31 July 2024, US: Watermelon comes in many different shapes and sizes, and both with and without seeds. Understanding not only the agronomic characteristics that growers need to succeed but also the demands of consumers is important to help promote this fruit. At Syngenta Vegetable Seeds, we take into account consumer preferences and the growing conditions around the world to find the best varieties.
Finding and creating next-generation vegetable and fruit hybrids and varieties is no easy task, but vitally important to providing consumers around the world with access to safe and healthy food. Chromosomes are the fundamental units that determine the characteristics, or traits, of all living things including plants. By using traditional breeding methods, breeders at Syngenta are moving the needle on plant yield, defenses, and health attributes by finding the right combination of genes, and chromosomes.
For example, more than 50 years ago, watermelon breeders found that crossbreeding plants could produce a vast array of varieties tailored to different growing conditions, disease resistance, and other specific preferences. The Syngenta Vegetable Seeds Global team of scientists and experts continues to focus on innovating watermelon types and varieties that will help growers’ bottom line.
Seedless Watermelon
A seedless watermelon is a hybrid created by crossing male watermelon pollen, which contains twenty-two chromosomes per cell, with a female watermelon flower that has forty-four chromosomes per cell. When this seeded fruit matures, the small, white seed coats inside contain thirty-three chromosomes, rendering them sterile and unable to produce seeds.
Growers’ profitability is determined by the demand of consumer preference. Today, in the U.S., there is a strong preference for seedless watermelons. The demand is also growing globally, with various countries requesting smaller fruit sizes.
Mini Watermelon
Recognizing the impact of consumer preferences, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds scientists noted the reduction in household size and the need to accommodate changing lifestyles.
“Today those melons are more popular than ever. And recent demographic and societal trends might spur even greater demand for mini watermelons,” said Erin Doughtie, Americas Regional Portfolio Lead for Watermelon.
Like the seedless watermelon, selective breeding led to the creation of the first commercial mini watermelon in 2003. The smallest of all watermelon types, minis are petite, easy to manage, and fit in most refrigerators. With fewer seeds and a thin rind, they offer more melon flesh for the money! Additionally, eating a mini watermelon can help reduce food waste.
Seeded Watermelon
The classic watermelon grown and consumed around the world. It’s characterized by a thick green rind, red or pink flesh, and black seeds. These melons come in round, long, and oblong shapes. Growers in regions like South America or Saharan Africa face challenges such as transporting watermelons over long, rough distances from the field to road stands or stores.
Syngenta works alongside these growers to find solutions to these challenges. For example, the Manchester watermelon is the most popular seeded variety in Brazil. With great taste, less instances of hollow heart, and better transportability, growers can get this popular fruit to their customers, even on rough roads in rural areas.
Understand Important Diseases and Your Options
In addition to offering a variety of end-user-focused traits, our team has focused on watermelon varieties with strong disease resistance and robust growth in challenging conditions. Syngenta scientists and experts have focused significant efforts on developing enhanced disease-resistance packages to safeguard growers’ investments.
Specifically, there are four diseases that repeatedly cause profit and yield losses to growers that we’ve focused research:
Zucchini Yellow Mosaic (ZYMV Zucchini yellow mosaic virus) – Zucchini Yellow Mosaic infection in watermelon causes severe leaf symptoms, including mosaic patterns, deformation, blistering, and reduced leaf size. Infected watermelons may exhibit mottled skin, uneven coloring, and bumpy areas. Syngenta Vegetable Seeds provides robust disease protection to combat these issues.
Anthracnose (Co: 1 caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare) – According to Oklahoma State University, anthracnose can affect various parts of the plant including stems, leaves, and fruit. The lesions on the fruit can be particularly damaging as they accelerate decay and cause leaky melons during shipping.
Fusarium Wilt (Fon: 1 caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Nieveum) – Wilting and yellowing of watermelon plants can be symptoms of Fusarium Wilt, another key disease Syngenta’s protection package makes available in specific varieties.
Powdery Mildew (Px: caused by Podosphaera xanthii (ex Sphaerotheca fuliginea) – Powdery Mildew initially appears as yellow areas on the oldest leaves, with white mildew on the underside. Syngenta Vegetable Seeds offers multiple varieties that protect against premature defoliation, enhancing fruit productivity.
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