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Farmers have started to experience significant global production losses in watermelon, as in many crops, because of the increase in global warming. A research using striped watermelon, ungrafted Crimson Tide grafted on Nun9075 and Paskal hybrid cultivars with dark green ground color, ungrafted and grafted on Gürdal, was conducted in 2018 and 2019 to research sunburn in watermelon in the open field. It was determined as the harvest time when the atria and leeches were dry. At harvest time, samples were taken and stored. Following these dates, one-half of the experiment received irrigation, while the other half was rainfed and continued for an additional month. Harvests were made in each plot a month later, and the sunburn rates in each plot were assessed using the 1-5 scale we developed. The Paskal variety, whose bark ground color was black in both years, had the sunburn start earlier, and after one month, there were almost no marketable fruits on the plants left in both irrigated and rainfed conditions. The burn scale rates was high in ungrafted cultivars, but increased in rainfed cultivars. There was not much difference between the grafted and ungrafted varieties in terms of Soluble Solids Content (SSC) and Titratable Acidity (TA) (%). It is recommended to use grafted seedlings and to continue irrigation in places where sunburn may occur. However, creating favorable conditions for strong vine growth that shades the watermelon fruit is the best way to avoid sunburn damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing tool for trait improvement in various crops; however, enhancing mutation efficiency using CRISPR/Cas9 in watermelon and melon remains challenging. We designed four CRISPR systems with different sgRNA expression cassettes to target the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene in melon. The constructed vectors were delivered to host plants using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of the edited melon seedlings revealed that the CRISPR systems with tRNA and Csy4 spacers driven by the Pol II-type promoter significantly improved mutation efficiency, reaching 25.20% and 42.82%, respectively. Notably, 78.95% of the mutations generated by the Csy4 system involved large-fragment deletions (LDs) between the two target sites. In watermelon, the Csy4 system achieved a PDS editing efficiency of 41.48%, with 71.43% of the edited seedlings showing LD between the two target sites. Sequencing analysis indicated that the edited melon seedlings exhibited heterozygous, three-allele mutation and chimeric events; the edited watermelon seedlings included 2/14 homozygous mutations. Compared to the commonly used Pol III promoter, using the Pol II promoter to drive sgRNA expression cassettes containing Csy4 showed the best improvement in CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency in melon; this system was also effective in watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination is a serious issue throughout the world and is substantial risk factor in most of the countries including India. Chronic arsenic exposure from drinking water to humans is causing major public health related issues. The present study aims to investigate the ameliorative effect of Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) seeds against arsenic induced reproductive function and testicular toxicity in Charles Foster rats. In the present study, twenty-four male Charles Foster rats (120±5gm). The study group includes group - I (n=6) as control, and group - II (n=18) treated with sodium arsenite (8 mg per Kg body weight per day) for 90 days. The group - II was furthermore divided into three sub-groups, Group - II-a, Group - II-b and Group - II-c. The group - II-a were sacrificed to see the effect of arsenic toxicity effect after arsenic exposure. Group - II-b was left with normal food and water for next 60 days to observe auto recovery. The group - II-c rats were administered with Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) hydroxyl ethanolic seeds extract at the dose of 400 mg per Kg body weight per day for 60 days for 90 days upon pre-treated sodium arsenite treated group (8 mg per kg body weight). After completion of the experiment, all the treated group of animals were sacrificed for biochemical, hormonal assay, histopathological, testicular and reproductive functions study. In the arsenic treated rats' group, there was significant (p<0.001) changes in serum levels of SGPT, SGOT, urea, uric acid and creatinine as well as in haematological parameters. There was decrease in the sperm counts and sperm motility accompanied by an increased incidence of sperm abnormalities and hormonal imbalance denotes infertility condition. In contrast, after the administration with C.lanatus (Watermelon) seeds hydroxy-ethanolic extract upon arsenic treated rats group, there was significant (p<0.001) improvement observed in the reproductive, hepatic and renal parameters. In the arsenic intoxicant rats' group, after administration with C. lanatus (Watermelon) seeds hydroxyl ethanolic extract, there was significant (p<001) reduction in the arsenic concentration in blood, liver, and kidney tissues as well as serum lipid peroxidation. The histopathological study also showed the C. lanatus (Watermelon) seeds hydroxy ethanolic extract significantly restored the cellular integrity of testicular cells leading to normal functioning of it against arsenic induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The research paper investigates the phytochemicals of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) as potential novel inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which is essential for treating erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. A total of 150 compounds were screened against five PDE5 enzyme structures using molecular docking techniques with Chimera and AutoDock Vina. Interactions were visualized with Chimera and PyMOL, while SwissADME was employed to predict pharmacokinetic properties, and ProTox-II was utilized to assess toxicity. Lunamarine has emerged as a promising candidate for PDE5 inhibition, demonstrating superior pharmacokinetics and favorable toxicity profiles. It exhibited high gastrointestinal absorption and permeability across the blood–brain barrier, potentially outperforming existing inhibitors. The binding energies ranged from − 9.421 to − 9.55 kcal/mol across various PDE5 targets, indicating comparable efficacy. Structural analyses revealed significant hydrophobic interactions with PHE820 and LEU725, as well as hydrogen bonding with TYR612, which are crucial for the formation of the binding pocket. Lunamarine’s effect on catalytic zinc coordination was evidenced by receptor-ligand distances of 3.6 to 3.7 Å. These findings suggest that lunamarine may provide advantages over current therapies, particularly regarding its penetration of the central nervous system. The study recommends further in vitro and in vivo validation of lunamarine's efficacy and safety, as well as an exploration of its potential in other conditions related to PDE5. This research could pave the way for the development of watermelon-derived nutraceuticals for disorders associated with PDE5.

