hi1
CommerceI Vegetable ValriW Tra
Progress Report No. 132 November 1997
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Janies E. Marion, Director
Auburn University, Alabama

CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION EXPERTS 
IN THE FIELD: VEGETABLE 
VARIETY TRIALS.................3
FIRST EVALUATION OF 
GREEN BEAN VARIETIES 
...............................................................
'PARRIS ISLAND' AMONG TOP ROMAINE 
LETTUCE ..............
6
SEVERAL PRE-COMMERCIAL 
LINES INCLUDED IN BELL
PEPPER VARIETY TRIAL................7
'SPARKLE' CANTALOUPE 
SHOWS AGAIN GOOD
YIELD POTENTIAL IN CENTRAL 
ALABAMA ...................................
**......... . 11
'STARBRITE' PERFORMS 
WELL IN WATERMELON 
TRIALS
IN SOUTH ALABAMA..................................*.......................................14
CUCUMBERS EVALUATED 
ON BARE GROUND AND 
PLASTIC MULCH ........................ 
16
TRANSGENIC VARIETIES 
TESTED IN SUMMER SQUASH 
TRIALS.................................19
Is 'SILVER QUEEN" 
STILL THE BEST WHITE 
SWEET CORN VARIETY? 
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 23
TOMATO VARIETIES DIFFER 
IN YIELD AND QUALITY 
2...................................27
APPENDIX: SPONSORS 
AND SUPPLIERS 
31................................31
This information is available 
to all persons without regard 
to race, color, sex, or national 
origin.
Authors
Eric'Simonne
Assistant Professor
Department of Horticulture
(334) 844-3018
esimonne@acesag.auburn.edu
Joseph Kemble
Assistant Professor
Department of Horticulture
(334) 844-4862
Pascal Lienhard
Visiting Scholar
Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique 
de Toulouse
France
Amy Simonne
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Department of Nutrition 
and Food Science
(334) 844-3290
Jeff Taylor
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Horticulture
Edgar Vinson, II
Research Tech VII
Department of Horticulture
Randy Akridge
Superintendent
Brewton Experiment Field
(334) 867-3139
Jim Bannon
Director
E.V. Smith Research Center
(334) 727-7403
Bobby Boozer
Area Horticulturist
Department of Horticulture
(205) 646-3610
Randall Rawls
Superintendent
Upper Coastal Plain Substation
(205) 487-2150
Tony Dawkins
Superintendent
Sand Mountain Substation
(205) 528-7133
Brian Gamble
Associate Superintendent
Wiregrass Substation
(334) 693-2363
Jim Pitts
Superintendent
ChiltonArea Horticulture Substation
(334) 646-3610
Marvin Ruf
Associate Superintendent
Sand Mountain Substation
(205) 528-7133
Larry Wells
Superintendent
Wiregrass Substation
(334) 693-2363
Arnold Caylor
Superintendent
North Alabama Horticulture Substation
(205) 734-5820
Ronnie McDaniel
Superintendent
Gulf Coast Substation
(334) 928-2740
Malcomb Pegues
Associate Superintendent
Gulf Coast Substation
(334) 928-2740
JasonBurkett
Superintendent
E.V. Smith Research Center
Horticulture Unit
(334) 727-6159
Monte Nesbitt
Area Horticulturist
Gulf Coast Substation
Introduction
Experts in the Field:.
Vegetable Variety Trials
?. . , " " rERIC SIMONNE
" FId / In 1997, the Alabama 
De-
partment of Agriculture and
SIndustries launched under the
leadership of Dr. John
Gamble amarketing program
for Alabama products. The
heart of this program are its logo (see icon) and 
its motto: "Alabama
- Experts in the Field." By supporting the use of the logo and motto,
the program aims at developing product recognition; increasing prod-
uct visibility; increasing sales of Alabama producers, 
processors
and manufacturers; and increasing the value of Alabama 
products.
While this program is for all Alabama products, products
of Alabama agriculture in general, and fruits and vegetables 
in par-
ticular, can benefit from it. The Alabama vegetable 
industry now
has the base of a long-awaited marketing program that will 
increase
the recognition and visibility of Alabama vegetables. 
This should
help increase sales and the value of Alabama vegetable 
industry.
"Alabama - Experts in the Field of watermelon, cantaloupes, 
to-
mato," or any other vegetable or fruit does sound 
good.
The program should be used only with Alabama-grown
vegetables of high quality. Presently, it is up 
to the users of the
label, primarily the growers, to determine what 
attributes constitute
quality. It is also up to the user not to misuse the 
label. Too many
not-so-great shipments of vegetables with "Alabama 
- Experts in
the Field" printed on them may result in a negative perception 
of
the product.
Quality vegetables start with the choice of a good variety.
Hence, vegetable variety trials are part of the support successful
vegetable production needs.
In spring 1997, replicated variety trials were conducted
for green and colored bell pepper, sugar-enhanced (se) 
and
supersweet (sh2) sweet corn, cantaloupe and honeydew, cucumber,
lettuce, yellow summerand zucchini squash, tomato, and
watermelon.Green bean observational trials also were conducted.
Results of ornamental corn and winter squash tests will be included
in the Fall 1997 Commercial Vegetable Variety Trial Report. Pro-
duction systems included bare-ground planting and plasticulture,
combined with overhead or drip irrigation. This report presents in-
depth information on the yield and performance of these crops. How-
ever, glancing rapidly at the yield results may not provide all the
information necessary for choosing the best variety. Here are a few
tips for getting the most out of these vegetable variety trial results.
Fertilization, Insect, and Pest Control. Trials were fer-
tilized according to the recommendations of the Auburn University
Soil Testing Laboratory. The actual fertilizers and chemicals used
are described only to provide detailed information about the cul-
tural practices employed. Mention of fertilizers or chemical names
represent neither a recommendation nor an endorsement of these
products. A list of chemicals recommended for pest and weed con-
trol in vegetable production in Alabama may be found in IPM 
Com-
mercial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nematode and Weed Control
Recommendations (Publication 97IPM-2 from the Alabama Coop-
erative Extension System).
StatisticalAnalyses. The coefficientof determination (R
2
),
coefficient of variation (CV), and least significant difference (lsd)
are reported for each test. These numbers are helpful in separating
the differences due to small plots (sampling error) and true (but
unknown) differences among entries. These three statistical param-
eters help minimize the potential errors due to the use of small plots.
If it were possible to plant a larger plot of each variety, these param-
eters would be less important.
R
2 
ranges between 0 and 1. Values close to 1 suggest that
the test was conducted under good conditions and most of the 
vari-
ability observed was mainly due to the effect of variety and 
replica-
tion. Random,uncontrolled errors were less important. CV is an
expression of yield variability relative to yield mean. Low 
CVs are
desirable (under 20%), but are not always achieved.
Lsd is the minimum yield difference that is to be observed
between two varieties to infer that the one with the higher yield
actually performed better. When the difference in yield between
two varieties is less than the Isd value, one cannot conclude that one
variety performed better than the other, despite a numerical differ-
ence in yield. For example, in the 1997 bell pepper trial at 
the
North Alabama Horticulture Substation, 'Sentry' yielded 24,600
pounds per acre, while 'Enterprise' and 'Commandant' yielded
21,337 and 13,508 pounds per acre, respectively. Since there was
less than a 6,498 (the lsd value for yield) difference between 
'Sen-
try' and 'Enterprise,' there is no statistical difference between the
yields of these two varieties. However, the difference between 
'Sen-
try' and 'Commandant' was 11,092, indicating that there is a real
difference between the yields of these two varieties. From a 
practi-
cal point of view, growers should compare varieties in terms of 
lsd.
Using Variety Trial Information for Selection of a Vari-
ety. The performance of a genotype is affected by factors 
such as
soil type, growing environment, and weather conditions. 
There-
fore, the information in this report should be used as a primary 
source
of information to pre-select the varieties that have shown 
under the
conditions described hereafter to have potential for 
high yields and
quality. Also, vegetable varieties come and go, 
and good-perform-
ing varieties may not be available consistently. 
Therefore, it is bet-
ter to make variety evaluation a part of vegetable 
production. On-
farm evaluation will test the performance of a variety 
under more
specific conditions. The final choice of a variety 
may have to be
adjusted after this second evaluation.
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS USED TO EVALUATE SPRING 
1997
VARIETY TRIALS
Rating Weather Fertilizer Irrigation 
Pests Overall
5 Very good Very good Very good 
None Excellent
4 Favorable Good Good Light Good
3 Acceptable Acceptable 
Acceptable Tolerable Acceptable
2 Adverse Low Low Adverse Questionable
1 Destructive Very low Insufficient
4
First Evaluation of Green Bean
Varieties
ERIC SIMONNE, BOBBY BOOZER, TONY DAWKINS, JIM PIrrs,
AND MARVIN RUF
Observational green bean variety tri-
als were conducted at the Chilton Area
Horticulture Substation (CAHS) in
Clanton and Sand Mountain Substation
(SMS) in Crossville (tables 1 and 2).
At both locations, beans were direct-seeded 
on bare ground
into 20-foot-long plots at a within row spacing of one foot. 
Planting
dates were May 27 at CAHS and May 12 
at SMS. Soils were
fertilized according to the recommendations of theAuburn 
University
Soil Testing Laboratory. Names of the chemicals 
are mentioned are
mentioned only for describing the production 
practices used. This
represents neither a recommendation nor an endorsement 
of these
products. Current recommendations for pest and weed control in
vegetable production in Alabama may be found in IPM Commercial
Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nematode and Weed Control 
Recom-
mendations (Publication 97IPM-2 from the Alabama 
Cooperative
Extension System).
At CAHS, 550 Pounds of a 13-13-13 fertilizer were broad-
cast-incorporated preplanton May 13. Preplantherbicides were Treflan
(at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre) and Dual 2E (at a rate of two pints 
per
acre). Beans were sidedressed with 15 pounds of nitrogen 
(N) as
ammonium nitrate (NH
4
NO
3
) three and seven weeks after planting.
No additional chemicals were used.
At SMS, preplant fertilization consisted of applications 
(per
acre) of 1.5 tons of lime on April 1 and 300 pounds of concentrated
superphosphate and 120 pounds of muriate of potash (KCI) on May
12. Preplant herbicide was Dual applied on May 13 at a
rate of one quart per acre. Beans were fertilized with NH4NO
3 
at
arate of 100 pounds per acre on May 22, potassium nitrate (KNO)
at a rate of 100 pounds per acre on June 13, and with calcium
nitrate [Ca(NO
3
)
2
] at a rate of 100 pounds per acre on June 23, July
15 and 25, and Aug. 4. Disease control was provided by applica-
tions of Bravo at a rate of two pints per acre on June 20 and July 3.
