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Which “designated pollenizer” is the most cost effective for seedless watermelon producers?
| Name | Gilbert Miller | | Situation | Seedless or triploid watermelons comprise 80% of the total watermelon market in South Carolina and surrounding states (USDA, 2006). Unlike seeded or diploid watermelons, seedless watermelons have sterile pollen and can not pollenize themselves. Growers must plant a designated
diploid plant within 6 m of the seedless watermelon as a source of
viable pollen. Research has shown that 20 to 33% of the plants in a watermelon field must be diploid for optimal yields of seedless watermelons. Many “designated” pollenizing cultivars have been introduced by seed companies. The cost of these cultivars varies dramatically from $4.50 per 1000 seed up to $180 per 1000 seed. The growers' cost per acre for a designated pollenizer can be as little as $2.50/A up to $90/A. | | Response | Beginning in 2005, research funded by the SCWA, was conducted at the Edisto Research and Education Center (EREC) to determine how well each of the commercially available “designated pollenizers” performed. This research was continued in 2006 at EREC, at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy, Florida and also at the Plant Science
>Research and Education Unit (PSREU) in Citra, Florida. This research, which has been submitted for publication, showed no statistical difference in triploid watermelon yields among “designated pollenizer” cultivars in 2005 and 2006. The $2.50 /A pollenizer performed as well as the $90/A pollenizer.
A handout and Power Point program conveying this information has been developed. This information has been presented at the following meetings and Expo’s:
1.) Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo Dec. 4-6, 2006;
2.) SE Fruit & Vegetable Expo Dec. 12-14, 2006;
3.) SE Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference Jan. 5-7, 2007;
4.) SC Watermelon Association Meeting Jan. 19-21, 2007;
5.) Mar-Del Watermelon Association Meeting Feb. 3-4, 2007. | | Impact | Watermelon growers in South Carolina, surrounding states and the nation have been made aware that the less expensive “designated pollenizers” necessary for seedless watermelon production work as well as the more expensive “designated pollenizers”. Cost savings on a per acre basis can be as much as $85. Many growers have committed to using the less expensive pollenizers during the 2007 watermelon growing season. |
Last update7/3/2007
This website is maintained by Jenny Barden.
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