[Objective] This study aims to investigate the mitigation effect and physiological mechanism of salicylic acid (SA) on high temperature stress injury of watermelon seedlings, and to provide a theoretical basis for the application of SA in watermelon cultivation. [Methods] Potted ‘K53’ watermelon seedlings in greenhouse were used as experimental materials. After spraying different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mmol/L) of SA on the leaves, the seedlings were stressed at 42 ℃ for 36 h. The growth characteristics, anatomical structure, physiological and biochemical indexes of watermelon seedlings were observed, and the mitigation effects of each treatment were comprehensively evaluated by membership function method. [Results] After high temperature stress, the leaves of watermelon seedlings were wilted seriously, the growth of root length was inhibited, the leaves became thinner, and the mesophyll cell structure was damaged. After SA application, the leaves became thicker, photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthetic gas exchange parameters, antioxidant enzyme (POD, SOD, CAT) activity and osmotic adjustment substances (proline, soluble sugar, soluble protein) content were increased significantly, while MDA content and relative conductivity were decreased significantly. Compared with the high temperature stress group, the MDA content and relative conductivity of leaves under 1.0 mmol/L SA treatment were reduced by 33.70% and 58.58%, while the contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, net photosynthetic rate, and the activities of SOD and CAT were increased by 22.71%, 21.63%, 98.34%, 23.98% and 19.71%, respectively. [Conclusion] Pre-spraying SA could alleviate the damage of watermelon seedlings under high temperature stress, with 1.0 mmol/L SA had the best effect.

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Cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover) are important pests of cucurbit crops. Plant defenses at different cell layers, including the leaf surface, mesophyll cells, and phloem, are employed to defend aphids. Here, we assessed differences in aphid resistance among six watermelon varieties and elucidated the defense mechanisms underlying aphid-resistant/susceptible watermelon varieties. The population abundance, offspring number per female, and meantime of phloem-feeding (E2 phase) of aphids were the highest on XiNong (XN), followed by JingXin (JX), TianWang (TW), ZaoJia (ZJ), and MeiFuLai (MFL), and these parameters were the lowest on JinMeiDu (JMD). Further analyses showed that there was no correlation between the aphid resistance of six watermelon varieties and defenses at the leaf surface. For defenses at mesophyll cells, aphid infestation increased salicylic acid (SA) content at 48 h post-infestation (hpi) and ROS accumulation at 6 and 12 hpi in six watermelon varieties. For phloem defenses, aphid infestation increased callose content in JMD plants but decreased callose content in JX, TW, ZJ, MFL, and XN plants at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hpi. Moreover, callose deposition suppressed by 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DDG) neutralized the resistance of JMD plants and exacerbated the susceptibility of XN plants to aphids, which exhibited a higher population abundance and E2 phase time. Collectively, phloem defenses regulated by aphid-induced callose deposition were responsible for differences in aphid resistance among the watermelon varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period 2021-2022, three watermelon genotypes (Citrulluslanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) were tested in the experimental field at the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, under conventional and organic production systems. The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative study of watermelon genotypes under different growing systems, which will serve as criteria for selecting gene sources for biological breeding. The experiment included three morphologically different varieties of watermelons: Marmorna 17, Bojura and Watermelon yellow. The watermelon varieties are grown using early forced field production technology, with a planting scheme of 250/60 cm. Three variants were tested in the comparative study: conventional production (control); fertilization with vermicompost and plant protection with plant potions; fertilization with vermicompost and plant protection with commercial bioproducts. Watermelon varieties achieve relatively similar yields in the three growing systems. Yield, productivity elements and dry matter content are influenced to a greater extent by the characteristics of the variety and to a lesser extent by the cultivation system, which defines them as stable. The quality and quantity of seeds from the three watermelon genotypes is influenced by the characteristics of the variety and the cultivation system. These indicators are more variable and can be introduced as additional evaluation criteria. The studied watermelon varieties are suitable as gene sources for organic breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L. Thunb. Matsum. and Nakai) is a vegetable species with high water content that is rich in lycopene and refreshing; therefore, breeding studies are carried out intensively to develop new varieties. The breeding period in these plants can be shortened with the use of the haploidization technique, and determining the ploidy levels of plants in haploidization studies is very important. In this study, it was examined whether morphological and cytological analyses would be sufficient for ploidy determination of haploid plants obtained by ovary culture in watermelon. With this aim, the stomatal, morphological and cytological characteristics were determined, taken from 15 haploid and 19 double haploid plants. The ploidy level of the plants was detected by flow cytometry before these analyses. In this study, "Principal Component Analysis" was performed based on average values to analyze the structure of the relationship between the parameters examined. It is thought that stomatal features can be used as morphological markers in determining the ploidy levels of plants. The differences obtained from the study results may help to develop effective strategies in determining the ploidy levels of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research studied the nutritional and functional properties and antioxidant profile of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus seeds. Results showed that the protein, fat, and fiber content of C. melo seed powder were significantly (p