Insect control was provided by applications of Sevin XLR at a rate
of one pint per acre on June 3 and 27 and July 3.Green beans were
hand harvested on July 16, 18, and 28 at CAHS and July 7, 14, 21,
and Aug. 8 at SMS. Marketable yield and weight and length of 50
pods were determined (Table 3).
Based on 1997 results, the most consistent yields corre-
sponded to 'Benchmark.' Of the experimental lines, 'MB-8007'
from Sandoz Rogers showed good yield potential at both locations.
The standard flat-poded bean 'Roma II' could not be evaluated due
to a poor germination rate.
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1997 GREEN BEAN
VARIETY TRIAlS
Location CAHS SMS
Weather 5 5
Fertility 5 5
Irrigation 5 5
Pests 5 5
Overall 5 5
See Introductionfordescription of rating scales.
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, EARUESS, POD CHARACTERISTICS, AND DISEASE RESISTANCE/TOLERANCE
OF SELECTED GREEN BEAN VARETIES
Variety Type Seed source Days to Growth 
Pod Pod Disease Year
harvest habit color shape res./tol. 
eval.
Benchmark OP Sandoz Rogers 55 Bush 
Green Round CBMV,NL8,NY15MV 97
Bronco OP Asgrow 53 Bush 
Green Round CBMV 97
Carlo OP Asgrow 55 Bush 
Green Round CBMV 97
Derby OP Ferry-Morse 55 Bush 
Green Round CBMV,PM 97
Florence OP Asgrow . Bush 
Green Round . 97
Golden Rod OP Ferry-Morse 55 Bush 
Yellow Round NY15MV 97
Wax
Hialeah OP Ferry-Morse 53 Bush Green 
Oval NY15MV 97
Nickel OP Vilmorin 52 Bush 
Green Round BS,WM 97
Nugget OP Ferry-Morse 52 Bush 
Yellow Round NY15MV 97
Mirada OP Sandoz Rogers 54 Bush 
Green Round CBMV,NY15MV 97
Orient Wonder OP Sakata . Pole 
Green Round . 97
Rhapsody OP SeedWay . Bush 
Green Round . 97
Roma II OP Stokes 59 Bush 
Green Flat CBMV,PSV,RB 97
Seville OP SeedWay 56 Bush 
Green Round CBMV,NY15MV 97
Sonata OP Ferry-Morse . Bush Green 
Round . . 97
Trueblue OP Ferry-Morse 54 Bush Green 
Round CBMV,NY15MV 97
OP = open pollinated;. = not available
TABLE 3. YIELD AND POD CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED GREEN BEAN VAETIES
Variety Marketable yield Cull weight Pod weight Pod length
lb./acre lb./acre lb./100 pods inJpod
Chilton Area Horticulture Substation'
Trueblue 10,912 0
MB-8007 10,418 0
Orient Wonder 9,692 0
Benchmark 9,184 0
Nickel 9,162 0
XPB 346 8,814 0
SB-4129 7,993 0
Carlo 7,768 0
Derby 7,732 0
Hialeah 7,645 0
Sonata 7,463 0
Golden Rod Wax 7,304 0
SB-413 6,563 0
Seville 6,353 0
Bronco 6,200 0
Mirada 5,401 0
Florence 4,864 0
Rhapsody
2  
0
Roma IP .
Nugget
2  
0.
Sand Mountain Substation'
MB-8007 11,955 - 1,243 1.98 3.1
SB-4130 8,861 1,171 1.60 2.5
Sonata 7,684 972 1.78 2.8
Hi-aleah 7,451 1,158 1.70 2.7
Seville 7,186 1,266 1.40 
2.2
SB-4129 6,319 900 1.56 
2.5
Benchmark 6,296 1,864 1.45 2.3
Bronco 5,918 883 1.21 
1.9
Derby 5,335 623 1.87 
2.9
XPB 346 5,216 937 1.44 
2.3
Trueblue 4,817 1,240 1.64 2.6
Nugget 4,552 926 1.50 
2.4
Mirada 4,469 1,028 1.37 
2.2
Rhapsody 3,966 451 1.56 
2.5
Golden Rod 3,854 811 1.36 2.1
Florence 3,592 477 1.48 
2.3
Orient Wonder 3,023 0 7.86 
12.4
Carlo 2,964 419 1.46 
2.3
Nickel 2,679 595 0.70 
1.1
Roma II 2,049 295 2.12 
3.3
J Observational trials
2
Insufficient stand
5
6
'Parris Island' Among Top 
Romaine Lettuce
ERIC SIMONNE, ARNOLD CAYLOR, Amny SIMONNE, AND JEFF 
TAYLOR .
' A lettuce variety trial was
. conducted at the North Alabama
Horticulture Substation (NAHS)
SAY__in Cullman (tables 1 and 2) using
plasticulture. Five-week-old let-
tuce plants were transplanted in
staggered rows 12 inches apart at
an in-row spacing of 12 inches
on May 13. Plots were 20 feet
long, which created a stand of approximately 18,000 plants per acre.
Soils were fertilized according to the recommendations of
the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. Names of the chemi-
cals are mentioned only for describing the production practices used.
This represents neither a recommendation nor an endorsement of
these products. Currentrecommendations for pestand weed control
in vegetable productionin Alabama may be found in IPM Commer-
cial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nematode and Weed Control Rec-
ommendations (Publication 97IPM-2 from the Alabama Coopera-
tive Extension System).
Preplant fertilization consisted of an application of 34-0-0
at a rate of 100 pounds per acre. Beginning after transplanting
and through harvest, lettuce were fertilized with weekly injections
at a rate of five pounds of N alternatively from 
calcium nitrate and
ammonium nitrate.
On June 24, lettuce was harvested at marketable size 
and
graded according to the U.S. Standardsfor Grades ofRomaine 
(U.S.
Dept. of Agriculture Publication 60-6130). Yields were expressed
in 50-pound boxes of 24 units (Table 3) calculated by dividing the
number of marketable heads by 24. Heads of insufficient size were
culled. None of the differences 
in marketable weight were 
signifi-
cantly different. Best performers for 1997 were 'Parris Island' and
the advanced line from Asgrow 'XP 5808,' both romaine types.
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1997 LETTUCE
VARIETY TIUAL
Location NAHS
Weather 4
Fertility 5
Irrigation 5
Pests 5
Overall 5
See Introductionfor description of rating scales.
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, EARLINESS AND DISEASE RESISTANCE/TOLERANCE OF SELECTED LETruCE VARIETIES
Variety Seed source Days to Head type Leaf Disease 
Years
harvest color res./toL eva].
Greengo Asgrow . Looseleaf Green 
. 96,97
Nancy . SeedWay 66 Butterhead Green .
96,97
Nevada Vilmorin 58 Batavia Green 
DM,LMV,TB 95-97
Optima Vilmorin 55 Butterhead Green DM,LMV 
95-97
Parris Island Stokes 65 Romaine Green TB 
95-97
Redprize Ferry-Morse 46 Looseleaf Green/Red TB 
96,97
Sierra Vilmorin . Batavia Green/Red DM,LMV,TB 
95-97
Slobolt M.I. Harris Seeds 48 Looseleaf 'Frisee' Green . 96,97
Target Petoseed 75 Crisphead Green DM 95,97
BIT = bitterness; LMV = lettuce mosaic virus; TB = tip burn; DM = downy mildew;. = not available;from seed catalogues
TABLE 3. YIELD AND NUMBER OF 50-POUND CARTON (24 HEADS) OF SELECTED LETUCE VARIETIES
AT THE NORTH ALABAMA HORTICULTURE SUBSTATION
Variety Marketable Marketable Marketable
weight, Ib./acre heads, #/acre 50-lb. box, #/acre
Parris Island 14,508 9,156 382
XP 5808 11,484 9,701 404
Target 11,352 10,246 427
Nevada 10,982 10,464 436
Optima 10,502 7,848 327
Nancy 9,232 10,464 436
Redprize 8,529 8,720 363
Sierra 8,464 9,483 
395
FMX 2153 6,834 9,374 
391
Greengo 6,172 9,047 377
FMX 2155 5,984 4,905 204
Slobolt M.I. 5,107 9,265 386
R
2  
0.16
CV 75
Isd 9,819
Several Pre-Commercial Lines Included in
Bell Pepper Variety Trial
ERIC SIMONNE, JIM BANNON, JASON BURKETF, ARNOLD CAYLOR, JOSEPH KEMBLE, RANDALL
RAWLS, JEFF TAYLOR, EDGAR VINSON, AND LARRY WELLS
-als Bell pepper variety 
tri-
S "alswere conducted at the
Wiregrass Substation (WS)
in Headland, Horticulture
Unit at the E.V. Smith Re-
search Center (EVSRC) in
Shorter, Upper Coastal Plain
Substation (UCPS) in Winfield, and North Alabama Horticulture
Substation (NAHS) in Cullman (tables 1 and 2).
Five-week-old peppers were transplanted on May 6 at
WS, May 7 at EVSRC and NAHS, and on May 7 at UCPS on
four-foot-wide, drip-irrigated and plastic-mulched beds. Plastic
mulch color was black at WS, NAHS and UCPS, and whiteat
EVSRC. At WS, EVSRC, and UCPS, peppers were planted in
double-staggered rows one foot apart, at a within-row spacing of
one foot, which created a stand of approximately 15,000 plants
per acre. At NAHS, peppers were planted in single rows at a
within-row spacing of one foot, creating a stand of approximately
7,500 plants per acre.
Soils were fertilized according to the recommendations
of the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. Names of the
chemicals are mentioned only for describing the production prac-
tices used. This represents neither a recommendation nor an en-
dorsement of these products. Current recommendations for pest
and weed control in vegetable production in Alabama may be
found in IPM Commercial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nema-
tode and Weed Control Recommendations (Publication 97IPM-2
from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System).
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1997 BELL PEPPER
VARIETY TRIMALs
Location WS EVSRC NAHS UCPS
Weather 4 4 4 4
Fertility 5 5 
5 5
Irrigation 5 5 5 5
Pests 5 5 5 5
Overall 5 5 5 5
See lntroductionfor description ofrating scales.
At WS, preplant fertilization consisted of applications
(per acre) of 450 pounds of a 13-13-13 fertilizer, 50 pounds of
ammonium nitrate (NH
4
NO
3
) and 700 pounds of gypsum (CaSO
4
)
on April 5. Starting after transplanting and through final harvest,
six pounds of N per acre were injected weekly using potassium
nitrate and calcium nitrate. A total of 42 pounds of N was in-
jected. Bravo (fungicide) was applied at a rate of three pints per
acre on May 14, 21, and 27; June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30; and July 8.
