Watermelon is one of the major Cucurbitaceae crops and the recent availability of genome sequence greatly facilitates the fundamental researches on it. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) is the preferred method for gene expression analyses, and using validated reference genes for normalization is crucial to ensure the accuracy of this method. However, a systematic valida...

UNDERLYING HORTICULTURALLY IMPORTANT TRAITS IN WATERMELON by JASON MICHAEL PROTHRO (Under the Direction of Cecilia McGregor) ABSTRACT QTL analysis was performed for multiple traits in an elite x egusi and an elite x citron F2 population of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus Thunb.). Two linkage maps were constructed for QTL analysis using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A ...

Viruses are the most common causes of diseases affecting cucurbits in New York. These diseases result in losses through reduction in growth and yield and are responsible for distortion and mottling of fruit , making the product unmarketable. A complex of viruses is able to infect cucurbits, a plant group that includes cucumber , melon , squash, pumpkins , and watermelon. The most important viru...

Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli, causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch, has caused considerable damage to the watermelon and melon industry in China and the United States. Understanding the emergence and spread of this pathogen is important for controlling the disease. To build a fingerprinting database for reliable identification and tracking of strains of A. avenae subsp. citrulli, a multi...

Cucurbitacins are feeding stimulants for corn rootworm used in baits to control the adults of this insect pest. Corn rootworm larvae also feed compulsively on cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins are reported to be gibberellin antagonists that may preclude their use as seed treatments for these soil-dwelling insects. The crude extract of a bitter Hawkesbury watermelon containing cucurbitacin E-glycosid...

Introduction Icebox watermelons weigh between 6 and 15 pounds (2.7 6.8 kilograms) and are growing in popularity in the United States. Sugar Baby was the first icebox watermelon variety in the United States, and was discovered in a field of picnic watermelon in Oklahoma by M. Harden in 1955 (Wehner and Barrett, 1996). It was not until 1986 that the next icebox watermelon varieties were released ...

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a globally important crop belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. The grafting technique is commonly used to improve its tolerance to stress, as well as to enhance its nutrient uptake and utilization. It is believed that miRNA is most likely involved in its nutrient-starvation response as a graft-transportable signal. The quantitative real-time reverse transcrip...

Watermelon is a natural product that contains high level of antioxidants and may prevent oxidative damage in tissues due to free radical generation following an exposure to ionizing radiation. The present study aimed to investigate the radioprotective effects of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) juice against oxidative damage induced by low dose X-ray exposure in mice. T...

With the rapid growing of nanotechnology, the effects of nanomaterials released into the environment on plants have drawn more and more attention. Iron is an element essential for plant growth and development. Iron is involved in chlorophyll formation; iron deficiency will cause a plant disorder known as chlorosis. However, whether iron in nano-ferric oxide can be absorbed by plants were rarely...

Some physical properties of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) seeds were determined at a moisture content of 9.87% and 2.87% (dry basis), respectively. The mean values of length, width, thickness and geometric mean diameter were 19.92, 11.30, 3.22, 9.71 mm for pumpkin seeds, and 13.28, 8.00, 2.64, 6.52 mm for watermelon seeds, respectively. The mean 1000 seed mas...