Cucurbitaceae, the gourd family of flowering plants, is a very large and diverse family, the order Cucurbitales, contains 95 genera and 950–980 species of food and ornamental plants, and wild and weedy species mostly with high genetic diversity. This review is focused on the most important cucurbit crops (Cucumis sativus, Cucumis melo, Cucurbita spp., Citrullus lanatus, Momordica charantia, Lagenaria siceraria, and Luffa acutangula) and some their wild relatives as hosts of cucurbit powdery mildews (CPM). Powdery mildews (PM) (Ascomycota, Erysiphales) are one of the most frequently encountered and easily visible groups of plant pathogenic fungi with > 900 species. They are obligate biotrophs, they colonize above-ground plant tissues, mostly leaves, though they may also colonize stems, petioles, flowers and fruits, and they are usually debilitators, not killers. These parasitic fungi have been problematic on cucurbits for a long time world-wide, causing serious economic losses in yield and quality. All economically important cucurbit crops host CPM. Seven PM species with different taxonomic positions, host ranges, geographic distributions and ecological requirements are known on cucurbits. CPM species taxonomy and denomination rapidly changed during last few decades through detailed analyses and clarifications. At least three PM species frequently parasitize cucurbits: the endoparasite Leveillula taurica (Lt) with marginal economic importance; and two ectoparasitic species, Golovinomyces orontii (Go), and Podosphaera xanthii (Px), which are economically important world-wide. The two pathogens differ in ecological requirements and distribution, though they may occur together in mixed infections. They are highly variable at the population level for virulence, race identities, and fast adaptation of pathogens. Cucurbit-CPM species interactions are diverse and complicated, and differ between hosts and their respective pathogen genera and species. Here we present a critical overview of obstacles, gaps and recent progress in these matters for six cucurbit genera with respect to resistance resources, genetics of resistance, genetic mapping and development of molecular markers, physiology and mechanisms of resistance, developments in mlo-mediated resistance, patents, and CPM resistance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) for remediation of various emerging contaminants have gained impetus during the last few decades. In the current study, watermelon (citrullus lanatus), a highly consumed seasonal fruit, was used as a feedstock waste biomass for biochar synthesis through valorization of watermelon rinds. The watermelon biochar (WM-BC) was synthesized through slow pyrolysis at 550°C under anoxic conditions. Langmuir model with R2>99, was found to best fit the adsorption isotherm, and the adsorption kinetics was best described by the pseudo-second-order model. Various characterization tools including FTIR, SEM, BET, XRD, and TEM were used to evaluate the surface morphology of the biochar. The removal efficiency increased from 35% (dosage = 0.4 g), to 81% at WM-BC dosage of 2 g. A maximum adsorption capacity of 115.61 mg/g was found. The results from kinetic and isotherm model model suggested that the adsorption was favorable and multilayer adsorption can be considered. The adsorption mechanism was found to be governed by the co-existing factors such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and aromatic interactions. Results suggest that WM-BC has high potential to be employed as an adsorbent for efficient remediation of methylene blue dyes from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovative superabsorbent hydrogels were synthesized from watermelon rind (WR), an abundant agricultural waste. The process involved free radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AAm) with WR particles activated by ammonium persulfate (APS), resulting in (AA-co-AAm)/WR hydrogels with high equilibrium swelling capacities of 749 ± 32 g/g. Notably, after eight cycles, the WR hydrogel maintained 94.88 % of its initial swelling capacity, significantly outperforming the (AA-co-AAm) hydrogel without WR (13.80 % retention). This durability, combined with excellent water retention across various soil textures and high adsorption capacity for methylene blue (MB), underscores the WR hydrogel as a superior soil moisture conservation agent. This study marks a significant advance in recycling organic waste and enhancing water management in agricultural soils, demonstrating the potential for sustainable hydrogel development.

Indiana cultivates approximately 7000 acres of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) every year, with the majority of production concentrated in southern Indiana, thus making this region a key area for watermelon production in the United States. Diverse irrigation and fertilization practices are used for watermelon production in the region, yet their effects on production outcomes remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigated the impact of existing practices on watermelon yield to optimize irrigation and fertilization practices for improved production. The experiment was conducted at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN, USA, during the 2022 and 2023 watermelon seasons. The following four treatments were applied: high irrigation, low irrigation, no irrigation, and fertigation. The fertigation treatment received the same water application as the high irrigation treatment, but with frequent fertilizer application with irrigation; however, fertilizers were applied before planting in the high, low, and no irrigation treatments. Although soil moisture levels at the different depths varied notably among treatments, no significant differences in yield by weight were observed. The minimal impact of irrigation on watermelon yield suggested that sufficient water is stored in the soil to prevent yield-reducing stress during dry periods. However, the high irrigation and fertilization treatments produced more fruit than the low irrigation and no irrigation treatments. The dry periods during both years coincided with the watermelon fruit-setting stages, potentially contributing to the lower fruit set in the low irrigation and no irrigation treatments. Fertigation showed a higher early yield in 2022 than that of the other treatments. An analysis of soil and tissue nitrogen levels indicated that solely applying nitrogen before planting could lead to excessive soil nitrogen during vegetative growth. This excess nitrogen might delay flowering and harvest. This project offers insights into enhancing irrigation and fertilization practices for watermelon production in southern Indiana, provides recommendations, and discusses future research directions.

