Melons, Gourds, Luffa, Cucumber Watermelon
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Olericulture – Hort 320 Lesson 20, Cucurbits (abbreviated) Jeremy S. Cowan WSU Spokane County Extension 222 N. Havana St. Spokane, WA 99202 Phone: 509-477-2145 Fax: 509-477-2087 Email: [email protected] "The true southern watermelon is a boon apart and not to be mentioned with commoner things. It is chief of this world’s luxuries, king by the grace of God over all the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he knows what the angels eat." Mark Twain Watermelon fruit Watermelon Taxonomy Dicotyledon Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus and species: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai Related species: melons, gourds, luffa, cucumber Watermelon Origin and Domestication Indigenous to south-central Africa (dry savannah regions) Ancient cultivation in the Mediterranean Taken into China from India Unknown in Europe before 1600 AD Taken to North America by 1630 AD Watermelon Market Evolution Important source of water for foragers in savannah regions Became a staple of subsistence farmers – nutrition, water storage Developed into an item of local trade Now an important cash crop used in worldwide export activity Watermelon Use and importance Nutritionally lean due to high water content Good source of carbohydrates, energy, and calories Moderate source of vitamin A and vitamin C Watermelon Genetics and breeding Diploid Chromosome number 2n=22 Tetraploid forms used to create seedless melons 4n X 2n = 3n (seedless) Hybrids becoming common in the U.S (good for uniformity rather than vigor and yield) Watermelon Climate and soils Warm season, tender crop Cannot withstand frost Susceptible to chilling injury (<45 degrees) Optimum temperatures 70-100 degrees Produces best quality in climates with low humidity Grows in most soils, earlier in light soils Traditional Seedless Yellow flesh Orange flesh Icebox Melon Taxonomy Dicotyledon Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus and species: Cucumis melo L. Related species: watermelon, gourds, luffa, cucumber Melon Domestication Indigenous to Africa Secondary centers of diversity in India, Iran, Russia, China Cultivated in Egypt prior to 2400 BC Name after Cantaluppi, Italy Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuosus – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon - Botany Eight sub-species groups Cantalupensis – cantaloupe, muskmelon Inodorus – winter melon (casaba, honeydew) Flexuous – snake melon, Armenian cucumber Conomon – oriental pickling melon Chito – mango melon Dudaim – pomegranate melon Momordica – Snap melon Agrestis – wild type Melon Production – Harvest and handling Must be harvested fully ripe Harvest indices Muskmelon Full slip Yellow ground color Winter melons Slightly spongy stem end Yellow or gold ground color .