Watermelon - Taxonomy, Nutritional Profile & Production Technology

TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION OF WATERMELON

Kingdom	Plantae
Subkingdom	Viridiplantae (green plants)
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta
Superdivision	Embryophyta (land plants)
Division	Tracheophyta (vascular plants)
Subdivision	Spermatophyta (seed plants)
Class	Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)
Subclass	Dilleniidae
Order	Cucurbitales
Family	Cucurbitaceae (gourd family)
Genus	Citrullus
Species	Citrullus lanatus

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) belongs to Cucurbitaceae family (gourd family). It is native to southern Africa. Watermelon has over 1000 varieties and contains over 92% water. It’s a good source vitamin A, C and lycopene (an antioxidant).

WATERMELON PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

Growth Habit:	It is an annual, sprawling vine with branching tendrils.
Stem:	Up to 10 feet (~3 meters) long, cylindrical, hairy with new growth and with longitudinal furrows
Leaves:	60-200 millimeters (mm) (~2.4 to 7.8inches) long and 40-150mm (~1.6-6inches) diameter; usually with 3 lobes that are singly/ doubly lobed. Young leaves are densely hairy that becomes smooth with age.
Roots:	Fibrous root system, with network of fine, branching roots. 85% of roots are found in topsoil (1ft depth), can extend upto 4ft (1.2meters) in depth.
Flowers:	White or Yellow, borne on hairy stalks, separate male & female (unisex) flowers

WATERMELON FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS

Type:	Pepo (special berry with thick rind and fleshy center)
Shape:	Spherical to cylindrical; 75-500mm (~3-20inches) long.
Weight:	Varies, usually 1-2 kilograms to over 20 kilograms (2.2 pounds to 44 pounds)
Rind:	Green to yellow, varying patterns, smooth with waxy coating
Flesh:	Reddish, white or yellow (depending upon variety); sweet, juicy
Seeds:	Numerous, brown to black in color, embedded in flesh

CHARACTERISTICS OF WATERMELON FLOWERS

Characteristic	Male Flower	Female Flower
Function	Produces pollen for fertilization	Develops into the watermelon fruit
Shape	Funnel-shaped	Similar to male flower, but slightly wider and sometimes with a more rounded base
Sepals	Five small, green sepals forming the outermost whorl	Five small, green sepals forming the outermost whorl
Petals	Five yellow petals, wider at the base and narrowing towards the tip	Five yellow petals, wider at the base and narrowing towards the tip
Stamens	Numerous stamens with long filaments clustered in the center	Few, non-functional stamens (vestigial)
Pistil	Absent	Single pistil with a swollen ovary (future fruit) in the center, a long style, and a lobed stigma (receptive surface for pollen)
Overall Size	Generally smaller	Slightly larger than the male flower
Pollen	Produces sticky pollen	Doesn't produce pollen
Location on Plant	May appear earlier in the season and throughout flowering	Develop later in the season

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF WATERMELON

Nutrient	Amount (per 100g)	Daily Value (%)
Calories	30	1.5
Water	91%	-
Protein	0.6g	1
Total Carbohydrates	7.6g	3
Fiber	0.4g	1
Sugars	6.2g	- (consider within total carbs)
Fat	0.2g	0
Saturated Fat	0	0
Cholesterol	0	0
Sodium	1mg	0
Potassium	112mg	2
Vitamin C	12.3mg	14
Vitamin A	42.6mg	4
Lycopene	6890mcg	-

Daily values (DV) are based on 2000 calories diet & can vary depending upon individual calorie needs.

CROP PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY OF WATERMELON IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan is blessed with a variety of seasons and varying temperature & soil conditions. Production technology of watermelon in Pakistan varies depending upon region, farm size & access to resources. A general production technology is shared below;

Climate and Season

Warm subtropical season in Pakistan allows cultivation of watermelon between months of April and September.

Sowing:

· Northern Pakistan (Punjab & KPK): Mid-January to March

· Southern Pakistan (Sindh): November to December

Factors Affecting Sowing Time:

Temperature at least 18^oC is ideal for germination. Avoid sowing too early to avoid frost damage.

Varieties:

Traditionally seeded varieties are in demand and common in Pakistan. However, seedless varieties are also available.

Soil Preparation:

Well drained sandy or sandy loam soil, deep and fertile soil is preferable for cultivation of watermelon.

Manure and compost is used on need-cum basis for soil fertility.

Planting, Irrigation & Fertigation:

· Seeds can be sown directly or seedlings can also be grown depending upon source availability in furrows.

· Drip irrigation is recommended for water conservation. Traditionally, irrigation is being done through tube-well or canal water.

· Combination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium fertilizers is recommended based on soil requirements identified through test results.

Weed & Pest Management:

Integrated pest management (IPM) is advised for less reliance on chemicals and environmental protection. Crop rotation, hand weeding and use of biological controls is recommended to better weed management.

Harvesting:

April to September with peak in months of June & July.

Maturity Indicators for Watermelon fruit:

· Dull sound when thumping the fruit

· Change in rind color to slightly yellowish hue on the ground side of fruit.

· Dried brown tendrils near stem.

Importance in Pakistan

Watermelon is very popular fruit in Pakistan, particularly in summer season. Based on its fresh, juicy nature and ability to quench thirst, demand is high during summer months.

Watermelon Nutritional Facts