Androgen receptor (AR) is known to play a crucial role in the development and progression of prostate cancer, and compounds that inhibit its activity are regarded as promising for the development of drugs to treat the disease. This study aimed to investigate the AR-inhibiting potential of Citrullus lanatus fruit compounds for prostate cancer drug development. Following HPLC identification, the binding energies, molecular interactions, and pharmacological potentials of the compounds against AR were elucidated using in silico techniques such as, molecular docking, induced-fit docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and ADMET prediction. Some of the compounds found to be present in Citrullus lanatus fruit included flavonoids such as proanthocyanin, naringin, flavan 3 ol, flavonones, naringenin, epicatechin, citrulline, and catechin. Naringenin exhibited the highest docking score in the molecular docking analysis, followed by resveratrol, ribalinidine, and epicatechin. These compounds share a common AR binding site with the standard ligand, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Some of the compounds showed favorable ADMET profiles, while others showed at least one toxicity potential. The induced-fit docking of naringenin with AR yielded a higher docking score than the initial score obtained from standard docking while preserving stable molecular contacts with the interacting amino acids. Consistent hydrogen bond interactions of naringenin with PHE 764, ASN 705, and THR 877 of AR, including a persistent pi-pi stacking contact with PHE 764, were observed from the molecular dynamic simulation. The Citrullus lanatus compounds, particularly naringenin, may therefore be considered for further research towards the development of drugs for prostate cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedless watermelons are triploid hybrids (3n) that have been growing in popularity since the 1990s. However, the high production cost and low germination rate of the hybrid seeds pose a major problem in their production. The synseed technology could make a promising alternative for seedless watermelon propagation; however, this alternative has not yet been explored. This study aimed at producing synseeds of seedless watermelon 'Quality' using shoot tips as the propagules after which their germination and conversion were evaluated under in vitro and ex vitro conditions. In vitro shoot multiplication with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), synseed production from BAP-multiplied shoot tips, synseed sowing in vitro using several substrates and medium supplements, and synseed sowing ex vitro using different antimicrobial agents were investigated. Results indicated that 1.0 mg L−1 BAP resulted in the highest number of shoots per shoot tip explant. Synseeds produced from BAP-multiplied shoot tips achieved faster germination compared to synseeds from non-BAP-derived shoot tips, but there was no difference in terms of conversion and acclimatization survival rates. Agar showed greater conversion and acclimatization survival rates as well as root number, root length, and shoot length than the other substrates especially when indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 1.0 mg L−1 was added to the medium. However, this study demonstrated the possibility of using vermiculite as an alternative substrate to agar. PPM at 0.5% was a better microbial agent than 100.0 mg L−1 mancozeb for ex vitro synseed sowing as it achieved zero contamination and maintained the growing potential of synseeds with 65% germination, 85% survival, and 25% rooting rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral branching is an important agronomic trait in horticulture plants. The aim of this project was to reveal the genetic mechanism, map the gene localization, and predict candidate genes of watermelon lateral branching. An F2 segregating population was derived from a cross between the multibranched maternal inbred line M6 and the branchless paternal inbred line N7. Two DNA pools were constructed using 20 multibranched plants and 20 branchless plants from the F2 population. Whole-genome resequencing was performed for the DNA pools (25×) and the parents (30×) to identify the genomic region associated with lateral branching. Candidate genes were predicted based on the gene annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses; then, quantitative validation of these genes was performed. The results showed that the clean reads of four samples yielded 64,295,076 to 81,658,958 bp, with sufficient genome coverage and high quality. Based on single-nucleotide polymorphism and insertions/deletions association analyses, the candidate genes were mapped to a 2.01-Mb region on chromosome 4 (22,958,925–24,971,894 bp) containing 182 annotated genes. During the KEGG and GO enrichment analyses, these genes were annotated to 10 cellular components, 10 molecular functions, and 12 biological processes. Eight candidate genes responsible for the branchless phenotype in watermelon were identified: Cla97C04G076340, Cla97C04G075820, Cla97C04G076060, Cla97C04G076250, Cla97C04G076280, Cla97C04G076380, Cla97C04G076830, and Cla97C04G075950. These genes were involved in amino acid biosynthesis and catabolism, TCP transcription factor activity, and regulation of flower development. This study offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms governing the branchless phenotype in watermelon. These candidate genes serve as potential targets for gene cloning and marker-assisted selection of watermelon cultivars without lateral branches.

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing tool for trait improvement in various crops; however, enhancing mutation efficiency using CRISPR/Cas9 in watermelon and melon remains challenging. We designed four CRISPR systems with different sgRNA expression cassettes to target the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene in melon. The constructed vectors were delivered to host plants using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of the edited melon seedlings revealed that the CRISPR systems with tRNA and Csy4 spacers driven by the Pol II-type promoter significantly improved mutation efficiency, reaching 25.20% and 42.82%, respectively. Notably, 78.95% of the mutations generated by the Csy4 system involved large-fragment deletions (LDs) between the two target sites. In watermelon, the Csy4 system achieved a PDS editing efficiency of 41.48%, with 71.43% of the edited seedlings showing LD between the two target sites. Sequencing analysis indicated that the edited melon seedlings exhibited heterozygous, three-allele mutation and chimeric events; the edited watermelon seedlings included 2/14 homozygous mutations. Compared to the commonly used Pol III promoter, using the Pol II promoter to drive sgRNA expression cassettes containing Csy4 showed the best improvement in CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency in melon; this system was also effective in watermelon.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L. Thunb. Matsum. and Nakai) is a vegetable species with high water content that is rich in lycopene and refreshing; therefore, breeding studies are carried out intensively to develop new varieties. The breeding period in these plants can be shortened with the use of the haploidization technique, and determining the ploidy levels of plants in haploidization studies is very important. In this study, it was examined whether morphological and cytological analyses would be sufficient for ploidy determination of haploid plants obtained by ovary culture in watermelon. With this aim, the stomatal, morphological and cytological characteristics were determined, taken from 15 haploid and 19 double haploid plants. The ploidy level of the plants was detected by flow cytometry before these analyses. In this study, “Principal Component Analysis” was performed based on average values to analyze the structure of the relationship between the parameters examined. It is thought that stomatal features can be used as morphological markers in determining the ploidy levels of plants. The differences obtained from the study results may help to develop effective strategies in determining the ploidy levels of plants.

