Evaluation of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] genotypes for growth, yield and quality

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] genotypes for growth, yield and quality” was carried out at the Department of Vegetable science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani from December 2020 to April 2021 to evaluate the performance of watermelon genotypes for growth, yield and quality. The experimental material consisted of 30 watermelon genotypes, including seventeen hybrids and thirteen varieties. Saraswati, the best performing hybrid and Sugar Baby the best performing variety from the previous research work conducted at Department of Vegetable Science was used as standard check for hybrids and varieties respectively. The experiment was laid out in RBD with two replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference among the seventeen hybrids and the thirteen varieties for all the characters studied. Among hybrids and check, the longest vine length was observed in Swarna (5.99 m) and the shortest in Jannat (2.84 m). The hybrid Prachi produced highest number of branches per vine (16.84). The highest internodal length was recorded in Jannat (12.95 cm). Jannat was the earliest to first male and female flower production (31.40 DAS and 37.70 DAS respectively), which was on par with Mannat, WHS-20011 and Saraswati. The lowest node to first male flower was recorded in Yellow Lion (3.20) and the hybrids WHS-20011 (3.50), Prachi and Yellow Angel (3.60) were on par with it. The hybrid Yellow Angel produced the first female flower at earliest node (8.00), which was on par with Prachi (8.10). The highest fruit equatorial diameter was observed in the hybrid Devyani (17.60 cm), which was on par with Shabari (17.50 cm), Jannat (16.85 cm), Anmol (16.75), Yellow Queen (16.75 cm) and Swarna (16.55 cm). The hybrid WHS-20011 recorded the highest fruit polar diameter (28.75 cm) and rind thickness (2.15 cm). The highest fruit weight was recorded in the hybrid Mannat (3.34 kg). Prachi (62.00 DAS) took lowest number of days to first harvest and Jannat (65.00 DAS) was on par with it. Shabari recorded the highest number of fruits per plant (4.20), yield per plant (11.84 kg), yield per plot (82.90) and marketable yield per plot (79.95 kg). The longest crop duration was observed in Swarna (120.50 days) and the shortest in Prachi (87.00 days). The highest number of seeds per fruit was noticed in the hybrid Yellow Lion (315.00), whereas Shonima and Swarna were seedless. Hybrid Mannat exhibited the highest 100 seed weight of 5.05 g, which was on par with Anmol (4.90 g), Jannat (4.85 g) and Devyani (4.70 g). T.S.S content was highest for the hybrid Saraswati (12.25 0B), which was on par with Shabari (11.50 0B). The highest lycopene content was recorded by Mannat (7.61 mg 100g1 ). The highest ascorbic content was noticed in the hybrid Prachi (6.35 mg 100g-1). Reducing sugar content was highest in the hybrid Shabari (3.23 per cent). The highest non reducing sugar content was recorded in hybrid Jannat (3.75 per cent). Among varieties and check, AHW 19 recorded the highest vine length of 5.18 m. Best of All (7.50) produced highest number of branches per vine. Arka Shyama was the earliest for male and female flower production (29.90 DAS and 35.80 DAS respectively). The lowest node to first male flower was recorded in Arka Muthu (3.30) and female flower in Asahi Yamato (10.40), which was on par with Thar Manak (10.60). Durgapura Lal had the highest fruit equatorial diameter of 24.05 cm and AHW 65 recorded highest fruit polar diameter (27.80 cm). Check variety Sugar Baby had the highest rind thickness of 2.10 cm, which was on par with Arka Manik (1.95 cm). The highest fruit weight was noticed in Durgapura Meetha (4.76 kg), which was on par with Sugar Baby (4.67 kg). The variety Arka Shyama (59.00 days) was the earliest for first harvest, which was on par with Thar Manak (62.50 days) and Arka Muthu (63.50 days). Arka Shyama recorded the highest number of fruits per plant (3.00), yield per plant (9.82 kg), yield per plot (98.18 kg) and marketable yield per plot (86.84 kg) and the lowest number of seeds (219.50) The highest crop duration was observed in Durgapura Lal (122.00 days). Crimson Sweet recorded the highest 100 seed weight (12.50 g), which was on par with Thar Manak (12.11 g). Arka Shyama recorded the highest T.S.S (12.65 0B) and lycopene contents (6.40 mg 100g-1). The highest reducing sugar (3.23 per cent) and non reducing sugar (3.85 per cent) was observed in Arka Manik. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation (PCV and GCV) were observed for the characters vine length, number of branches per plant, internodal length, node to first male and female flower, node to first fruit, fruits per plant, yield per plant, yield per plot, marketable yield per plot, seeds per fruit and lycopene in both hybrids and varieties. High estimates of heritability coupled with moderate to high genetic advance as per cent of mean were recorded for all the yield components, indicating additive gene action. Yield per plant exhibited significant positive correlation at genotypic and phenotypic levels with fruit equatorial diameter, fruit weight and fruits per plant in hybrids, whereas in varieties, fruit weight and fruits per plant exhibited positive correlation with yield. Path analysis of hybrids revealed that fruits per plant exerted the highest positive direct effect on yield followed by days to first harvest, fruit equatorial diameter, node to first female flower, fruit weight, fruit polar diameter and vine length. In varieties, fruits per plant exhibited highest direct effect on yield followed by days to first harvest, weight of hundred seeds, fruit weight and seeds per fruit. Based on the mean performance and sensory evaluation, the hybrids Shabari, Saraswati and Devyani and the varieties Arka Shyama, Arka Muthu and Sugar Baby were found best performing and suitable for growing under Kerala conditions.