Comparative Study of Pericarp Anatomy and Some Fruit Characters in Five Cultivars of Watermelon [Citrullus Lanatvs (Thumb.) Mamsf.]

Comparative anatomical studies in five cultivars of watermelon gives features of special interest with regard to the transportation and storage properties of their fruits. There are marked differences in the thickenings of outer mesocarp cells in the ripe fruits of cultivar—Japanese Yellow Melon. Study on fruit characters reveals that Japanese Yellow Melon is superior with respect to the TSS and flesh/rind ratio of its ripe fruits. On the other hand, its yellow flesh and large number of smaller seeds per fruit make it less marketable. Kampil White having large fruits with less number of big seeds per fruit is associated with deep red flesh colour and excellent storage and transportation quality but it is inferior in TSS and flesh/rind ratio as compared with cultivar— Yamato and Pb. Special No. 1. Sugar Baby having the advantages of medium sized fruits with deep red flesh of high TSS and superior flesh/rind ratio ranks second to Japanese Yellow Melon with respect to small sized, large number of seeds per fruit.