Asana (insecticide) was applied at a rate of eight ounces per acre
on May 27 and June 2 and 23.
At EVSRC, preplant fertilization consisted of applica-
tions (per acre) of 450 pounds of 0-10-20 and 387 pounds of 15.5-
0-0 on March 10. Beds were fumigated with methyl bromide at a
rate of 400 pounds per acre on March 10. Starting after transplant-
ing, six pounds of N were injected twice weekly, alternatively from
a liquid calcium nitrate [Ca(NO
3
)
2
] solution and 20-10-20. A total of
185 pounds of N was applied (preplant + injections). Fungicides
used were Kocide 101 (at a rate of three pounds per acre) on May 12,
19, 26, 30, and July 4 and 12; Manex (at arate of two quarts per acre)
on May 12, 26, and July 4 and 12; Mankocide (at a rate of three
pounds per acre) on June 7, 14, 21, July 23, 30, and Aug. 9; and,
Bravo 81W/Ridomil (at a rate of three pounds per acre) on June 30.
Insect control was provided with applications of Phaser (at a rate of
2.6 pounds per acre) on May 30 and June 7, 14, and 21; Lannate LV
(at a rate of three pints per acre) on June 30; and, Asana XL (at a rate
of 9.6 ounces per acre) on July 4,12, 23, and Aug. 9.
At NAHS, 500 pounds per acre of a 15-0-0 fertilizer were
preplant incorporated. Beginning after transplanting and through
harvest, bell peppers were fertilized with weekly injections at a rate
of five pounds of N alternatively from Ca(NO3)
2 
and NH
4
NO. Fun-
gicides used were Dithane F45 (at a rate of 2.4 quarts per acre) on
May 22, 29, and July 6, 19, and 27; and, Kocide 101 (at a rate.of two
pounds per acre) on May 22, June 6, 19, 27, and July 3 and 10. In-
secticides used were Asana XL (at a rate of 9.6 ounces per acre) on
June 19, 27, July 3, 10, and 16; and, Phaser (at a rate of two quarts
per acre) on July 3 and Aug. 1.
At UCPS, three pounds of N were weekly injected between
May 22 and Sept. 4, alternatively from Ca(N0
3
)
2 
and potassium ni-
trate (KNO
3
). A total of 48 pounds of N was injected.
Plots were harvested seven times between June 30 and July
18 atWS; six times between June 27 and Aug. 11 at EVSRC; on July
23, 31, and Aug. 6 at NAHS; and five times between July 9 and Aug.
18 at UCPS. At both locations, fruits were harvested at the mature-
green color stage, weighed, and graded (tables 3 and 4) using the
standards of the Sweet Pepper Grader's Guide (Circular ANR-783
of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System).
'Sentry,' 'Enterprize,' and 'X3R Camelot' had consistently
high early yields. The lines 'SR-4153' (blocky; Sandoz Rogers) and
'E-417' and 'E-123' (deep blocky; Vilmorin) were good yielders 
and
need to be kept in trials in 1998.
8
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, Fiurr CHARACTEUsncs, AND RELATIVE EARLNESs OF SELECTED BELL PEPPER VAIErIES
Variety Type Seed source Color Days to Disease Years
I 
harvest tol./res. eval.
Admiral Fl
Belle Star Fl
Bell King F1
Black Bird Fl
Bonita Fl
Camelot X3R Fl
Capistrano OP
Chocolate Beauty Fl
Chocolate Bell Fl
Commandant F1
Enterprise F1
Figaro Fl
Goldcoast Fl
Ivory F1
Karma Fl
King Arthur F1
Lilac F1
Primadona Fl
Purple Beauty OP -
Red Dawn F1
Sentry F1
Superset Fl
Var.#870 F1
Var.#830 F1
Sandoz Rogers G-Y 76 BLS(1,2),PVYTbMV 
95-97
Ferry-Morse G-R 67 TbMV 94,96,97
Harris Seeds G-R 74 TbMV 94,95,97
Stokes G-Bk-R 73 -- 94-97
Ferry-Morse G-R . BLS(1,2,3) 97
Petoseed G-R 74 BLS(l,2,3),TbMV 94-97
Petoseed G-R 74 TbMV 96,97
Petoseed G-Br-R 85 TbMV 
94,96,97
Stokes G-Br-R 75 -- 95-97
Sandoz Rogers G-R 80 BLS(1,2,3) 
97
Asgrow G-R 77 BLS(1,2,3),TbMV 95-97
Vilmorin G-R 71 PVY,TbMV 95-97
Asgrow G-Y 74 BLS(l,2,3),TbMV 95-97
Sandoz Rogers W-O 68 -- 94-95,97
Ferry Morse G-R 70 TbMV 97
Petoseed G-R 72 BLS(2),PVY,TbEV,TbMV 94-97
Sandoz Rogers P-R 68 TbMV 94-97
Ferry-Morse G-R . . 97
Petoseed Bk-R 74 TbMV . 96,97
Stokes G-R 69 -- 95-97
Sandoz Rogers G-R 70 BLS(1,2),PVY,Stip,TbMV 97
Stokes G-R 64 TbMV 94,96,97
A&C G-R . BLS(l,2,3) 97
A&C G-R . BLS(1,2,3) 97
I r rkur v r r r rrrrvi r r
TABLE 3. EARLY PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED BELL PEPPER VARIETIES
Variety Early Early Early Early Early Early Early
marketable wt. fancy wt. US#1 wt. US#2 wt. fancy no. US#1 no. US#2 no.
lb./acre lb./acre lb./acre lb./acre #/acre #acre #/acre
Wiregrass Substation'
Sentry 18,140 7,569 6,351 4,220 17,400 20,445 13,920
SR-4153 15,051 5,829 4,307 4,916 14.790 11.310 18.270
XR3 Camelot 12,920 2,349 2,697 7,874 5,655 7,395 28,275
Karma 12,245 3,872 3,545 4,829 10,005 12.615 17,400
King Arthur 11,832 4,698 2,828 4,307 12,180 7,830 18,705
SPP-6112 11,789 2,001 4,959 4,829 4,785 15.660 16,095
ACX-202 11,223 3,437 3,741 4,046 9,135 10,005 14.790
Commandant 11,093 1,044 1,349 8,700 2,175 5,873 8,265
Chocolate Bell 10,092 783 2,567 6,743 1,740 8.265 28.275
Enterprise 9,635 1,610 2,719 5,307 4.350 8,265 21,315
Black Bird 8,744 2,219 2,784 3,741 6,090 7,830 13,485
Capistrano 7,395 0 2,219 5,177 0 7.830 21.315
R
CV
Isd
E.V. Smith Research Center
Enterprise 17,450 555 5,242 11,653 1,598 17,430 51,564
XR3 Camelot 15,692 2,686 4,590 8,416 7,553 16,994 38.637
Chocolate Beauty 14,763 1,084 5,078 8,601 3.341 21,352 45,754
Ivory 13,094 833 4,182 8,078 4,358 23.385 59,407
Sentry 12,512 1,062 3,695 7,756 2,760 12,346 35,441
Bonita 12,326 1,142 4,178 7,007 3,050 16,329 25,308
Goldcoast 12,139 735 2,852 8,552 2,034 11,184 37,765
XPH 12205 11,287 1,783 3,548 5,957 5,229 14,089 25,564
Bell King 11,153 1,407 4,062 5,684 4,358 19,028 32,246
Var. #830 9,401 948 3,361 5,092 2,905 12,927 23,821
Admiral 8,603 40 1,551 7,012 145 6,246 34,570
Commandant 7,436 935 2,630 3,871 2,760 10,603 20,045
Purple Beauty 7,086 655 1,789 4,641 2,179 7,844 24,693
R 0.32 0.22 0.20
CV 43 127 124
Isd 2,244 659 4.338
North Alabama Horticulture Substation
E-417 26,638 11,854 9,525 5,259 26,209 34,583 20,554
E-123 25,090 10,129 11,171 3,790 26,535 38,063 14,790
Sentry 24,600 7,907 11,721 4,972 19,575 40,129 23,164
Figaro 21,637 7,197 9,990 4,450 17,291 34,583 21,206
Enterprise 21,337 7,073 9,568 4,696 20,010 31,973 16,313
King Arthur 17,894 6,473 7,228 4,193 14,573 25,883 17,509
Red Dawn 17,650 2,754 8,885 6,012 7,939 34,909 28,166
Camelot XR3 17,594 4,316 8,257 5,020 11,528 26,535 23,708
HP-4153 16,901 4,720 8,451 3,730 12,724 28,819 16,095
Var. #870 15,746 5,099 6,108 4,538 13,703 21,315 20,445
Super Set 15,445 626 7,449 7,369 2,284 32,516 37,954
Var. #830 13,717 5,001 5,522 3,193 13,050 20,228 14,790
Commandant 13,508 5,670 5,092 2,746 13,703 21,641 13,268
ACX-202 13,261 3,572 6,185 3,504 9,788 20,880 15,334
R 0.55 0.67 0.65
CV 25 40 37
lsd 6,498 3,310 7,856
Upper Coastal Plain Substation'
Enterprise 19,294 0 4,022 15,273 0 18,270 83,955
Redwing 17,306 0 7,502 9,805 0 34,365 56,550
Var. #870 17,113 0 1,903 15,210 0 7,830 76,560
Belle Star 15,021 0 1,466 13,555 0 6,090 73,950
Primadona 14,857 0 5,279 9,579 0 23,490 60,030
Chocolate Beauty 12,082 0 5,842 6,240 0 23,925 36,975
Bonita 11,064 0 5,986 5,079 0 27,840 31,320
Commandant 9,757 0 1,570 8,187 0 9,135 48,720
Purple Beauty 8,641 0 774 7,867 0 3,045 37,845
XPH 12205 8,548 0 3,913 4,635 0 17,400 32,190
Bell King 8,132 0 4,955 3,178 0 16,530 18,705
Lilac 4,657 0 0 4,657 0 0 25,230
CV
lsd
'Observational trial
Combined productions of June 30, July 3, 7, and 9 at WS; June 27, July 2, 15, and 22 at EVSRC; July 23, 31, and
Aug. 6 at NAHS; and, July 9, 14, 28, and Aug. 11 at UCPS.
