, the plant requires ample sunshine and dry weather for production of
fruits. In case they are grown in places where winter is prevalent, then they must be provided
with adequate protection from cold and frost. They are extremely sensitive to the slightest of
frost and hence care must be taken to keep the frost away from the crop. 24-27⁰C is ideal for the
seed germination and growth of watermelon plants. A cool night would ensure ample
development of sugars in the fruit.
SOIL

Watermelons grow best in sandy loam soil that drains easily. It also grows well in black soil
and sandy soil. However, they must have a good amount of organic content and must not
withhold water. Water must easily drain off from the soil else the vines are likely to develop
fungal infections.

pH for Watermelon Cultivation

The pH of the soil must be between 6.0 and 7.5. Acidic soil would result in withering away of
the seeds. While soil with a neutral pH is preferred, it can also grow well even if the soil is
slightly alkaline.

IRRIGATION

Watermelon is a dry season crop and it must be planted with irrigation. The watermelon beds are
irrigated two days prior to sowing and then again 5 days after sowing the seeds. As the plant
grows, irrigation is done on a weekly basis. Attention must be paid to water stress at the time of
irrigation since it can lead to fruit cracking. While irrigating, water must be restricted to the root
zone of the plant. Wetting of vines or other vegetative parts must be avoided especially during
flowering or fruiting time as wetting can lead to withering away of the flowers, fruits or even the
plant as a whole. In addition, wetting of the vegetative parts can also lead to development of
fungal diseases. Moisture must be maintained near the roots so that the plants develop taproot
system. As the fruits near maturity, irrigation frequency is reduced and it is completely stopped
during the harvesting stage. This helps in developing flavor and sweetness in the fruit.

Crop Rotation with Watermelon

Owing to the risk of developing various diseases, watermelon is grown on the same soil only
after a period of 3 years. It is usually rotated with paddy or with vegetables like tomato, chillies,
etc.

Watermelon Planting Material

Watermelons grow from seeds. However, it is advisable to sow the seeds of watermelons
bought from trusted place. There are different varieties of watermelon in India yielding a good
harvest such as Vandana, Kiran, Sugar Baby, Watermelon Sultan, Improved Shipper,
Madhubala, Arjun, etc.

Land preparation

The land is ploughed until the soil becomes very fine tilth. The land is then prepared according to
the type of sowing to be done. Watermelons are generally seeded directly in the farms. However,
in case it has to be protected from frosts, then it is seeded in nurseries or greenhouses and later
transplanted into the main field.

It is sowed during the months of February to March in North India and then during November
to January in west and North East India. The seeds are sown at a depth of 2-3 cm from the top
soil.

IMPROVED VARIETIES

Arka Jyoti

It is a mid-season F1 hybrid. The plants bear round fruits weighing 6-8 kg each, light green skin
with regular dark green stripes, sweet flesh (11-12% TSS) with crimson-red colour. The flesh
gets granular when over-ripe. It performs well under south as well as north Indian conditions.
Arka

Fruits are somewhat round (oval) and weigh about 6 kg each. Skin colour is light green with dull
green stripes. The flesh is deep red, very sweet (11-12% TSS) and seed arrangement is such that its
removal is easier. It is resistant to powdery mildew, downy mildew, tolerant to anthracnose and
blossom-end rot. It stands transport and storage well.

Asahi Yamato

It is a Japanese introduction with fruits weighting 6-8 kg each. Fruits have striped light green
skin and deep pink, crisp, sweet (11-13% TSS) flesh with small brown seeds. The fruits ripen 90-
95 days after sowing.

Sugar Baby

It is an introduction from the USA. It is a medium vining variety with fruits weighing 4-6 kg
each. Fruits are round in shape, having bluish bloom on dark green skin and black-green stripes,
deep purple, crisp, very sweet (11-13% TSS) flesh and small brown seeds. The fruits ripen 85-90
days after sowing.

Durgapura Meetha

Fruits are round with light green skin, thick rind and good keeping quality. Flesh is dark red-
sweet with around 11% TSS. On an average, fruits weigh 6-8kg each and mature 125 days after
sowing.

Improved Shipper

An American introduction, its fruits weigh 8-10kg. It has dark green, red flesh with moderate
sweetness (8-9% TSS).

New Hampshire Midget

This is also an introduction having small fruits, weighing 1.5-2.0kg each. The fruits have light
green skin with black stripes, red flesh, suited for home gardens.

Pusa Bedana

It is a seedless hybrid having aborted embryos and false, rudimentary, least perceptible seeds.
The plants are slow-growing with dark green foliage, short internodes and leathery leaves. The
fruits are seedless, somewhat irregularly triangular, dark green with thick rind, crisp, deep pink
flesh and excellent quality. It takes about 105 days to ripen. Costly and tedious seed production
and difficulty in seed germination are the reasons behind its non-commercialization.