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon) is a serious disease in watermelon cultivation. Most of commercialized watermelon cultivars to Fusarium wilt are susceptible in Korea. Fon isolates were divided into four races (races 0, 1, 2, and 3), based on pathogenicity in four watermelon differentials including ‘Sugar baby’, ‘Charleston gray’, ‘Calhoun gray’ and ‘PI-296341-FR’. We obtained 7 isolates of Fon and tested to determine race of the fungal strains. Fon KACC 40902 and Fon HA were race 0 and Fon NW1, Fon NW2, Fon CW and Fon KACC 40901 were race 1. And Fon KACC 40905 was race 2, but race 3 isolate of Fon was not founded. We also tested virulence of seven Fon isolates on three-susceptible cultivars of watermelon. The isolates showed different virulence on the cultivars. In addition, to study the resistance characteristics of watermelon to Fon, we selected three moderately or highly resistant cultivars of watermelon and occurrence of Fusarium wilt in seedlings of the cultivars by seven Fon isolates was investigated. Among them, ‘Calhoun gray’ is highly resistant to six Fon isolates except Fon KACC 40905. On the other two cultivars, disease severity of Fusarium wilt caused by each isolate was positively correlated with the virulence of the Fon isolates. The results suggest that resistance of the watermelon cultivars to Fon isolates is likely affected by the virulence of the pathogen.

This publication is intended to provide information on the disease bacterial leaf spot of cucurbits, its epidemiology, and management to cucurbit growers in the southeastern United States. Written by Kiersten Fullem, Mathews L. Paret, and Jeffrey B. Jones, and published by the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department, March 2024.

ABSTRACT Watermelon has great importance due to its nutritional properties. The aim of this work was to study accessions classified as resistant to fusariosis. Twelve accessions and two cultivars, Sugar Baby and Charleston Gray (controls), were characterized for watermelon fruit quality descriptors. The experiment was conducted in Petrolina-PE, over two production cycles in a randomized complete block design, with three repetitions and five plants per plot. Two fruits per plot were sampled for characterization. Ten quantitative and seven qualitative descriptors were evaluated. For the qualitative traits, dissimilarity measures were determined by a matrix of Euclidean distance. At the second harvest, most accessions had higher organic acid and vitamin C content in the pulp and higher soluble solids (°Brix) content. The accessions were divided into four groups according to the Tocher method. There is variability among the evaluated accessions, and the accessions BGH-Univasf 40, BGH-Univasf 169, and BGH-Univasf 177 are potential sources for use in watermelon breeding programs. Accessions BGH-UNIVASF 76, BGH-UNIVASF 128, and BGH-UNIVASF 185 (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) performed well in terms of total production, fruit mass, and vitamin C content.

ABSTRACT The use of substances that can mitigate the harmful effects of salt stress is a promising alternative for the use of saline water, especially in semi-arid regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in mitigating salt stress in the mini watermelon grown in a hydroponic system. The study was carried out in a greenhouse, in an area belonging to the Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal, Paraíba. The experimental design was completely randomised using a split-plot factorial scheme with four levels of electrical conductivity for the nutrient solution-ECns (2.1, 3.1, 4.1, and 5.1 dS m-1) considered the plots, and four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide-H2O2 (0, 20, 40, and 60 μM) the subplots, with five replications. The foliar application of hydrogen peroxide in concentrations of between 17 and 20 µM mitigated the effects of salt stress on stomatal conductance, the rate of CO2 assimilation, carboxylation efficiency, and carotenoid content in the mini watermelon up to an ECns of 5.1 dS m-1. Foliar application of hydrogen peroxide in concentrations greater than 20 µM intensified the effects of salt stress on gas exchange and the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in the mini watermelon. Furthermore, there was an increase in electrolyte leakage in the leaf blade.

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate leaf temperature, and watermelon yield components under wetted area percentages (PW) in irrigation located in the Agreste region of Northeastern Brazil. Two experiments were carried out in 2018 and 2019. The adopted statistical design was randomized blocks, with six replications and four treatments, in 2018: P1 = 13%, P2 = 14%, P3 = 19%, and P4 = 22%, in 2019: P5 = 12%, P6 = 15%, P7 = 16%, and P8 = 21% of PW. The meteorological variables analyzed were: air temperature (Ta) and rain. The experimental evaluations consisted of measuring the temperature of the plant’s vegetative canopy, tensiometry, mass, and BRIX. Air temperature was not a limiting factor for watermelon growth and development. The average was 195.88 mm, and the average leaf temperature of watermelon is 29.5 °C, a value lower than Ta. There was no statistically significant difference for fruit mass and BRIX, where the overall mean was 10.82 and 10.46 kg, respectively. Therefore, it is feasible to irrigate watermelon with wetted area percentages ranging from 12 to 22%, in localized irrigation systems, without generating physiological damage and reducing agricultural productivity and fruit quality.