10
TABLE 4. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED BELL 
PEPPER VARIETIES
Variety Total Total Total Total Total 
Total Total Total Individua
marketable wt. fancywt. US#1 wt. US#2 wt. cull 
fancy no. US#1 no. US#2 no. fancy fruwt
lb./acre lb./acre lb./acre lb./acre Ib./acre #/acre #acre 
#/a lb
Wiregrass Substation
SR-4153 20,706 6,525 6,351 7,830 392 
17,400 19,575 33,495 0.38
Sentry 20,402 7,830 7,308 5,264 87 18,270 
24,795 20,445 0.43
Karma 18,488 4,829 5,655 8,004 1,001 
13,050 21,315 34,800 0.37
Black Bird 17,661 2,784 6,699 8,178 
305 7,830 23,055 34,800 0.36
SPP-6112 16,443 2,741 6,873 6,830 
392 6,960 22,620 25,230 0.39
Commandant 16,313 2,001 3,219 11,093 827 
5,655 13,703 22,185 0.35
Chocolate Bell 15,965 1,131 4,829 10,005 740 
3,045 17,400 45,675 0.37
King Arthur 15,660 4,872 3,654 7,134 
174 12,615 11,745 36,540 0.39
Enterprise 15,116 1,827 3,980 9,309 
740 5,220 13,485 43,935 0.35
CamelotXR3 15,073 2,480 3,263 9,331 1,262 
6,090 9,570 36,540 0.41
ACX-202 15,008 4,437 5,090 5,481 
696 12,615 15,225 22,185 0.35
Capistrano 8,787 479 2,219 6,090 
870 1,305 9,135 26,100 0.37
CV
lsd
E.V. Smith Research Center
Enterprise 24,748 555 6,982 17,212 6,497 
1,598 26,290 83,228 0.33
XR3 Camelot 23,281 2,686 6,481 14,114 
7,146 7,553 23,821 71,173 0.35
Chocolate Beauty 23,078 1,137 6,675 15,266 
4,638 3,486 28,469 92,815 0.32
Sentry 18,875 1,062 4,067 13,746 7,805 
2,760 13,944 73,642 0.38
Bonita 18,705 1,199 5,409 12,098 6,926 
3,196 21,268 56,101 0.37
Var. #830 18,043 948 4,461 12,635 
7,741 2,905 17,430 71,027 0.32
Ivory 17,623 833 4,983 11,807 
5,664 4,358 26,726 89,038 0.20
Goldcoast 16,691 735 3,418 12,537 
6,689 2,034 13,363 62,893 0.36
XPH 12205 16,293 1,783 4,384 10,127 
5,269 5,229 17,285 52,726 0.36
Bell King 16,074 1,407 4,990 9,677 
6,425 4,358 23,385 63,184 0.34
Commandant 13,708 935 3,661 9,112 
6,401 2,760 14,961 52,435 0.34
Admiral 13,341 40 1,551 11,750 
11,405 145 6,246 65,435 0.28
Purple Beauty 12,259 655 1,974 9,629 
7,791 2,179 8,570 55,486 0.28
R
2  
0.28 0.22 
0.75
CV 38 126 
9
Isd 3,362 661 
0.04
North Alabama Horticulture Substation
E-417 26,638 11,854 9,525 
5,259 5,869 26,209 34,583 20,554 
0.44
E-123 25,090 10,129 11,171 3,790 
4,283 26,535 38,063 14,790 0.38
Sentry 24,600 7,907 11,721 4,972 
5,434 19,575 40,129 23,164 0.40
Figaro 21,637 7,197 9,990 4,450 
4,614 17,291 34,583 21,206 0.41
Enterprise 21,337 7,073 9,568 4,696 
3,576 20,010 31,973 16,313 0.35
King Arthur 17,894 6,473 7,228 4,193 
5,078 14,573 25,883 17,509 0.62
Red Dawn 17,650 2,754 8,885 6,012 
4,956 7,939 34,909 28,166 0.35
CamelotXR3 17,594 4,316 8,257 5,020 
4,706 11,528 26,535 23,708 0.47
HP-4153 16,901 4,720 8,451 3,730 
7,079 12,724 28,819 16,095 0.37
Var. #870 15,746 5,099 6,108 4,538 
5,357 13,703 21,315 20,445 0.38
Super Set 15,445 626 7,449 7,369 
5,718 2,284 32,516 37,954 0.27
Var. #830 13,717 5,001 5,522 3,193 
7,195 13,050 20,228 14,790 0.38
Commandant 13,508 5,670 5,092 2,746 
6,806 13,703 21,641 13,268 0.41
ACX-202 13,261 3,572 6,185 3,504 
8,676 9,788 20,880 15,334 0.48
R
2  
0.55 0.67 0.65 
0.23
CV 24 40 
37 27
lsd 6,546 3,335 
7,856 0.13
Upper Coastal Plain Substation
Enterprise 37,635 0 10,775 26,860 
7,067 0 50,460 174,000 0.21
Var. #870 34,300 0 6,914 27,385 
5,738 0 39,585 145,290 0.17
Redwing 34,148 0 17,276 16,871 
1,429 0 82,650 100,485 0.21
Belle Star 30,644 0 3,112 27,531 
3,989 0 12,615 169,215 0.25
Chocolate Beauty 29,202 0 8,685 20,517 
1,470 0 36,975 124,845 0.23
Primadona 24,810 0 9,914 14,897 
4,502 0 45,240 86,565 0.22
Commandant 24,214 0 8,015 16,199 
8,576 0 40,455 97,875 0.20
XPH 12205 22,607 0 9,011 13,596 2,810 0 39,150 
84,390 0.23
Bell King 21,563 0 11,175 10,388 
5,026 0 44,370 65,250 0.25
Bonita 17,539 0 11,641 5,899 
1,477 0 58,725 37,410 0.20
Purple Beauty 15,628 0 1,897 13,732 
5,496 0 10,005 67,425 0.19
Lilac 13,648 0 0 13,648 
474 0 0 79,605 0.19
CV
lsd
Observational trials
Actual harvests dates were June 30, July 3,7,9, 11,14, and 18 at WS; June 27, July 2, 15, 22, 29, and 
Aug. 11 at EVSRC; July 23, 31, and Aug. 6 at NAIlS; and, July 9, 14, 28, and
ug. 11 and 18 at UCPS.
11
'Sparkle' Cantaloupe 
Shows Again Good
Yield Potential in Central Alabama
ERIC SIMONNE, RANDY AKRIDGE, JIM BANNON, 
JASON BURKEwT, ROBERT BOOZER, TONY DAWKINS,
PASCAL LIENHARD, JOSEPH KEMBLE, JIM Prrrs, 
MARVIN RUT, AND JEFF TAYLOR
Small melon (cantaloupe,
Z:. honey dew, and 
French
charentais) variety trials were
: conducted at the Brewton Ex-
periment Field (BEF) in
Brewton, Horticulture Unit at
the E.V. Smith Research Center 
(EVSRC) near Shorter, Chilton 
Area
Horticulture Substation (CAHS) 
in Clanton, and Sand Mountain 
Sub-
station (SMS) in Crossville (tables 
1 and 2).
Selected varieties of small 
melons were direct-seeded in
single rows on five-foot-wide 
beds, at a three-foot within-row 
spac-
ing. At all locations, 
plastic mulch and drip 
irrigation were used.
Planting dates were April 29 at BEF, 
May 30 at EVSRC, May 15 at
CAHS, and May 13 at SMS.
Soils were fertilized according to 
the recommendations of
the Auburn University Soil Testing 
Laboratory. Names of the chemi-
cals are mentioned only for describing 
the production practices used.
This represents neither a recommendation 
nor an endorsement of
these products. Current recommendations 
for pest and weed control
in vegetable production in Alabama 
may be found ifi IPM Commer-
cial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nematode 
and Weed Control Rec-
ommendations (Publication 97IPM-2 
from the Alabama Cooperative
Extension System).
At BEF, a 5-10-15 fertilizer was 
preplant applied on April
2 at a rate of 600 pounds 
per acre. Beds were fumigated 
with
methyl bromide at a rate 
of 200 pounds per acre. 
Herbicide used
was Roundup Ultra applied on May 
1 (preplant) and June 3 at a rate
of two quarts per acre. Ammonium 
nitrate (NH
4
NO) was injected
(at a rate of 34 pounds per acre) 
on May 13, 30, 28, and June 3, 
13,
and 20. A total of 54 pounds 
of N was injected. Fungicides used
were Bravo 720 (at a rate of one 
quart per acre) on May 27 and June
4; and Bravo Ultra (at a rate of 
three pounds per acre) on June 
16.
Insect control was provided by applications 
of Thiodan 3E (at a rate
of one quart per acre) on May 27 
and June 4 and 16.
At EVSRC, preplant fertilization 
consisted of applications
(per acre) of 450 pounds of 0-10-20 
and 387 pounds of 15.5-0-0 on
March 10. Beds were fumigated with 
methyl bromide at a rate of
400 pounds per acre. Between May 
9 and Aug. 14, six pounds of N
were weekly injected alternatively 
from calcium nitrate [Ca(NO
3
)
2
]
and 20-10-20. A total of 120 pounds 
of N was applied (preplant +
injections). Fungicides used were 
Ridomil MZ 58 (at a rate two
pounds per acre) on May 30; Dithane 
DF (at a rate of three pounds
per acre) on June 7, 14, and 20; Bravo 
81 W/Ridomil (at a rate of
three pounds per acre) on June 40 and July 
4; Teramil 6L (at a rate
of three pints per acre) on July 23 and Aug. 
9. Insect control was
provided with applications of Phaser 3EC 
(at a rate of 2.7 pounds
per acre) on May 30 and June 7 and 14; 
Asana XL on June 30, July
4, 12, 24, 30, and Aug. 9.
At CAHS, fertilization consisted of a preplant 
application
(per acre) of 54 pounds of N, 
P
2
0
5 
and K20 and weekly injections
ranging between seven and 14 
pounds of N using 20-20-20 or 
po-
tassium nitrate (KNO
3
). A total of 54 pounds of N 
was injected.
Disease control was provided with applications of Kocide
(at a rate of 2.66 pints per acre) on May 22 
and June 5, 12, 21, and
July 3 and 24; Maneb (at a rate of 1.5 pounds 
per acre) on May 22
and June 5 and 12; and, Bravo/Ridomil (at 
a rate of two pounds per
acre) on June 28 and Aug. 8. Insecticides 
used were Thiodan at a
rate of one quart on May 22 and 
a rate of 2.5 pints on June 6, 
12,
and 21; Dithane (at a rate of two 
pounds per acre) on June 21 
and
July 3 and 24; and, Lannate LV 
(at a rate of two pints per acre) 
on
June 28, July 3 and 24, and Aug. 8.