CULTIVAR GROUPS

Citroides group

(syn. C. lanatus subsp. lanatus var. citroides; C. lanatus var. citroides; C. vulgaris var. citroides)

DNA data reveal that C. lanatus var. citroides Bailey is the same as Thunberg's bitter wooly
melon, C. lanatus and also the same as C. amarus Schrad. It is not a form of the sweet
watermelon C. vulgaris and not closely related to that species.

The citron melon or makataan - a variety with sweet yellow flesh that is cultivated around the
world for fodder, and the production of citron peel and pectin.

Lanatus group

(syn. C. lanatus var. caffer)

C. caffer Schrad. is a synonym of C. amarus Schrad.

The variety known as tsamma is grown for its juicy white flesh. The variety was an important
food source for travellers in the Kalahari Desert.
Another variety known as karkoer or bitterboela is unpalatable to humans, but the seeds may be
eaten.

A small-fruited form with a bumpy skin has caused poisoning in sheep

Vulgaris group

This is Linnaeus's sweet watermelon; it has been grown for human consumption for thousands of
years.

 C. lanatus mucosospermus (Fursa) Fursa

This West African species is the closest wild relative of the watermelon. It is cultivated for cattle
feed.

NUTRIENTS

Watermelon fruit is 91% water, contains 6% sugars, and is low in fat (table).

In a 100 gram serving, watermelon fruit supplies 30 calories and low amounts of essential
nutrients (table). Only vitamin C is present in appreciable content at 10% of the Daily
Value (table). Watermelon pulp contains carotenoids, including lycopene.

The amino acid citrulline is produced in watermelon rind

PLANT SPACING & TIME OF SOWING

Plant Spacing: Plant Spacing is 3 to 5 feet apart.

Time of Sowing: Watermelons need warm climate for growth. It can be grown all through the
year in places like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal and Rajasthan.
It is however very sensitive to frost. Sow the seeds during January-February.
Application of fertilizers

Apply FYM 20 t/ha,

P 55 kg and K 55 kg as basal and N 55 kg/ha 30 days after sowing.Apply Azospirillum and

Phosphobacteria @ 2 kg/ha and Pseudomonoas @ 2.5 kg/ha along with FYM 50 kg and neem
cake 100 kg before last ploughing.

Nursery preparation

Nursery for watermelon can be prepared either with polythene bags of 200 gauge, 10 cm
diameter and 15 cm height size or through protrays under protected nursery. In polybag nursery,
fill the bags with 1:1:1 ratio of red soil, sand and farmyard manure mixture. Use protrays, each
having 98 cells for raising seedlings. Transplant about 12 days old seedlings in the main field.

WEED CONTROL

Weeding is needed only in the initial stages of watermelon growth. Being a vine, use of
herbicides must be done very carefully else the healthy plants may get affected. The first
weeding is done about 25 days after sowing. Subsequently, weeding is done once a month.
Once the vines begin to spread, weeding is not necessary as the vines take care of the
weeds.

Some common weeds in watermelon fields are- Barnyard grass, Purple nutsedge.

Diseases and Plant Protection

Watermelon is affected by numerous diseases such as aphids, thrips, anthracnose, mildew, wilt,
etc.

1. Downy Mildew

Causative Agent: Pseudoperonospora cubensis

Nature of Damage:- This disease occurs wherein there are frequent rains and hence a high
relative humidity. It also occurs when the moisture content in soil is high. The affected plants
have a stunted growth. The fruits produced by such plants do not mature and hence have a poor
taste.

Symptoms:- Yellow colored spots appear on the upper surface of leaves which spread upto the
veins. It gets restricted at the veins. This gives the leaf a mosaic appearance. Owing to the
presence of moisture, the corresponding lower surface of the affected leaves have a purplish
growth. The leaves turn necrotic, yellow and ultimately fall off.

Spread:- The pathogens primarily spread through soil and weeds. They also spread through rain
water splashes.

Treatment:- While transplanting watermelons ensure that the plants are free of the disease.
Apply fungicide before and after installing the row cover if any.
There must be enough air circulation in the crop and the humidity level must be kept in check.
Excess irrigation must be avoided- drip irrigation would ensure just enough water in the soil.
The field must be constantly monitored

2. Powdery Mildew

Causative Agent:- Sphaerotheca fuliginea

Nature of Damage:- The pathogen mainly affects the upper foliage and growing younger parts.
The diseased plants defoliate prematurely and die. In case fruits mature, they are deformed.

Symptoms:-Powdery, whitish, superficial growth on the growing parts, stems and

foliage. The growth covers the entire area superficially. Diseased areas turn brown and
dry. Fruits remain underdeveloped.

Spread:- The fungus is found in dormant buds and parts of plants. It spreads through the
infected plant debris and also through conidia by means of wind.

