Morphological responses, fruit yield, nutritive value andin vitrogas production of forage watermelon genotypes on semi-arid condition

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate morphological, bromatological, in vitro gas production and yield of forage watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) genotypes in semi-arid condition. Seven genotypes were evaluated were BGCIA 228, BGCIA 239, Jojoba, BGCIA 228 x BGCIA239, BGCIA 228 x BGCIA Jojoba, BGCIA 239 x Jojoba and BGCIA 991. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with three replicates. The genotypes presented differences between the characteristics: fruit length (P = 0.01), vertical diameter (P = 0.02), peel thickness (P = 0.01), fruit pulp thickness (P = 0.02), transversal diameter (P = 0.02), in vitro dry matter digestibility (P = 0.003) and the latency time (P < 0.0001). Cumulative in vitro gas production and gas production rate was not affected by genotypes. None of the studied genotypes had production and productivity affected. Among them, Jojoba and BGCIA 991 stood out for having heavier and longer fruits, and a higher peel thickness and pulp length.