TABLE 1. RATINGSOF 1997 SMALL
MELON VARIETY TIALs
Location BEF EVSRC 
CAHS SMS
Weather 5 5 4 5
Fertility 5 5 5 
5
Irrigation 5 5 
5 5
Pests 5 5 5 
5
Overall 5 5 
4 5
See Introductionfor description ofrating scales.
At SMS, preplant fertilization consisted 
of applications
(per acre) of two tons of lime, and 150 pounds of NH
4
NO
3
. Weekly
injections of seven pounds of N were 
made between June 5 and
July 31 alternatively from 20-20-20 and KNO
3
. A total of 63
pounds of N was injected. Fungicides used 
were Bravo (at a rate
of one pint per acre) on June 6, and 
two pints per acre on June 20
and July 3 and 17; and, Ridomil (at a rate of 
1.5 pounds per acre)"
on June 13, 27, and July 9. Insecticides 
used were Asana XL (at a
rate of eight ounces per acre) on June 13, 20, 27 and July 3, 9, 
and
17; and, Sevin XLR (at a rate of one pint 
per acre) on July 3.
Harvesting small melons at an over-ripe 
stage may re-
duce shelf-life and increase the risk 
of splitting during transporta-
tion. Flavor may also be adversely affected. 
Selected cantaloupe
varieties may be harvested at half-slip. 
Honey dew melons do not
slip naturally from the vine 
and are considered vine-rippe 
when
the pubescence on the melon falls 
and/or when rind color changes
from green to yellowish. Honey 
dew melons may be harvested 
at
an immature stage; they will continue 
to ripen and become sweeter
during storage. Hence, sugar content 
at harvest is not a good indi-
cator of sweetness at maturity. 
French charentais melons may 
be
harvested when the distal end 
becomes soft to the touch, 
while the
melon still shows a green appearance.
Melons were harvested and 
graded five times between
July 2 and 18 at BEF; nine 
times between July 17 and 
Aug. 13 at
EVSRC; nine times between 
July 24 and Aug. 15 at CAHS; 
and
seven times between Aug. 
4 and 18 at SMS (Table 
3). Sweetness
at harvest was evaluated by 
measuring soluble-solid content 
with
a hand-held refractometer. 
For each variety of cantaloupe, 
eight
representative melons from 
each location were selected. 
Soluble
solid content of cantaloupes varies little after harvest. However, 
a
significant increase in sweetness 
usually occurs in honey dews af-
ter harvest. Therefore for honey 
dews, soluble solids at harvest 
is
not a good indicator of final 
sweetness and it was not recorded.
12
The line'ML-4824' (western, Sandoz Rogers) showed good responded 
to 'Creme de Menthe,' because of its large fruits. Ear-
yield and quality, but also an undesirable 
pointed blossom end. 'Su- liest honey-dew 
was 'Early-Dew.' The flavor and eating 
quality
perstar,' 'Athena' (both eastern) and 'Sparkle' 
and 'Eclipse' (both of 'Passport' (galia 
x honey-dew hybrid) was exceptional, 
as in
western) had highest yields in 1997. 
Highest honey-dew yields cor- previous 
years.
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTIcs, AND 
RELATiVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED VARIETIES OF S.MLL 
MELONS
Variety Type Seed source 
Rind Flesh Days to Disease 
Years
aspect color harvest res./toL eval.
Cantaloupe (Muskmelon)
Allstar Fl Harris Seeds E 
0 . . 96,97
Ambrosia Fl A&C 
W O 88 .
95,97
Athena F1 Sandoz Rogers 
E O 80 FW,PM 
94-97
Cordele F 1 Asgrow 
E O 85 FW,PM 
94-97
Durango Fl Petoseed 
W O 83 FW,PM,Su 
96,97
Eclipse FI Petoseed 
E O 85 
FW,PM 96,97
Gold Mark Fl Solar Seed W 
O . . 97
Hy-Mark Fl Petoseed 
W O 83 
PM,Su 94-97
Laredo F Petoseed 
W O 82 PM,Su 
96,97
Mission F1 Asgrow 
W O 80 PM,Su 
94-97
Otero Fl Hollar 
W O . .
97
Pacstart FI Asgrow 
W O 85 PM 96,97
Scoop II Fl- Solar Seeds 
W O 79 
. 97
Sparkle Fl Ferry-Morse 
W O .
FW,PM,DM 94-97
Starship Fl Harris Seeds 
E O 86 FW,PM 
95-97
Superstar F1 Harris 
Seeds E O 
86 FW 94,96,97
French Charentais
Acor F1 Vilmorin 
Su O 75 FW 
95-97
Alienor Fl Vilmorin 
Su O 75 FW,TB 
95-97
Honeydew
Creme-de-Menthe Fl Solar Seeds 
Sm Gr . 97
Daybreak FI Harris Seeds 
Sm Gr . FW,PM 
96,97
Earli-Dew Fl Petoseed 
Sm Gr 80 FW 
95-97
Honey Brew F1 Sakata 
Sm Gr 90 
FW,DM,PM 96,97
Moonshine Fl Asgrow 
Sm Gr 80 FW 
96,97
Morning Ice Fl Harris Seeds 
Sm Gr 84 FW,PM 
95-97
Rocio FI Solar Seeds 
Sm Gr .
. 97
Other Melons
Iberix (Spanish) OP Vilmorin 
Sm Gr .
. 95-97
Passport* Fl Stokes 
Ro Gr 75 ANT,GSB 
96,97
OP = open pollinated; Fl = hybrid
Rind aspect: Sm = smooth; N = netted; Su = sutured;
Flesh color: 0 = orange; Gr = green; Y =yellow
Disease : FW = fusarium wilt; PM = powdery mildew; ANT = anthracnose; 
DM = downy mildew; Su = sulfur;. = not available; - = none;from 
seed catalogues
* = honey dewx galia cross
13
Table 3. Yield of Selected Small Melon Varieties
Variety Type Marketable Marketable Individual Soluble Cull wt.
yield fruits fruit wt, solids
IbJacre #/acre lb. o Brix lb.acre
Brewlon Experiment Field
Creme-de-Menthe Honey Dew 28,051 5,505 5.1 . 10,788
Starship Cantaloupe 27,850 5,341 5.3 . 4,630
Cordele Cantaloupe 26,359 4,306 6.4 . 2,126
Daybreak Honey Dew 23,803 4,415 5.8 . 2,657
Allstar Cantaloupe 22,966 3,761 6.1 . 3,142
ML-4824 Cantaloupe 20,977 4,524 5.1 927
Passport Honey Dew 20,631 2,943 7.0 . 164
Laredo Cantaloupe 19,669 3,815 5.5 . 2,562
Superstar Cantaloupe 19,402 4,088 5.2 . 1,581
Moonshine Honey Dew 17,811 2,671 6.6 . 2,853
Honey Brew Honey Dew 17,794 3,488 5.9 . 1,553
Morning Ice Honey Dew 17,304 3,052 5.9 . 1,545
Athena Cantaloupe 13,154 1,853 6.5 354
Earli-Dew Honey Dew 12,745 2,071 6.3 995
Rocio Honey Dew 12,718 1,744 6.9 . 1,749
R 0.28 0.34 0.19
CV 45 52 25
lsd 12,958 2,624 2.1
E.V. Smith Research Center
Pacstart Cantaloupe 38,526 5,723 6.6 . 14,377
Durango Cantaloupe 37,817 8,230 4.7 . 19,533
Sparkle Cantaloupe 35,742 6,758 5.3 . 23,539
Mission Cantaloupe 34,695 9,102 3.8 . 16,993
Athena Cantaloupe 32,691 5,505 6.0 . 20,234
HI-Mark Cantaloupe 31,861 8,230 3.8 7,930
Otero Cantaloupe 30,525 7,903 3.8 . 10,802
PMR xTopmark (SC,O) Cantaloupe 29,212 7,630 3.8 . 18,334
Ambrosia Cantaloupe 28,745 6,595 4.4 . 25,498
AC-82-37 RNL (SC,R) Cantaloupe 28,215 8,993 3.2 . 8,725
Perlita x PMR 45 (SC,O) Cantaloupe 27,839 7,848 3.5 . 17,004
AC-75-1-A (SC,R) Cantaloupe 27,255 9,756 2.8 . 11,107
PMR 45 (SC,O) Cantaloupe 26,858 7,848 3.4 . 3,837
Laredo Cantaloupe 26,238 6,758 3.8 . 16,723
Gold Mark Cantaloupe 25,849 4,578 5.7 . 19,985
Edisto 47 (SC,R) Cantaloupe 22,519 4,033 5.6 . 10,829
PMR 6 (SC,O) Cantaloupe 21,582 7,412 2.9 . 7,652
Planter's Jumbo (SC,R) Cantaloupe 17,053 4,251 4.1 . 19,664
R' 0.27 0.46 0,89
CV 36 34 11
Isd 15,386 3,294 0.7
Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
Superstar Cantaloupe 26,976 4,687 5.7
ML-4824 Cantaloupe 25,663 5,396 4.8
Passport Honey Dew 23,640 5,559 4.3
Athena Cantaloupe 22,121 4,088 5.3
Earli-Dew Honey Dew 22,092 4,469 5.0
Laredo Cantaloupe 19,841 6,377 3.1
Morning Ice Honey Dew 18,530 2,344 7.9
Hi-Mark Cantaloupe 18,149 4,851 3.8
Cordele Cantaloupe 17,542 3,216 5.5
Creme-de-Menthe Honey Dew 17,050 2,616 6.1
Rocio Honey Dew 16,034 2,507 6.1
Allstar Cantaloupe 15,372 4,197 3.6
Daybreak Honey Dew 13,860 2,180 6.3
HMX 2608 Cantaloupe 12,974 3,107 4.1
Honey Brew HoneyDew 11,508 1,908 5.9
Moonshine Honey Dew 7,130 1,145 6.6
R 0.44 0.62 0.79
CV 37 36 14
Isd 4,247 1,871 1.0
Sand Mountain Substation
Eclipse Cantaloupe 44,020 5,832 7.5 10 0
ML-4824 Cantaloupe 41,545 7,903 5.3 8 0
Cordele Cantaloupe 39,262 6,104 6.4 9 0
Durango Cantaloupe 38,859 8,775 4.4 11 0
Gold Mark Cantaloupe 38,264 7,085 5.4 9 0
Otero Cantaloupe 36,559 8,775 4.2 11 0
Pacstart Cantaloupe 36,068 4,578 7.9 7 0
Mission Cantaloupe 34,831 9,865 3.5 9 0
Laredo Cantaloupe 34,253 8,884 3.9 10 0
Hi-Mark Cantaloupe 32,319 8,175 3.9 9 0
Athena Cantaloupe 30,929 5,995 5.2 11 0
Acor Cantaloupe 26,220 7,630 3.5 11 0
Alienor Cantaloupe 25,408 6,649 3.8 10 0
Scoop II Cantaloupe 18,339 4,524 4.1 3 0
FMX 220 Cantaloupe 1,417 436 3.3 9 0
Ibezix Spanish 981 109 9.0 10 0
R' 0.75 0.81 0.52
CV 28 25 23
lsd 11,853 2,206 2.9
Actual harvest dates were July 2, 7, 14, 17, and l at BEF; July 17, 22, 25, 28, 31, and Aug. 4, 7, 11, and 13 at EVSRC; July 24, 28, 31, and Aug. 1, 4, 6,
8, 12, nd 15 at CANS; andAug. 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15 and 18 at SMS.