The expansion of the area with organic agriculture is due to the market trend towards the consumption of healthier foods. However, with the increase in the cost of fertilizers imported by the country, the adjustment of doses and management practices with alternative sources for plant nutrition, such as biofertilizer, can be an alternative for the sustainability of properties. The experiment was conducted in the experimental field of Bebedouro (CEB) of EMBRAPA Semi-Arid Region in Petrolina-PE, Brazil, from September to December 2019, to evaluate the effect of biofertilizer doses on the production aspects of three watermelon varieties in the semiarid region. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 6 x 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to six doses of biofertilizer (0; 80; 160; 240; 320 and 400 mL plant-1) and three varieties of watermelon (Explorer, Red Heaven, and Majestic), with four replicates. Yield, number of fruits per plant, average fruit mass, fruit diameter, fruit length, length: diameter ratio, pulp firmness, rind thickness, pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio were analyzed. The number of fruits per plant was not altered by biofertilizer doses. However, the variables yield and average fruit mass were altered by the interaction between varieties and biofertilizer doses. With yield of 40.22 t ha-1 obtained at the dose 201.33 mL plant-1, the Explorer variety proved to be more efficient with the use of biofertilizer in organic system. Positive responses to biofertilizer application in postharvest quality attributes were obtained in Explorer and Red Heaven varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】Protein phosphatase (PP2C) is a type of protein phosphatase that exists in both animals and plants, In order to explore its important role in the ripening process of watermelon fruits.【Method】In this study, a PP2C gene ClPP2C3 was cloned in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and its bioinformatics, expression pattern and subcellular localization analysis were conducted.【Result】The cDNA sequence length of ClPP2C3 in watermelon was 1 317 bp and it encoded 438 amino acids. The molecular weight of ClPP2C3 protein was 47.81 kD and its isoelectric point was 5.12. The ClPP2C3 protein contained one PP2C conserved domain and it had high homology with tomato SlPP2C3 in tomato and FaABI1 in strawberry that negatively regulated fruit ripening. ClPP2C3 in the watermelon was located in the nucleus. The gene quantitative expression analysis showed that the expression of ClPP2C3 in high-sugar-containing watermelons was significantly higher than that in low-sugar-containing watermelons. The 2 kb promoter (up 2 kb to ATG) activity of cultivated watermelon was significantly higher than that in ancestral watermelons, while there was no significant difference in the 1 kb promoter (up 1 kb to ATG) activity detected between these two species.【Conclusion】The SNPs in 1-2 kb promoter region might result in the difference of promoter activity in different varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of substances that can mitigate the harmful effects of salt stress is a promising alternative for the use of saline water, especially in semi-arid regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in mitigating salt stress in the mini watermelon grown in a hydroponic system. The study was carried out in a greenhouse, in an area belonging to the Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal, Paraíba. The experimental design was completely randomised using a split-plot factorial scheme wit h four levels of electrical conductivity for the nutrient solution--ECns (2.1, 3.1, 4.1, and 5.1 dS m-1) considered the plots, and four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide--H2O2 (0, 20, 40, and 60 μM) the subplots, with five replications. The foliar application of hydrogen peroxide in concentrations of between 17 and 20 µM mitigated the effects of salt stress on stomatal conductance, the rate of CO2 assimilation, carboxylation efficiency, and carotenoid content in the mini watermelon up to an ECns of 5.1 dS m-1. Foliar application of hydrogen peroxide in concentrations greater than 20 µM intensified the effects of salt stress on gas exchange and the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in the mini watermelon. Furthermore, there was an increase in electrolyte leakage in the leaf blade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus, recognized by elevated glucose level in the body fluids is commonly caused by less insulin production or its action. To overcome the complications of diabetes, chemical drugs are never preferred over herbal medicines. Present study was designed to find out the anti-diabetic and health-promoting effects of ethanolic leaf extracts of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus in induced-diabetic albino rats. Thirty male albino rats were bought from the animal house of the university and divided randomly into five feeding groups (n=6). Diabetes was induced in rats of groups A, B, C & D by a single dose of intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/Kg), whereas, the rats of group E were considered as control. The rats of groups A, B & C were fed basal diet supplemented with plant extracts (150mg/Kg body weight), whereas; only basal diet was offered to rats of groups D & E. After 28 days of the experiment, blood was collected for biochemical analysis. Results revealed that body weight, glucose, AST, ALB, GGT, HDL, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, and creatinine level differed significantly among treatment groups. It was therefore concluded that ethanolic leaf extracts of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus can be used separately or in combination for the management of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Levulinic acid (LA) is considered a versatile chemical building block and has emerged as one of the leading platforms for products derived from biomass. It is regarded as important from an economic perspective. The main route of synthesis to obtain LA is from the degradation of cellulose by acid catalysis, with lignocellulosic biomass being a promising and sustainable way to obtain it. In this study, for the first time, the use of watermelon residues was proposed for the synthesis of levulinic acid, adding value to a residual biomass that has still been little explored for this purpose. Watermelon residues were subjected to acid hydrolysis using H2SO4 or HCl. Two reactors were analyzed for this purpose – autoclave and microwave assisted. The experiments were optimized through a central composite design, where temperature, biomass load, and acid concentration in the microwave were evaluated as variables. In the autoclave, the variables investigated were catalyst concentration and biomass loading. The highest yields, 14.8% and 17% by weight, were obtained with solid fraction (SF) in micro wave (MW). In the best condition obtained in the central composite design, the liquid fraction (LF) and SF were analyzed. It was observed that a clean product, containing only levulinic acid and formic acid, was in the liquid fraction. The MW was more efficient and is a promising alternative for reactions requiring energy. This study contributes to an energy‐saving strategy, using waste and low‐cost catalysts, sustainably contributing to a circular carbon economy based on agricultural waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study is to investigate the phytoremediation potential of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seedlings planted on lead contaminated soil in Katsina, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods of physicochemical properties of the soil before and after the experiment and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) measurements for Pb concentrations. The result revealed that the plant had accumulated a significant concentration of Lead in the leaves (18.112mg/kg), shoot (14.221mg/kg) and roots (9.100mg/kg) and there was no significant difference in the concentrations of Lead used in the study at p>0.05. The phytoextraction ability of C. lanatus was assessed in %remediation factor (RF), Bioconcentration factor (BCF) and elemental translocation factor (TF). The amount of Lead in the shoots and roots after 6weeks showed that more concentration of Lead was translocated from the roots to the leaves. The results of this investigation suggests that Citrullus lanatus could be used for phytoextraction of Lead from contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, there has been an increase in stringent regulations governing the use of chemical soil fumigants for controlling diseases, pests, and weeds. Grafting has been identified as an effective alternative to soil fumigation for managing soilborne diseases and pests in intensive vegetable cropping systems. The majority of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) grafting research confirms that selected rootstocks play a role in improving plant resistance or tolerance to common soilborne diseases. Currently, there is a lack of evidence-based literature on the effects of grafting on watermelon fruit quality attributes and yield components. Previous reviews report wide variation in the impact of grafting on watermelon production, depending on rootstock–scion combinations and environmental conditions. This review employed evidence-based synthesis methods to comprehensively and methodically summarize research results of the impact of grafting on watermelon, with a focus on fruit quality and yield. In this systematic review, 548 citations (studies published during 2011–21) were screened against strict inclusion criteria, and data were extracted from 47 studies. Meta-analysis of percent differences between the grafted watermelon treatment and the nongrafted or self-grafted watermelon control was performed using extracted data of yield components and a wide range of fruit quality attributes. Meta-analysis of research data with variance measures was also conducted based on a rather limited number of studies. Our findings showed higher levels of total yield, average fruit weight, fruit length and width, fruit lycopene and soluble solids content, rind thickness, flesh firmness, lightness, chroma, and flesh nitrogen (N) content in grafted watermelon treatments compared with the nongrafted or self-grafted control. In particular, total yield, average fruit weight, and flesh firmness exhibited significant increases of a more than 10% difference. In contrast, grafted plants demonstrated decreases in fruit pH, hue angle, and flesh calcium content, although the reduction was not greater than 10% relative to the control. Meta-analysis of research data with variance measures further confirmed significantly greater total yield and flesh N content in grafted watermelon treatments compared with the nongrafted or self-grafted control. In addition, the meta-analysis results confirmed greater benefits of watermelon grafting in the presence of known soilborne disease pressure in contrast to the production scenarios without soilborne disease problems.

