Genotypic Variability in Staminate Flower and Pollen Grain Production of Diploid Watermelons

Stanghellini, Michael S.; Schultheis, Jonathan R.

doi:10.21273/hortsci.40.3.752

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Factors that could have the most impact on the yield of triploid watermelon production are the quantity and timing of peak production of staminate flowers and vine growth of the pollenizer. Although a cultigen may have higher quantities of staminate flowers per plant compared with other cultigens, the higher number of staminate flowers may not coincide with a high quantity of pollen (Stanghellini and Schultheis, 2005). Freeman et al (2008) found no variability in pollen viability of diploid watermelon pollenizers.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Maximum Potential Vegetative and Floral Production and Fruit Characteristics of Watermelon Pollenizers

Dittmar¹,

Monks²,

Schultheis³

2009

horts

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Triploid (seedless) watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nak.] pollen is nonviable; thus, diploid (pollenizer) watermelon cultigens are required to supply viable pollen for triploid watermelon fruit set. The objective of this research was to characterize maximum potential vegetative growth, staminate and pistillate flower production over time, and measure exterior and interior fruit characteristics of pollenizer cultigens. Sixteen commercially available and numbered line (hereafter collectively referred to as cultigens) pollenizer and two triploid cultigens were evaluated in 2005 and 2006 at Clayton, NC. Vegetative growth was measured using vine and internode length, and staminate and pistillate flower development was counted weekly. Fruit quality and quantity were determined by measuring individual fruit weights, soluble solids, and rind thickness. Based on vegetative growth, pollenizer cultigens were placed into two distinct groups.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Maximum Potential Vegetative and Floral Production and Fruit Characteristics of Watermelon Pollenizers

Dittmar¹,

Monks²,

Schultheis³

2009

horts

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“…Self-pollination has been reported to vary from 23% to 77% over locations in cucumber (Wehner and Jenkins, 1985). A large variability exists in watermelon cultivars for staminate-to-pistillateflower ratio and for pollen production, which might affect the rate of self-pollination (Lesley, 1924;Stanghellini and Schultheis, 2005). However, our results indicated that the mating behavior was similar for 'Allsweet' and 'Mickylee' although they were chosen for their large differences in fruit morphology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…The environment affects pollen flow in cucurbit crops which, in turn, affects the rate of self-or cross-pollination (Gingras et al, 1999;Stanghellini and Schultheis, 2005). Variation in wind velocity, humidity, light intensity, temperature, and other environmental factors over years and locations may influence pollinator behavior and sex expression in watermelon and thus affect the rate of self-pollination (Kalbarczyk, 2009;Robinson and Decker-Walters, 1997).…”

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Implications of Mating Behavior in Watermelon Breeding

Kumar¹,

Dia²,

Wehner³

2013

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Understanding the natural mating behavior (self- or cross-pollination) in watermelon is important to the design of a suitable breeding strategy. The objective of this study was to measure the rate of self- and cross-pollination in watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] using the dominant gene Sp (Spotted leaves and fruit) as a marker. The experiment consisted of two studies and was a split plot in a randomized complete block design with 3 years (2009 to 2011) and four locations (Clinton, Kinston, Oxford, Lewiston, NC). For the intercrossing study, whole plots were the two spacings (1.2 × 0.3 m and 1.2 × 0.6 m) with four replications in 2010. For the inbreeding study, whole plots were two equidistant spacings (3 × 3 m and 6 × 6 m) with four replications in 2009 to 2011. Cultivars Allsweet and Mickylee were subplots within each whole plot. In the inbreeding study, spacing and year had a significant effect on the rate of self-pollination, which was moderate (47% and 54%, respectively) when watermelon plants were trained in a spiral and spaced 3 × 3 m or 6 × 6 m apart. Spacing and cultivar did not have a significant effect on cross-pollination in the intercrossing study. Closely spaced watermelon plants (1.2 × 0.3 m and 1.2 × 0.6 m) had low natural outcrossing rate (31% and 35%, respectively) and was not adequate to intercross families. However, breeders should consider the amount of self-pollination in watermelon to calculate the estimates of component of genetic variances.

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“…Fiacchino and Walters (2003) also reported greater incidence of hollowheart at lower pollenizer-to-triploid ratios. Other studies on 'Crimson Sweet' and 'Fiesta' have reported that there were no significant differences in staminate flower or pollen production between these two cultivars (Stanghellini and Schultheis, 2005 fruit, excessive growth of the reduced number of fruit, or some other reason. Pollenizer seed costs vary greatly so which pollenizer provides the greatest return on the investment needs to be researched.…”

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confidence: 69%

Diploid Watermelon Pollenizer Cultivars Differ with Respect to Triploid Watermelon Yield

Freeman

Miller

Olson

et al. 2007

hortte

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As triploid watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) increase in popularity, production has shifted away from seeded watermelons. To achieve successful fruit set in triploid watermelons, a diploid watermelon cultivar must be planted as a pollen source. Three diploid cultivars in 2005 and seven diploid cultivars in 2006 were evaluated at one and three locations, respectively, to determine their effectiveness as pollenizers. Each cultivar was planted within plots of the triploid watermelons ‘Tri-X 313’ (2005) and ‘Supercrisp’ (2006) with buffers on all sides of the plots to contain pollen flow within individual plots. Performance of pollenizers was based on triploid watermelon yield, soluble solids concentration, and incidence of hollowheart. In 2005, there were no significant differences in total weight, fruit per acre, average weight, or soluble solids concentration among pollenizers. In 2006, significant differences in yield were observed, and plots with ‘Sidekick’ as a pollenizer yielded the highest but were not significantly different from ‘Patron’, ‘SP-1’, ‘Jenny’, or ‘Mickylee’. In 2006, there were no significant differences in fruit per acre, soluble solids concentration, or incidence of hollowheart between pollenizers. The experimental design was successful in isolating pollenizers and there was minimal pollen flow outside of experimental plots as indicated by minimal fruit set in control plots.

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Genotypic Variability in Staminate Flower and Pollen Grain Production of Diploid Watermelons

Cited by 8 publications

References 5 publications

Maximum Potential Vegetative and Floral Production and Fruit Characteristics of Watermelon Pollenizers

Maximum Potential Vegetative and Floral Production and Fruit Characteristics of Watermelon Pollenizers

Implications of Mating Behavior in Watermelon Breeding

Diploid Watermelon Pollenizer Cultivars Differ with Respect to Triploid Watermelon Yield

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