SC = Southern Muslnelon Collaborators'entry; Rep. - replicated; Obs. = observational
14
.Waterme]
tested at the G
tion (GCS)
Wiregrass Su
Headland, Upper Coastal Plain Substation (UCPS
North Alabama Horticulture Substation (NAHS) i
1 and 2).Watermelons were established on bare g
long, five-foot-wide plots with a hill spacing of
feet. Seeds were used at GCS and WS, while tran
at NAHS and UCPS. Planting dates were April 9
10 atWS. Transplanting dates were May 15 atNA
UCPS. Abnormally wet and cool conditions in
June resulted in severe epidemiology of gumm3
detroyed the watermelon tests at NAHS and UCP
'Starbrite' Performs Well in
Watermelon Trials in South Alabama
ERIC SIMONNE, ARNOLD CAYLOR, BRIAN GAMBLE JOSEPH KEMBLE, PASCAL LIENHARD,
RONALD MCDANIEL, MALCOM PEGUES, RANDALL RAWLS, AND JEFF TAYLOR
lon varieties were Soils were fertilized according to the recommendations
iulf Coast Substa- of the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. Names of the
in Fairhope, chemicals are mentioned only for describing the production pract-
bstation (WS) 
in 
TABLE 1. 
RATINGS OF 
1997 WATERMELON
) in Winfield, and
n Cullman (tables VARIETY TRIALS
round in 60-foot- Location GCS WS UCPS NAHS
approximately 10 Weather 4 5 1 1
splants were used Fertility 5 5 5 5
at GCS and April Irrigation 5 5 5 5
HS and May 13 at Pests 5 5 1 1
North Alabama in Overall 4 5 1 1
y stem blight that See Introductionfordescription ofrating scales.
S.
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED WATERMELON VARIETIES
Variety Type Seed source Fruit Flesh Days to Disease Years
color harvest res.tol. eval.
Seeded/Diploid
Arribal Fl Hollar Jubilee Red 82 ANT,FW 97
AU-AS OP Auburn University AS Red . . 94,96,97
AU-Golden Producer OP Auburn University CS Golden 75 ANT,DM,FW,GSB 95-97
AU-SS Sweet Scarlet OP Auburn University CS Red . . 96,97
Baron FI American Sunmelon Solid Green Red . . 96,97
Carnival FI Sandoz Rogers AS Red 86 ANT,FW 97
Crimson Glory F1 Petoseed CS Red 82 FW 96,97
Crimson Sweet OP Stokes CS Red 85 ANT,FW 97
Ferrari F1 Shamrock AS Red . . 97
Fiesta F1 Sandoz Rogers AS Red 85 . 97
Huck Finn FI Ferry-Morse Jubilee Red 85 -- 94-97
Mardi Gras Fl Sandoz Rogers AS Red 86 ANT,FW 97
Matador F1 Hollar Solid Green Red 87 FW 97
Regency Fl Petoseed AS Red 83 ANT,FW 94,96,97
Royal Sweet Fl Petoseed Jubilee Red 85 ANT,FW 94,96,97
Seville F1 Hollar AS Red 85 FW 97
Stars'N Stripes F1 Asgrow Jubilee Red 97 . 97
Starbrite Fl Asgrow Jubilee Red 85 FW 97
Sweet Favorite Fl Sakata Solid Green Red 83 -- 96,97
Var. #500 F1 A&C AS Blocky Red 88 . 97
Var. #510 Fl A&C AS Blocky Red 84 . 96,97
Var. #3521Y FI A&C Round Yellow 88 . 97
Yellow Baby Fl Park Seed Round Yellow 75 . 97
Yellow Doll Fl Petoseed Round Yellow 68 -- 96,97
Seedless/Triploid
Laurel Fl SeedWay Round Red 85 . 97
Paladin Fl Sakata Oblong Red 80 ANT,FW 96,97
Tri-X 313 F1 American Sunmelon Oblong Red . . 96,97
Tri-X Shadow F1 American Sunmelon Round Red . . 96,97
Tri-X Sunrise F1 American Sunmelon Round Red . . 96,97
Var. #2532 F1 A&C Round Red 90 ANT 96,97
Var. #5244 FI A&C Oblong Red 90 ANT 94,96
Var. #5544 Fl A&C Oblong Red . . 96,97
.= not available; -- = none; from seed catalogues
Disease: ANT = anthracnose; FW = fusarium wilt; GSB = gummy stem blight; DM = downy mildew
Fruit type : CS = crimson sweet; AS = allsweet
tices used. This represents neither a recommendation 
nor an en-
dorsement of these products. Current recommendations for pest
and weed control in vegetable production in 
Alabama may be found
in IPM Commercial Vegetables: Insect, 
Disease, Nematode and
Weed Control Recommendations (Publication 
971PM-2 from the
Alabama Cooperative Extension System).
At GCS, 500 pounds per acre of a 4-12-12 
fertilizer were
preplant applied on March 17. Herbicide used was 
Poast (at a rate
of 1.5 pint per acre) on May 9 and June 3. Watermelons 
were
sidedressed with ammonium nitrate (NH
4
NO
3
) atarateof35 pounds
of N per acre on May 13 and 28. Fungicides used were 
Bravo (at a
rate of two pints per acre) on May 28 and June 3, 17, and 23; and,
Bravo 720/Ridomil (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on June 11
and July 2. Insect control was provided by applications of Ambush
(at a rate of six ounces per acre) on June 6 and July 2.
At WS, preplant fertilization consisted of applications (per
acre) of two tons of broiler litter and 350 pounds of 13-13-13 on
April 1. Watermelons were sidedressed on May 14 with 80 pounds
of N per acre as NH
4
NO
3
. Fungicides used were Bravo (at a rate of
three pints per acre) on May 21, 27, June 2, 9, 23, and July 8. Asana
insecticide was used on May 27 at a rate of eight ounces per acre on
15
June 23 at a rate of seven ounces peracre. Plants .were drip-irri-
gated as needed.
Watermelons were harvested on July 15 at GCS and July
14 and 15 at WS. Important characteristics for watermelons are
marketable yield, sweetness, and rind thickness. Fruits were graded
as described in the Watermelon Grader's Guide (Circular ANR 681
from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System) and marketable
yield was determined. Two representative melons were selected
fiom each plot for the measure of soluble solids levels, which is
often used to evaluate sweetness (Table 3). Watermelons with
soluble solid levels of less than 100 Brix do not taste sweet. Rind
thickness is used as an indicator of shipping ability, and resistance
to bruising and splitting during handling. 'Yellow Doll' had a rind
thickness of less than 0.25 inch, and was difficult to handle without
cracking. For other varieties, rind thickness ranged between 0.5
and 0.75 inch.
Because of the gummy stem blight epidemic, all results
were from South Alabama. In the jubilee type, 'Stars'n Stripes,'
'Regency,' and 'Starbrite' had highest yields. Top allsweet-type
varieties were 'Fiesta,' 'Mardi Gras,' and 'Sangria.' No triploids
were evaluated in South Alabama in 1997.
TABLE 3. YIELD OF SELECTED WATERMELON VARIETIES
Variety Marketable Marketable Individual Soluble Hollow
yield fruits fruit wt. solids heart
lb./acre #/acre lb. o Brix In.
Gulf Coast Substation
Starbrite 35,661 1,502 24 
10.9 3
Stars N Stripe 32,089 1,740 19 10.4 
1
Fiesta 30.485 1,649 19 I 1.3 1
Royal Sweet 29,336 1,308 22 11.1 
1
Mardi Gras 29,166 1,411 21 10.4 
0
Regency 28,893 1,467 20 
11.1 0
Carnival 28,483 1,263 23 11.8 
1
Seville 27,619 1,331 21 10.6 
0
Matador 27,391 1,467 19 11.6 1
S SC-460063 27,300 1,183 23 11.3 
3
Ferrari 27,004 1,547 17 10.9 1
Sangria 26,868 1,536 18 11.8 1
Huck Finn 25,560 1,297 20 11.2 1
Var. #500 25,287 1,172 21 10.5 1
Arribal 25,025 1,240 20 10.5 2
Crimson Glory 24,570 1,502 16 11.5 3
SSC-460068 22,022 1,320 17 10.3 0
Var. #510 17,063 910 19 10.4 0
R
z  
0.39 0.55 0.34 0.29
CV 21 10 7 154
lsd 26,327 3 1.1 2
Wiregrass Substation
Stars'n Stripes 38,481 1,504 25 11.1 3
Regency 34,389 1,396 25 12.1 2
Starbrite 33,854 1,396 25 11.1 5
Sangria 28,447 1,269 23 12.2 4
Mardi Gras 26,678 1,051 25 12.2 3
Seville 26,479 961 28 11.3 4
Huck Finn 26,145 961 27 12.0 6
Arribal 25,187 1,033 24 12.0 3
Matador 24,213 924 27 12.4 7
Fiesta 23,434 1,106 21 11.6 1
Carnival 21,650 924 24 11.5 5
Royal Sweet 21,529 852 25 11.6 4
AU-SS Sweet Scarlet 19,428 834 23 11.9 2
Crimson Glory 17,739 598 29 12.0 6
AU-Golden Producer 14,627 671 21 11.6 3
AU-Allsweet 8,107 399 20 11.6 3
R
2  
0.55 0.17 0.40 0.25
CV 31 25 5 80
lsd 21,750 8 0.8 4
Cucumbers Evaluated on Bare Ground
and Plastic Mulch
ERIC SIMONNE, ARNOLD CAYLOR, RONALD MCDANIEL, JOSEPH KEIBLE, MONTE NESBITr,
MALCOM PEGUES, AND JEFF TAYLOR
. Slicer cucum-
ber variety trials were con-
ducted at the Gulf Coast Sub-
station (GCS) in Fairhope and
North Alabama Horticulture
Substation (NAHS) in Cullman (tables 1 and 
2). Selected varieties
were direct-seeded at a one-inch depth on April 4 at 
GCS and May
14 at NAHS. At NAHS, black plastic and drip 
irrigation were
used. At both locations, plots consisted of a single 20-foot row.
