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.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An inbred tetraploid watermelon plant comprising one or more mature fruit, said fruit weighing about 1.5 to about 2.5 kg and having a rind with a thickness of 4-10 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the mature fruit comprises about 70 to about 150 seeds per fruit. 
     
     
         31 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29 , wherein said plant comprises about 3-4 fruit. 
     
     
         32 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29 , wherein said mature fruit comprises about 12% to about 14% soluble solids in the fruit flesh. 
     
     
         33 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the fruit of said plant matures about 24 to about 27 days after the plant has flowered. 
     
     
         34 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the mature fruit comprises up to about 150 seeds per fruit. 
     
     
         35 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29 , wherein said mature fruit weighs about 1.5 kg to about 2.0 kg. 
     
     
         36 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the thickness of the rind of said mature fruit is 4-7 mm. 
     
     
         37 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29 , wherein said mature fruit weighs about 1.5 kg to about 2.0 kg and wherein the thickness of the rind of said fruit is 4-7 mm. 
     
     
         38 . An inbred tetraploid watermelon plant comprising one or more mature fruit, said fruit weighing about 2 kg, having a rind with a thickness of 4-7 mm. 
     
     
         39 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the mature fruit comprises about 80 seeds per fruit. 
     
     
         40 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the plant comprises 3-4 fruit. 
     
     
         41 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38 , wherein said mature fruit comprises 13% soluble solids in the fruit flesh. 
     
     
         42 . The tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the fruit of said plant matures 24-27 days after the plant has flowered. 
     
     
         43 . A method of producing triploid hybrid watermelon seed, the method comprising the step of crossing the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 29  with a diploid watermelon plant. 
     
     
         44 . A method of producing triploid hybrid watermelon seed, the method comprising the step of crossing the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38  with a diploid watermelon plant. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said tetraploid watermelon plant is the female parent. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said diploid watermelon plant is the male parent. 
     
     
         47 . A method to produce triploid hybrid watermelon seed, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a) planting in pollinating proximity seed of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38  and seed of a diploid watermelon plant, wherein the seed of said diploid watermelon plant is planted 7 to 10 days earlier than seed of said tetraploid watermelon plant;   b) cultivating watermelon plants resulting from said seeds until said plants bear second female flowers;   c) covering the female flowers of said tetraploid watermelon plant immediately prior to said female flowers opening;   d) collecting the male flowers of said diploid watermelon plant on the day said female flowers open;   e) pollinating said female flowers with said male flowers collected in step d); and   f) harvesting seeds produced from said female flowers pollinated in step e).   
     
     
         48 . A method to produce triploid watermelon seed, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a) planting seed of the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38  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; and   e) harvesting the seed from the marked fruit of the tetraploid watermelon plant.   
     
     
         49 . A method of producing tetraploid watermelon seed, wherein the method comprises:
 a) growing the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38 ;   b) allowing self-pollination of said tetraploid watermelon plant;   c) obtaining a fruit from a tetraploid watermelon plant of step b); and   d) extracting tetraploid watermelon seed from said fruit.   
     
     
         50 . A method of processing seed, wherein the method comprises washing and drying the seed extracted in step d) of  claim 49 . 
     
     
         51 . A method of producing tetraploid watermelon seed, wherein the method comprises:
 a) growing the tetraploid watermelon plant according to  claim 38 ;   b) allowing self-pollination of said tetraploid watermelon plant;   c) obtaining a fruit from a tetraploid watermelon plant of step b); and   d) extracting tetraploid watermelon seed from said fruit.   
     
     
         52 . A method of processing seed, wherein the method comprises washing and drying the seed extracted in step d) of  claim 51 .