Treatment:- Ensure proper air circulation. Aerate the soil before sowing Monitor the leaves
constantly for appearance of superficial powdery white growth. Apply fungicide regularly.
 3. Anthracnose

Causative Agent:- Colletotrichum orbiculare

Nature of Damage:-The fungus needs an optimum temperature of 30⁰C with high levels of
humidity for 24 hours. It produces a thin film of water on the leaves.

Symptoms:- Begins with a thin film of water on the leaves. The lesions gradually turn into
yellow, dark brown and black irregular spots. Stem lesion girdle the stem. Vines wilt away.

Fruits produce circular, sunken cankers that maybe about 6mm deep. This is the most
diagnostic symptom of the disease. The center of the lesion which is the black in color is
covered with a mass of spores (salmon colored) that is gelatinous in nature. This happens in
presence of moisture.

Spread:- The fungus typically spreads from the debris residue of previous crop.

Treatment:- It is hard to control the disease. One way to deal with it is to treat the affected
plants with neem oil and crop rotation.

PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS

1.Blossom end rot- Blossom-end rot is a deterioration of the blossom end of the fruit. The usual
order of development is softening, slight shriveling, browning, blackening with
extensive shriveling, and sometimes secondary decay. Poor calcium nutrition and moisture stress
cause blossom-end rot.

2.Bursting of fruits: Bursting may result from an uneven growth rate, which is particularly
associated with heavy rainfall or irrigation when the fruit is maturing.

3.White heart: White heart is white streaks or bands of undesirable flesh in the heart (center) of
the fruit. This is caused by excessive moisture during fruit maturation.
4.Sun scald:- Sun scald (burn) results from exposure to intense solar radiation that leads to
dehydration and overheating damage of the rind tissue. Sun scald can be alleviated by covering
the fruit with vines or straw material.

HARVEST/STORAGE

Watermelons don’t sweeten after they are picked, so harvest time is important. They generally
ripen over two weeks so keep your eye on them.

how to tell if watermelons are ripe:

 Thump it. If the watermelon sounds hollow, it’s ripe.

 Look at the color on the top. The watermelon is ripe when there is little contrast between
the stripes.
 Look at the color on the bottom. A green watermelon will have a white bottom; a ripe
melon will have a cream- or yellow-colored bottom.
 Press on it. If the watermelon sounds like it gives a little, it’s ripe. (Rhodes doesn’t like
this method because it can ruin the quality of the fruit.)
 Check the tendril. If it’s green, wait. If it’s half-dead, the watermelon is nearly ripe or
ripe. If the tendril is fully dead, it’s ripe or overripe; it’s not going to get any riper, so
you might as well pick!
 Stems should be cut with a sharp knife close to the fruit.
 Watermelons can be stored uncut for about 10 days. If cut, they can last in the refrigerator
for about 4 days.
 Wrap tightly in plastic.

PRODUCTION

In 2016, global production of watermelons was 117 million tonnes, with China alone accounting
for 68% of the total. Secondary producers with more than 1% of world production included
Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Algeria, the United States, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, and
Kazakhstan.
YIELD

25 – 30 t/ha of fruits in 120 days can be obtained.

RECAP

CLIMATE  Watermelon plants love the heat, and need a long and warm
growing season of at least 70 to 85 days.
 They grow best when daytime temperatures fall between 70
and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures fall
between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

SOIL  Watermelon grows best in fertile, well-draining, sandy loam

soils.
 Optimum pH should be 6-7.5

 Mostly watermelon is propagated using seeds.

 Watermelon can also be transplanted when the soil temperature
PROPAGATION
is at least 15°C. Transplants can be planted with a tractor
pulled mechanical trans planter or by hand.

 If you stay in warmer climates, you can direct sow seeds

outdoors, but wait until the soil temperature warms to atleast
PLANTING SEASON
70 degrees to avoid poor germination.
 If you are in a cooler climates, start seeds indoors about a
 month before transplanting.

SEED RATE  About 3.5 kg of seeds are required for a hectare.

IRRIGATION  Irrigate the field before dibbling the seeds and thereafter once a
week.
 Irrigation should be given at regular intervals of time.
 Irrigation after a long dry spell results in cracking of fruits.

PLANTING  Plant the seedlings in the holes made at 60 cm distance.

MANURES &  Apply FYM 20 t/ha, P 55 kg and K 55 kg as basal and N 55

FERTILIZERS kg/ha 30 days after sowing.
 Apply Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria @ 2 kg/ha and
Pseudomonoas @ 2.5 kg/ha along with FYM 50 kg and neem
cake 100 kg before last ploughing.

MATURITY INDICES  produces dull sound upon tapping or the fruits surface on the
ground level produces light yellow colour.

YIELD  25 – 30 t/ha of fruits in 120 days can be obtained.