Induction of seedlessness through intergeneric pollen in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during Rabi 2016 at College of Horticulture, Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem (A.P) to study the effect of intergeneric pollen on induction of parthenocarpy in watermelon. Among the intergeneric pollen studied, bottle gourd pollen has induced parthenocarpy, but the fruit flesh is slightly filled with papery seeds. However, empty seed count was highest when mixed pollen of bottle gourd + pointed gourd (60.50) was used and lowest was recorded with ash gourd pollen (37.20). Among the intergeneric pollen used, the maximum fruit diameter (438.53 mm) and yield per plant (4.75 kg) were observed when female flowers of watermelon were pollinated with bottle gourd pollen whereas, less rind thickness (1.12 cm) was observed with bottle gourd + bitter gourd pollen. The qualitative characters like TSS (10.75 0Brix) and total sugars (11.91 %) were highest when flowers were pollinated with bitter gourd pollen.