Tetraploid watermelons producing small fruits

Abstract

Tetraploid watermelon inbreds are disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds and plants of the tetraploid watermelon inbreds, the methods of propagating the tetraploid inbreds through seeds and tissue culture. The invention also relates to methods of producing the triploid seedless watermelon seeds and plants by crossing the tetraploid inbreds with diploid watermelon inbreds, and to the triploid plants produced therefrom.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tetraploid watermelon plant producing a fruit weighting about 2 kg and having a rind with a thickness of about 4 mm to about 7 mm.  
     
     
         2 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 , producing seeds weighting about 3 1 g per 1000 seeds.  
     
     
         3 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 , producing up to about 150 seeds per fruit.  
     
     
         4 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant produces about 3-4 fruits per plant.  
     
     
         5 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said fruit comprises about 13% of soluble solids.  
     
     
         6 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the fruit of said plant matures about 24 to about 27 days after flowering.  
     
     
         7 . Seed of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . Pollen of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . An ovule of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . Fruit of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A method of producing triploid hybrid watermelon seed by crossing a tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1  with a diploid watermelon plant.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said tetraploid plant is the female parent.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said diploid plant is the male parent.  
     
     
         14 . A triploid hybrid watermelon seed produced by the method of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         15 . A method to produce triploid hybrid watermelon seed comprising the steps of: 
 a) planting in pollinating proximity seed of a tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1  and seed of a diploid watermelon plant;    b) planting seed of said diploid watermelon plant 7 to 10 days earlier than seed of said tetraploid watermelon plant;    c) cultivating watermelon plants resulting from said seeds until said plants bear second female flowers;    d) covering the female flowers of said tetraploid watermelon plant on the afternoon immediately prior to the day said female flowers open;    e) collecting the male flowers of said diploid watermelon plant in early morning on the day said female flowers open;    f) pollinating said female flowers with said male flowers collected in step e); and    g) harvesting seeds produced from said female flowers pollinated in step f).    
     
     
         16 . A method to produce triploid watermelon seed comprising the steps of: 
 a) planting seed of a tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 1  and seed of a diploid watermelon plant in a field in a pattern of 2 rows of tetraploid watermelon plants to 1 row of diploid watermelon plants;    b) pruning said tetraploid watermelon plant to approximately 2-3 branches per plant;    c) emasculating substantially all the male flowers and male flower buds on the plants of said tetraploid watermelon plant;    d) allowing pollination of the female flowers of said tetraploid watermelon plant with the pollen of said diploid watermelon plant;    e) marking the female flowers pollinated during the emasculating period; and    f) harvesting the seed from the marked fruit of the tetraploid watermelon plant.    
     
     
         17 . A tetraploid watermelon plant producing a fruit weighting about 1.5 kg to about 2.5 kg and having a rind with a thickness of about 4 mm to about 10 mm.  
     
     
         18 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 , producing seeds weighting about 20 g to about 35 g per 1000 seeds.  
     
     
         19 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 , producing about 70 to about 150 seeds per fruit.  
     
     
         20 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 , wherein said plant produces about 3-4 fruits per plant.  
     
     
         21 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 , wherein said fruit comprises about 12 to about 14% of soluble solids.  
     
     
         22 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 , wherein the fruit of said plant matures about 24 to about 27 days after flowering.  
     
     
         23 . Seed of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         24 . Pollen of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         25 . An ovule of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         26 . Fruit of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         27 . A method of producing tetraploid watermelon seed comprising: 
 a) growing a tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 17;     b) allowing self-pollination of said tetraploid watermelon plant;    c) obtaining a fruit from a tetraploid watermelon plant of step b);    d) extracting tetraploid watermelon seed from said fruit.    
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising washing and drying said seed.