Se realizó el experimento en Itacurubí de la Cordillera, Paraguay, desde julio de 2021a enero de 2022, donde se evaluó el efecto de la aplicación foliar de un extracto de estevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) y de un bioestimulante comercial formulado con agua y miel conteniendo 4,05x108UFC.mL-1deLactobacillussp.yde Saccharomycessp., y 3,1x109UFC.mL-1de Streptomyces scabies, comparados con un testigo, sobre el rendimiento de sandía variedad Crimson Sweet. Se utilizó el diseño experimental de bloques completamente al azar con cuatro repeticiones. La primera aplicación de los tratamientos se realizó en el semillero, cuando la plántula contenía 8 hojas definitivas, luego del trasplante, se realizó una aplicación cada 8 días hasta completar 10 aplicaciones en total. Se evaluó el peso promedio de los frutos, el número de frutos por planta y el rendimiento. Los datos fueron sometidosa un análisis de varianza (ANAVA), cuando hubo diferencias significativas entre las medias de los tratamientos, se aplicó la prueba de comparación de medias de Tukey al 5% de probabilidad de error. Con el extracto de estevia se obtuvo 1,9 frutos por planta, con peso promedio de 10 kg y rendimiento de 9119 kg.ha-1, mientras que con el bioestimulante comercial se obtuvo 1,6 frutos por planta, con peso promedio de 8,3 kg y rendimiento de 7325 kg.ha-1. Con el testigo se obtuvo 0,9 frutos por planta con 4,6 kg y un rendimiento de 4044 kg.ha-1. El extracto de estevia ofrece una mayor productividad en el cultivo de sandía. Se sugiere la realización de más estudios para evaluar diferentes dosis de los extractos y considerar variables relacionadas a la fitosanidad y a la calidad postcosecha

Latar Belakang: Dislipidemia merupakan keadaan dimana kadar biokimia lipid didalam tubuh berada dalam rentang abnormal. Dislipidemia dapat berpotensi untuk menimbulkan penyakit seperti aterosklerosis dan penyakit jantung koroner. Daging buah kelapa serta daging putih buah semangka diketahui memiliki senyawa antioksidan yang dapat mencegah dislipidemia. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membuktikan potensi pemberian kombinasi daging buah kelapa dan daging buah semangka dapat menginhibisi parameter metabolik pada kondisi dislipidemia. Metode: Penelitian ini adalah penelitian eksperimental berdesain post-test only with control group design yang melibatkan 5 kelompok dengan 25 ekor tikus Wistar perlakuan dengan induksi dislipidemia dengan menggunakan kuning telur puyuh. Perlakuan dilanjutkan dengan intervensi jus daging kelapa atau jus daging putih semangka atau kombinasi keduanya; dan 1 kelompok kontrol dengan induksi dislipidemia dengan kuning telur puyuh yang dilanjutkan dengan intervensi akuades. Durasi intervensi dilakukan selama 28 hari dengan pengambilan darah dilakukan di hari ke-29. Uji kadar profil lipid dilakukan dengan menggunakan plasma darah. Analisis data diawali dengan uji shapiro-wilk yang dilanjutkan dengan uji one-way ANOVA. Hasil: Tidak ada perbedaan yang signifikan pada hasil LDL, trigliserida, dan kolesterol total antar kelompok (p>0,05) dan perbedaan HDL yang signifikan antar kelompok (p

