Cucurbits comprise the highly diverse family known as Cucurbitaceae that includes cultivated, feral, and wild species (Robinson and Decker-Walters, 1997). Many of the cultivated species such as squash (Cucurbita ssp.), watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai], cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and melon (Cucumis melo L.) are familiar to U.S. and world markets. Others such as bitter ...

Two novel negative-sense, single-stranded (ss) RNA viruses were identified in watermelon plants and named watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 1 and 2 (WCLaV-1 and -2), respectively. The multipartite genomes consist of three RNA molecules of ~6.8, 1.4, and 1.3 kb. The genomes and the deduced proteins of RNA1 and RNA3 show features resembling those of members in the genus Phlebovirus and Ten...

The objective of this study was to develop a simple and cost-effective method to produce biofertilizer using agro-wastes. There were five types of agro-wastes being used in this study. They were wastes from watermelon, papaya, pineapple, citrus orange, and banana. Solidstate fermentation method was used to produce biofertilizer, which was then applied into vegetable plantation. Physical propert...

Genomic tools for watermelon breeding are becoming increasingly available. A high throughput genotyping system would facilitate the use of DNA markers in marker-assisted selection. DNA extraction from leaf material requires prior seed germination and is often time-consuming and cost prohibitive. In an effort to develop a more efficient system, watermelon seeds of several genotypes and various s...

Leaf blight symptoms consisting of dark brown lesions were observed on watermelon plants in seven districts or counties in Beijing municipality of China. A total of 64 Alternaria isolates were recovered and identified based on morphological characters and sequence analyses of rDNAITS regions and histone 3 genes. Amongst these isolates, Alternaria tenuissima was the most prevalent species repres...

Tomato plants, Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Tmknvf(2), and watermelon plants, Citrullus lanatus [Thomb.] Mansf. cv. Dulce maravilla, were grown for 30 days at different temperatures (15, 25 and 35 degrees C). We analysed soluble phenolics, enzymatic activities (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase), and dry weight. The impact of the three temperatures was different i...

Mature watermelon vine decline (MWVD) is a late-season disease of unknown etiology, characterized by vine collapse and discolored, much reduced root systems. While several new disorders in watermelon have been reported recently, this problem appears specific to the Midwest. To test for a biological cause and methods to suppress this disorder, soil was collected from two southern Indiana fields ...

Fifteen expressed sequence tag (EST)-derived simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) were used to investigate genetic diversity in 139 plants obtained from seeds of 35 watermelon accessions collected from all the geographical provinces of Zimbabwe. In addition, 15 plants representing three commercial varieties developed in the United States (USA) were analyzed for comparison. A total of 65 alleles w...

The effects of red watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) flesh extract on male sexual behavior as well as its adverse effects were investigated using animal models. The suspension of the flesh extract was administered orally at doses of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg to different groups of male rats (n = 5) daily for 22 days. The receptive female rats were prepared by hormonal treatment. The mating behavior ...

A variety of fresh market vegetables, including watermelon and tomato are economically important crops in Florida. Whitefly-transmitted Squash vein yellowing virus (SqVYV) was first identified in squash and watermelon in Florida in 2005 and shown to cause a severe decline of watermelon vines as crops approach harvest. Florida is most economically impacted by SqVYV, although the virus has been d...