Within-row spacing was eight inches, which provided 
a stand of
approximately 17,000 plants per acre.
Soils were fertilized according to the recommendations
of the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. Names of the
chemicals are mentioned only for describing the production prac-
tices used. This represents neither a recommendation nor 
an en-
dorsement of these products. Current recommendations 
for pest
and weed controlin vegetable production inAlabamamay be found
in IPM Commercial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nematode and
Weed Control Recommendations (Publication 97IPM-2 from the
Alabama Cooperative Extension System).
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1997 SucER CUCUMBER
VARIETY TRIALS
Location GCS NAHS
Weather 5 5
Fertility 5 5
Irrigation 5 5
Pests 5 5
Overall 5 5
See Introductionfor descripn'on ofrating scales.
At GCS, 500 pounds per acre of a 10-10-10 fertilizer
were applied on April 4. Fungicides used were Bravo 720 (at a
rate of 1.5 pints per acre) on May 20, 28, June 3, 17, and 23;
Bravo 720/Ridomil (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on June 3
and July 2. Insect control was provided with applications of
Ambush (at a rate of eight ounces per acre) on June 3 and July 2.
Cucumbers were overhead-irrigated as needed.
At NAHS, preplant fertilization consisted of an appli-
cation of 15-0-0 at a rate of 500 pounds per acre. Beginning
after transplanting and through harvest, cucumbers were fertil-
ized with weekly injections at a rate of five pounds of N alterna-
tively from calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)
2
] and ammonium nitrate
(NH
4
NO
3
). Fungicides used were Kocide 101 (at a rate of two
pounds per acre) on June 19; Bravo Ultra (at a rate of three pints
per acre) on June 26 and July 3, 11, and 17; Benlate (at a rate of
0.5 pound per acre) on June 26 and July 11 and 17; Bravo (at a
rate of three pints per acre). Insecticides used were Asana XL
(at a rate of 9.6 ounces per acre) on June 19 and 27 and July 11
and 17; Sevin XLR (at a rate of one quart per acre) on June 27;
and, Adios (at a rate of 12 ounces per acre) on June 3. Cucum-
bers were harvested 16 times between May 26 and July 3 at
GCS and seven times between July 3 and July 18 at NAHS.After
each harvest, fruits were weighed and graded according to the Cu-
cumber Grader's Guide (Circular ANR-771 from the Alabama Coop-
erative Extension System). Early (Table 3) and total (Table 4) yields
were determined. Earliness was evaluated by adding the marketable
yields of the first four harvests.
At both locations, total yield differences were not signifi-
cant for all varieties but for 'ACX-5002' at NAHS. Top yielders were
'Dasher II' at GCS and 'Slice Max' and 'Olympian' at NAHS. The
standard 'General Lee' continued to be among the top varieties.
17
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED CUCUMBER VARIEIES
Variety Type Seed source Days to Disease Years
harvest tol./res. eval.
Dasher II Fl Petoseed 58 ALS,ANT,CMV,DMPM,Sc 94-97
Early Star Fl Ferry-Morse . . 97
General Lee Fl Stokes 55 CMV,DM,PM,Sc 94-97
Indy Fl Petoseed . ALS,ANT,CMV,PM,PRSV,STM,ZYMV 96,97
Jazzer Fl Stokes 48 CMV,DM,PM,Sc 96,97
Lightning F1 Asgrow 57 ALS,CMV,DM,PM,Sc 94-97
Meteor Fl Asgrow 50 ALS,ANT,CMV,DM,PM,Sc 94-97
Olympian Fl Hollar 59 ALS,DM,PM,Sc 97
Pointsett 76 OP Stokes 65 ALS,ANT,DM,PM,Sc 97
Seneca Longbow Fl Solar Seed 62 CMV,DM,PM,SC 97
Slice Max Fl Sakata 62 ALS,DM,PM,Sc 97
Speedway F1 Petoseed 56 ALS,ANT,CMV,DM,PM,Sc 94-97
Thunder Fl Asgrow 56 ALS,CMV,DM,PM,Sc 94-97
Turbo Fl Petoseed 65 ANT,ALS,CMV,DM,PM,Sc,STM 94,96,97
Ultraslice Early Fl Stokes 56 ALS,ANT,CMV,DM,PM,Sc 95-97
= not available; from seed catalogues
Type: F1 = hybrid; OP = open pollinated
Disease: A = anthracnose; ALS = angular leaf spot; CMV = cucumber mosaic virus; DM = downy mildew; PM = powdery mildew; PRSV = papaya
ring spot virus; Sc = scab; STM = stemphylium; ZYMV = zucchini yellow mosaic virus
TABLE 3. EARLY PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED SLICING CUCUMBER VARIETIES
Variety Early Early Early Early Early Early
marketable wt fancy wt. fancy no. US#1 wt. US#1 no. US#2 wt.
lb./acre lb./acre #/acre lb./acre #/acre lb./acre
Gulf Coast Substation
Jazzer 6,296 3,409 7,150 2,117 5,269 974
Olympian 4,844 1,881 4,245 1,265 3,174 272
FMX 5056 4,488 1,898 4,086 1,777 5,248 582
Dasher II 4,457 1,977 4,351 1,399 4,387 598
Thunder 3,547 1,745 3,962 1,193 3,277 792
Meteor 2,855 1,198 2,697 1,373 4,055 401
Lightning 2,520 1,150 2,427 712 2,282 625
General Lee 1,701 1,129 2,583 826 2,531 411
Indy 902, 261 669 622 1,424 190
R 0.34
CV 74
sd 3,715
North Alabama Horticulture Substation
Early Star 33,615 24,183 39,516 9,433 19,914 5,299
Olympian 30,725 16,774 30,493 13,950 21,469 51,396
Slice Max 28,865 21,591 32,826 7,275 14,313 5,560
ACX-5001 25,290 19,820 29,248 5,470 12,446 5,078
Lightning 24,043 14,784 23,647 9,258 16,647 4,605
Meteor 22,744 16,839 30,493 5,904 14,002 3,720
Ultraslice Early 21,619 19,036 34,227 2,583 6,845 1,375
Thunder 19,962 13,673 27,070 6,288 14,468 4,552
Speedway - 19,775 15,027 26,759 4,748 11,979 3,276
General Lee 19,419 14,949 35,782 4,470 12,757 3,094
Indy 18,831 13,641 24,114 5,190 12,135 4,389
Turbo 18,545 13,667 26,137 4,877 11,979 2,212
Dasher II 17,258 13,281 25,670 3,976 9,335 2,716
Seneca Longbow 17,020 12,983 29,404 4,037 9,490 2,559
Panther 16,973 12,773 24,581 4,201 10,424 2,799
HMX-1433 15,120 10,914 20,225 4,207 10,112 2,527
Pointsett 76 10,293 7,916 19,914 2,377 8,090 828
ACX-5002 4,891 1,798 3,734 3,093 8,090 660
Rz 0.32
CV 48
Isd 15,030
18
TABLE 4. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE 
DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED SLICING 
CUCUMBER VARIETIES
Variety Total Total 
Total Total Total 
Total Total Individual
marketable wt fancy wt. fancy 
no. US#1 wt. US#1 no. 
US#2 wt. cull fruit wt.
lb./acre lb./acre #/acre 
lb./acre #/acre lb./acre 
lb./acre lb.
Gulf Coast Substation
Dasher II 69,503 21,588 
45,526 26,409 64,942 
4,318 714 0.44
Olympian 59,951 
14,057 28,719 21,817 
47,699 3,145 
1,223 0.46
FMX 5056 58,488 15,410 
30,560 27,814 64,631 
5,463 3,406 0.47
General Lee 53,036 18,769 
41,196 28,288 76,662 
3,501 1,731 0.41
Meteor 52,195 16,381 
35,507 25,892 63,143 
3,628 1,234 0.42
Indy 47,637 
12,617 26,380 23,609 
58,600 4,006 
1,828 0.44
Lightning 46,943 
13,267 27,003 
18,982 45,983 
3,276 1,338 
0.45
Thunder 44,977 12,590 
28,138 20,095 49,691 
3,958 2,033 0.42
Jazzer 39,158 13,897 
29,341 18,026 41,061 
3,127 1,269 0.45
R
2  
0.20 
0.29
CV 39 
7
lsd 29,339 
0.05
North Alabama Horticulture 
Substation
Slice Max 44,753 32,344 
47,139 12,409 25,514 
10,952 9,524 0.59
Olympian 44,421 26,424 
48,228 17,997 
31,582 58,936 8,376 
0.79
Early Star 1,349 
28,565 46,984 
12,784 27,070 
12,984 12,514 
0.53
Meteor 38,458 26,865 
50,717 11,593 30,182 
10,581 8,029 0.45
Ultraslice Early 37,531 32,061 
58,496 5,470 14,935 
6,435 4,225 0.46
General Lee 35,740 25,471 
61,141 10,270 28,626 
8,771 5,949 0.39
Turbo 34,426 24,106 
45,428 10,319 25,203 
7,508 4,665 0.47
Seneca Longbow34,329 23,694 
51,029 10,635 27,537 
12,051 5,797 0.43
Speedway 34,060 23,179 
41,072 10,881 24,892 
8,342 4,115 0.51
ACX5001 34,015 25,601 
41,072 8,413 21,158 
9,378 6,067 0.51
Thunder 33,442 22,107 
41,383 11,335 26,759 
10,047 7,247 0.47
Lightning 32,946 19,602 
33,760 13,344 27,537 
11,978 8,550 0.54
Panther 31,705 
22,459 43,872 9,246 
23,959 8,698 6,816 
0.45
Indy 31,616 
21,777 41,072 9,839 
25,981 12,138 8,624 
0.45
Dasher II 29,696 21,435 
39,205 8,261 20,691 
8,071 6,534 0.48
Pointsett 76 27,898 23,174 
46,050 4,723 14,935 
4,163 1,798 0.41
HMX-1433 26,748 19,456 
39,049 7,292 20,069 
7,703 5,467 0.43
ACX-5002 15,831 11,245 
23,025 4,586 13,691 
4,698 3,136 0.41
R
2  
0.18 
0.28
CV 42 
36
lsd 20,719 
0.13
Actual harvest dates wereMay 26, 30, 
June 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 
25, 27, and July 3 at GCS; and June 3, 
7, 9, 11, 14, 16, and
combined productions ofMay 26 and 
30 and June 2 and 4 at GCS; and 
June 3, 7, 9, and 11 atNAHS.
