Breeding of a new early-maturity watermelon hybrid Nongfeng No.4

Nongfeng No.4 is a F1 hybrid watermelon using 2001P6 as female parent and 99F09 as male parent.The female parent 2001P6 is an inbred line derived from an USA introduction through selfing and pedigree selection.The male parent 99F09 an inbred line derived from a F1 hybrid through selfing and pedigree selection.The total growing period is about 90-95 d from sowing and the fruit matures 28-30 d after flowering.The variety produces vigorous plant,set fruit normally in open field,and is resistance to anthracnose and Fusarium wilt.The average fruit weight is 5-6 kg,and the yield per 667 m2 in open field is about 4 000 kg.The fruit is oblong with dark green stripes on light green skin.The flesh is red,fine,crisp and sweet.The center soluble solid content is more than 12% and 8.5% near rind.The fruit of Nongfeng No.4 is suitable for long dis-tance shipping.Nongfeng No.4 is suitable for production in open field and protected field in Shanxi and other areas with sim-ilar climate conditions.Nongfeng No.4 had been examined and approved for commercial production by Shanxi Variety Reg-istration Committee in 2008.