Dual purpose pollenizer watermelons

Abstract

The application relates to the field of plant breeding, in particular watermelon breeding. Provided are diploid watermelon plants (and seeds from which these plants can be grown) which produce small, diploid, red watermelon fruits. Also provided are small, diploid watermelon fruits having an average weight of less than 1.8 kg.

1 . A plant of the species Citrullus lanatus, wherein said plant is diploid and produces edible, mature diploid fruits having an average weight of less than 0.9 kg. 
     
     
         2 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the mature diploid fruits have an average fruit weight of equal to or less than 0.65 kilograms. 
     
     
         3 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the mature diploid fruits have an average percent Total Soluble Solids (TSS) of at least about 8%. 
     
     
         4 . The plant according to  claim 1  wherein the diploid fruits comprise fruit flesh having a red color, with a RHS color chart rating of 39 or higher. 
     
     
         5 . The plant according to  claim 1  wherein the plant produces at least 30 male flowers 22 days from flowering. 
     
     
         6 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant produces an average of at least 10 fruits per plant. 
     
     
         7 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the mature diploid fruits have an average fruit length×width of less than or equal to 10 cm×11 cm, or less at maturity of said fruit. 
     
     
         8 . A diploid watermelon fruit obtainable from a plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight of the mature fruit is less than 0.9 kg. 
     
     
         9 . The diploid watermelon fruit according to  claim 8 , wherein the mature fruit has an average weight of less than or equal to 0.65 kilograms. 
     
     
         10 . A container comprising a plurality of fruits according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         11 . A watermelon plant or seed comprising the plant according to  claim 1  as male or female parent. 
     
     
         12 . A transplant or vegetative propagation of a plant according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . Seeds or transplants from which a plant according to  claim 1  can be grown. 
     
     
         14 . The plant according to  claim 1  obtainable from seeds deposited under accession number NCIMB 41773. 
     
     
         15 . A method for producing diploid and triploid watermelon fruits in one field, said method comprising:
 (a) interplanting diploid pollenizer plants according to  claim 1  and triploid hybrid watermelon plants in one field,   (b) allowing pollination of flowers of the triploid hybrid plants with pollen from diploid pollenizer plants and allowing pollination of flowers of the diploid pollenizer plants with pollen from the diploid pollenizer plants, whereby pollination occurs,   (c) harvesting fruits produced from the triploid hybrid plants and,   (d) optionally, further comprising harvesting fruits produced from the diploid pollenizer plants.   
     
     
         16 . A method for producing edible, diploid watermelon fruits having an average weight of less than 0.9 kg, said method comprising:
 (a) growing a plant according to  claim 1 ,   (b) pollinating the female flower parts from said plant with pollen from said plant, and   (c) harvesting the fruits produced from said plant.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the plant comprises genetic elements for producing small fruits having an average weight of less than 0.9 kilograms and said genetic elements are obtainable from seed deposited under accession number NCIMB 41773. 
     
     
         18 . A diploid watermelon pollenizer plant producing small edible fruits having an average weight of less than 0.9 kg, wherein the watermelon comprises a representative sample of seeds, deposited under accession number NCIMB 41773, comprising genetic elements for producing the small fruits. 
     
     
         19 . A seed of a diploid watermelon line capable of producing edible fruit of less than 0.9 kg upon self-pollination, wherein a representative sample of seed has been deposited under accession number NCIMB 41773. 
     
     
         20 . A plant cell, an ovule, pollen, a root-stock or a scion of a plant according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a hybrid. 
     
     
         22 . The plant according to  claim 3 , wherein the diploid fruits have an average percent TSS of at least about 9%. 
     
     
         23 . The plant according to  claim 3 , wherein the diploid fruits have an average percent TSS of at least about 10%.