Variations in soil nutrients can influence the nutritional attributes of crops. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying sowing depths (2-8 cm) at 2 cm intervals on the nutritional contents of Luffa cylindrica (LC), Citrullus lanatus (CL) and Citrullus colocynthis (CC) fruits. Proximate, mineral and vitamin contents of seeds and pulps of fruits of the plants were determined. Protein (31.10±0.17 %), crude fibre (4.48±0.02 %), fat (47.13±0.27 %), ash (2.50±0.01 %) and carbohydrate (99.66±0.03 %) were higher (p

The objectives of this study is to investigate the phytoremediation potential of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seedlings planted on lead contaminated soil in Katsina, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods of physicochemical properties of the soil before and after the experiment and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) measurements for Pb concentrations. The result revealed that the plant had accumulated a significant concentration of Lead in the leaves (18.112mg/kg), shoot (14.221mg/kg) and roots (9.100mg/kg) and there was no significant difference in the concentrations of Lead used in the study at p>0.05. The phytoextraction ability of C. lanatus was assessed in %remediation factor (RF), Bioconcentration factor (BCF) and elemental translocation factor (TF). The amount of Lead in the shoots and roots after 6weeks showed that more concentration of Lead was translocated from the roots to the leaves. The results of this investigation suggests that Citrullus lanatus could be used for phytoextraction of Lead from contaminated soil.

The flesh color of watermelon is an important trait that is determined by carotenoid composition and affects consumers’ fruit desirability. Although a complete dominant control by C locus (Cllcyb) for canary yellow flesh (CY) over red flesh has been reported, red and CY colors frequently appear as a mixed pattern in the same flesh (incomplete canary yellow, ICY) in F1 and inbred lines carrying dominant C alleles. Therefore, we examined the genetic control of the mixed color pattern in ICY using whole-genome resequencing of three ICY (ICY group) and three CY inbred lines (CY group), as well as genetic linkage mapping of an F2 population. The segregation pattern in 135 F2 plants indicated that CY is controlled by a single locus (named C2) dominant over ICY. The whole-genome resequencing of ICY and CY inbred lines revealed an ICY/CYspecific region of approximately 27.60–27.88 Mb on Chr. 2 that was polymorphic between the ICY and CY groups. Our genetic map, using nine cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence markers developed based on the single-nucleotide polymorphisms from the ICY/CY-specific region, confirmed that C2 is located on Chr. 2 and cosegregated with the marker (M7) derived from a non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) gene (ClPPR, Cla97C02G039880). Additionally, 27 watermelon inbred lines of ICY, CY, and red flesh were evaluated using previously reported Cllcyb (C locus)- based markers and our C2 locus-linked ClPPR-based marker (M7). As a result, dominant alleles at the C2 locus were required to produce CY, in addition to dominant alleles at the C locus, while a recessive homozygous genotype at the C locus gave the red flesh irrespective of the genotype at the C2 locus. Using a ClPPR-based cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence developed in this study and Cllcyb-based markers, watermelon cultivars with CY, ICY, and red flesh could be successfully discerned, implying that the combined use of these markers will be efficient for marker-assisted selection of flesh color in watermelon breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response surface methodology (RSM) is one of the statistical approaches that can be used to determine the correlation between extraction parameters and the extraction yield of bioactive compounds. Citrullus lanatus rind contains various therapeutic values but has often been discarded as waste. This study aims to find the optimum extraction conditions for the yield of C. lanatus rind extract, perform phytochemical screening, and determine the antioxidant activities. Extraction was carried out by maceration technique using methanol as a solvent with a solids-to-solvent ratio of 1:30 w/v. The extraction conditions of C. lanatus rind were optimized using RSM and the optimum yield of 37.24 % was predicted at 41.7 °C after 6 h of extraction. The average actual yield obtained at the optimum conditions was 37.01 % ± 0.66, indicating good agreement with the predicted value. The phytochemical screening of methanolic rind extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, phenols, and flavonoids. The total phenolic content of methanolic rind extract ranging from 56.975 to 88.245 mg GAE/g using gallic acid as a standard, and the DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 443.10 µg/mL was obtained. This study demonstrated that this unutilized C. lanatus rind contains bioactive substituents and can act as a promising natural antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the most consumed fruits in the world due to its sweet taste and high-water content. However, its consumption generates by-products namely seeds and rind. Watermelon seeds have been extensively studied and several scientific reports have previously demonstrated their richness in terms of nutrients (fat, protein, fiber, minerals and vitamins) as well as phytochemical molecules with a wide spectrum of biological activities with a positive impact on human health. Thus, the objective of this review is to summarize the latest information on the composition, phytochemicals, biological activities as well as food applications of watermelon seeds. In order to achieve this objective, several articles published, between 2011 and 2022, in renowned database were consulted. This review allowed to demonstrate the nutritional richness of watermelon seeds in minerals (K and P) and in vitamins, in particular tocopherols and vitamin E; their richness in proteins, fibers and especially in lipids making the seeds a considerable source of lipid extraction, as well as their content in bioactive molecules with beneficial effects on human health. The results of this overview highlight the importance of the recovery of watermelon seeds and their uses as a novel ingredient in the formulation of new functional food products. Watermelon seeds can also be an important alternative source for the extraction of bioactive molecules to improve human health and well-being. This encourages the consumption of watermelon seeds and motivates industrial companies in the food and pharmaceutical sectors to integrate this new element in order to develop products with added value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)