What's Happening in Eastern North Carolina
Vegetable and Fruit Production?
Ozone Injury on Watermelon
Air pollution can cause significant damage on watermelons (Citrullus lanatus ). In 2000 air pollution was particularly injurious to watermelons. The air pollution-induced injury on melons observed in North Carolina is principally caused by ozone. Ozone is produced in air during the daylight hours from chemicals released from automobile exhausts and the combustion of fossil fuels. During the summer months, ozone concentrations in NC can cause injury to many vegetable crops susceptible to air pollutant injury. These crops include squash,cucumbers, muskmelon, pumpkin, irish potatoes and string beans.
The injury on the watermelon leaves consists of premature chlorosis (yellowing) of the upper surface of the older foliage. The foliage later becomes necrotic (brown or black), with white spotty patches within the necrotic areas. Ozone injury on muskmelon is similar, except that foliar discoloration on the upper areas goes directly from yellow to bleached white. Watermelons appear to be much more susceptible to visible injury caused by air pollution than are muskmelons. Ozone injury on watermelons generally appears in late June to early July.
The injury pattern on the foliage is initially observed on older mature leaves near the crown or center of the plant, often progressing with time to the younger, more vigorous foliage. The yellowing of the plant centers in rows of watermelons is quite distinct and can give fields a visibly striped pattern of alternating yellow and green bands. Growers often confuse this symptom with mite injury or a nutrient deficiency.
Melon cultivars (cultivated varieties) vary in their tolerant and susceptibility to injury caused by ozone. Seed dealers can often access information on the tolerance of a variety. Selection of a particular cultivar should be based upon many considerations, including its market acceptance, performance (growth, yield, and fruit quality) and disease resistance.
Decoteau, D.R., J.E. Simon, G. Eason, and R.A. Reinert. 1986. Ozone injury on field-grown watermelons. HortScience (in press).
Watermelon Consumption On the Move.
Prepared by Bill Jester for the Goldsboro News Argus
Mark Twain once said that watermelon was "chief of the world's luxuries, king by the grace of God over all the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he knows what the angels eat."
Watermelon has a long history. Africa is the origin of the watermelon. Egyptians grew watermelons more than 5,000 years ago and the melons in their wall paintings reflected their love for this fruit. Watermelon popularity grew as traders began selling seeds along Mediterranean trade routes. By the 10th century, watermelon made its way into China and by the 13th century, the Moors introduced watermelon into southern Europe.
European colonists and African slaves are credited with bringing watermelon to North America. Watermelon has a long history in the south. U.S. President Thomas Jefferson grew watermelons in Virginia and boasted they were sweeter than their counterparts in Paris. During the Civil War, the Confederate Army boiled down watermelon as a source of sugar and molasses.
In Wayne County, most of the watermelon acreage is located south of Goldsboro. Acreage has varied from 300 to 1000 acres depending on the year. Most of the watermelon grown in Eastern NC are seeded melons. Overall over 10,000 acres of watermelon were raised in 1997 in North Carolina.
Over the past four years watermelon consumption has increased in the United States. Americans' love affair with watermelon continues to grow as both watermelon consumption and production levels set new records in 1996.
Americans ate a record 17.4 pounds per person of watermelon in 1996--the highest consumption level recorded since 1958, when the average American ate 18.2 pounds of watermelon, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Watermelon consumption has risen for four straight years, climbing from 14.6 pounds per person in 1993 to the present level of 17.4 pounds per person in 1996. The average American ate nearly three more pounds of watermelon in 1996 than in 1993, according to USDA statistics.
The reason for the increased is consumption three fold. One reason is improved seeded and seedless varieties. The growth area has been in seedless watermelons. Northeast retailers report that 40% of their sales are seedless; Western retailers 50% and Southeastern 20%. Seedless watermelons have better flesh quality than seeded watermelons.
A second reason is that watermelon satisfies the consumers need for a low-calorie, no-fat food. Watermelon fits the health conscious consumer.
A third reason is the increased year-round availability of the product.Increased imports in the off-season really says people want watermelon and they have developed the habit of eating watermelon all-year-round. The heaviest volume of imports are received in March, April and May. Imports have continued to grow at an average rate of 20% over the last three years. In 1996, 540 million pounds of watermelon were imported, a 30% increase over 1995, according to the U.S. Customs Service.
The Specialty Crops Program located at the Raymond P. Cunningham Research Station in Kinston is evaluating many types of seedless watermelons and specialty melons with a eye towards the market. We are looking at fast-tracking market-tested specialties to area growers.
The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the NC Department of Agriculture is working in a cooperative seedless watermelon project with several growers in Wayne County and the surrounding counties. Now is time to act if growers expect to capture a portion of the expanding watermelon market.