19
Transgenic Varieties 
Tested in Summer
Squash Trials
ERIC SIMONNE, RANDY AKRIDGE, JIM BANNON, JASON 
BURKETr, JOSEPH KEMBLE,
S: RANDALL RAWLS, AND JEFF TAYLOR
Yellow and zucchini 
summer are necessary 
characteristics for squash 
to be graded as US#1.
squash variety trials were con- 
Hence, fruits were harvested on June 
7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 19, and 20
ducted at the Brewton 
Experi- at BEF; 
10 times between June 
6 and 30 at EVSRC; 
and 10 times
ment Field (BEF) in 
Brewton, between June 
18 and July 11 atUCPS. 
At harvest, fruits were 
graded
Horticulture Unit, 
E.V. Smith as US#1, 
US#2, or cull according 
to the United States Standards
Research Center (EVSRC) 
in Shorter, and Upper 
Coastal Plain Sub- 
for Grades of Summer 
Squash (U.S. Dept 
Agr. G.P.O. 1987-180-
station (UCPS) in Winfield 
(tables 1 and 2). 
916:40730 AMS). Marketable 
yield was calculated by adding the
At all locations, squash were direct-seeded 
at a one-inch US#1 and US#2 
yields. Earliness (Table 3) was evaluated 
by com-
depth in single-row, 
five-foot-wide and 
20-foot-long plots. 
In-row bining 
the yields of the first 
four harvests. Total 
production (Table
spacing was 18 inches, 
which provided a 
stand of approximately 
4) was also determined.
6,000 plants per acre. 
Trials were drip irrigated 
and the beds were 
Although differences 
were not always significant, 
the
covered with black-plastic mulch. 
Planting date was April 29 at BEF, 
crookneck standard Dixie was out-yielded 
at all three locations by
April 30 at EVSRC, 
and May 23 at UCPS. 
'Gentry,' 'Picasso,' 
and 'Prelude.' The 
line 'FMX-564' (crook-
Soils were fertilized 
according to the recommendations 
of neck; Ferry-Morse) 
was top yielder both times 
it was evaluated. In
the Auburn University Soil Testing 
Laboratory. Names of the chemi- 
the straightneck type, the 
experimental line 'SS-6' (Sandoz 
Rogers)
cals are mentioned only for describing 
the production practices used. 
and 'Enterprize' had significantly 
higher yields than 'Lemondrop
This represents neither 
a recommendation nor 
an endorsement of 
L.' and 'Sunbar.' The 
experimental yellow 
zucchini 'ACX-27'
these products. Current 
recommendations for 
pest and weed control 
(Abbott and Cobb) 
had good yields, and 
nicely shaped and colored
in vegetable production 
in Alabama may be found 
in IPM Commer- fruits.
cial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, 
Nematode and Weed Control 
Rec-
ommendations (Publication 97IPM-2 from 
theAlabama Cooperative TABLE 
1. RATINGS OF 1997 SUMMER SQUASH
Extension System). VArETY TIUALS
At BEF, the squash was double cropped following fall Location BEF EVSRC UCPS
cabbage. Roundup Ultra was applied on March 21 at a rate of one Weather 5 5 5
quart per acre. Beds were cleaned approximately 10 days later. Fer- Fertility 5 5 5
tilization consisted of weekly injections ranging between 10 and 20 Irrigation 5 5 5
pounds of N alternatively from ammonium nitrate (NH
4
NO
3
) and Pests 5 5 5
potassium nitrate (KNO
3
). A total of 100 pounds of N was injected. Overall 5 5 5
Fungicides used were Bravo 720 (at a rate of 
one quart per acre) on See Introductionfordecription 
of rating scales.
May 20,27, June 4; Bravo Ultrex 
(at a rate of two pounds per acre) on
June 13; and, Benlate 50W (at 
a rate of 0.5 pounds per acre) on June
13. Insect control was provided with 
applications of Thiodan 3E (at
a rate of one quart per acre) on May 
27 and June 4 and 13.
At EVSRC, preplant fertilization consisted 
of applications
(per acre) of 450 pounds of a 0-10-20 
fertilizer and 387 pounds of
calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)
2
] on March 5. Beds were fumigated 
with
methyl bromide at a rate of 400 pounds 
per acre on March 7. Between
May 9 and June 30, plants received 
weekly injections of six pounds
of N, alternatively from a liquid Ca(NO
3
)
2 
solution and 20-10-20. A
total of 45 pounds of N per acre was injected. 
Fungicides used were
Ridomil MZ58 (ata rate of three pounds per acre) 
on May 30; Dithane
DF (at a rate of three pounds per acre) on 
June 7, 14 and 21; and,
Ridomil/Bravo 81 W (at a rate of three 
pounds per acre) on June 30.
Insecticides used werePhaser 3EC (at 
arate of 2.47 pints per acre) on
May 30 and June 7, 14, and 21; and, 
Asana XL (at a rate of 9.6 ounces
per acre) on June 30.
At UCPS, N was weekly injected between 
May 29 and
July 10 alternatively from 20-20-20 
(at a rate of six pounds per acre)
and KNO
3 
(at a rate of nine pounds per acre). A 
total of 51 pounds of
N per acre was injected.Frequent 
harvests are needed for summer
squash to remain "fairly young and 
fairly tender" which
20
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT TYPE, 
AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED 
SQUASH VARIETIES
Variety . Type 
Seed Days to 
Disease Years
source harvest res./toL 
eval.
Yellow Crookneck
Destiny III** F1 
Asgrow . CMV,WMV,ZYMV 
97
Dixie FI 
Asgrow 41 
-- 94-97
Gentry Fl 
Sandoz Rogers .
. 95-97
Goldie F1 
Petoseed 43 
- 94-97
Liberator III** F1 
Asgrow 42 CMV,ZYMV 
97
Meigs* F1 
Asgrow .
. 96,97
Picasso Fl 
Ferry-Morse 40 
-- 96,97
Prelude II** F1 
Asgrow 40 PM,WMV,ZYMV 
95-97
Prelude F1 
Asgrow .
PM 97
Sundance Fl 
Petoseed 45 
- 94-97
Suwanee F1 
Solar Seed .
. 97
Yellow Straightneck
Enterprise F1 
Sandoz Rogers 41 
- 97
Lemondrop L. Fl 
Asgrow 41 
- 94-97
Monet F1 
Ferry-Morse 48 
- 96,97
Prolific Fl 
Seneca Hybrids 45 
-- 97
Seneca Supreme* F1 
Solar Seed 52 
CMV,WMV 97
Sunbar* F1 
Petoseed 43 
-- 94,96,97
Zucchini Squash
Condor FI 
Vilmorin 44 
- 95-97
Embassy Fl 
Petoseed 49 DM,PM 
94-97
Gold Rush (Yellow) Fl 
Stokes 52 
-- 96,97
Seasons Fl 
A&C 50 
-- 97
Senator Fl 
Asgrow 41 
- 94-97
Seneca Zucchini Fl 
Seneca Hybrids 42 
-- 97
Sensation F1 
Asgrow 40 
-- 96,97
Spineless Beauty Fl 
Sandoz Rogers 43 
- 94-97
Super Select Fl 
Stokes 48 
DM,PM 96,97
Tigress** FI 
Harris Seeds 47 
WMV,ZYMV 95-97
Zucchini Elite Fl 
Harris Seeds 48 
-- 95-97
Zucchini Select FI 
Stokes 47 
DM,PM 97
*precocious (yellow peduncle); ** transgenic
* = not available; - = none;from seed 
catalogues
Disease: PM = powdery mildew; DM = downy 
mildew; ZYMV = zucchini yellow mosaic 
virus; WMV = watermelon mosaic virus
21
TABLE 3. EARLY YIELD AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED SUMMER SQUASH VARIETIES
Variety Type Early Early Early Early Early
marketable wt. US#1 wt. US#2 wt. US#1 no. US#2 no.
lb./acre lb./acre lb./acre #/acre #/acre
Brewton Experiment Field
FMX-564 CN 3,855 3,855 0 18,186 0
Picasso CN 3,684 3,684 0 16,226 0
Dixie CN 2,831 2,831 0 14,810 0
Gentry CN 2,761 2,761 0 15,028 0
Prelude CN 2,679 2,679 0 15,137 0
Meigs CN 2,657 2,657 0 14,484 0
Liberator III CN 2,537 2,537 0 9,910 0
FMX-690 CN 2,407 2,407 0 13,286 0
Prelude II CN 2,265 2,265 0 12,415 0
CS-9 CN 2,238 2,238 0 13,613 0
Destiny III CN 2,222 2,222 0 13,721 0
Goldie CN 2,189 2,189 0 12,850 0
Sundance CN 2,156 2,156 0 11,870 0
FMX-694 CN 2,151 2,151 0 12,524 0
Condor Z 4,617 4,617 0 9,148 0
Sensation Z 3,223 3,223 0 7,841 0
Super Select Z 1,851 1,851 0 8,276 0
Seasons Z 1,372 1,372 0 3,049 0
R 0.47 0.47
CV 29 29
Isd 1,087 1,087
E.V. Smith Research Center
Prelude CN 3,118 2,420 698 22,408 11,488
Picasso CN 3,093 2,520 573 18,944 8,304
Enterprise SN 3,037 2,183 854 14,094 6,912
Gentry CN 2,965 2,534 431 22,808 8,538
SS-6 SN 2,813 2,360 452 16,408 6,098
Sundance CN 2,533 2,182 351 20,366 6,904
Prolific SN 2,532 2,129 402 12,716 5,579
Meigs CN 2,331 1,964 367 18,764 6,216
Lemondrop L. SN 2,295 1,961 335 13,660 5,489
Dixie CN 2,259 1,882 377 14,349 5,859
Prelude II CN 2,118 1,479 639 14,026 5,245
Seneca Supreme SN 1,978 1,727 251 13,257 3,314
Sunbar SN 746 531 323 4,815 3,370
Spineless Beauty Z 4,333 4,116 216 11,088 2,772
Condor Z 3,661 3,103 558 11,259 4,691
Zucchini Elite Z 3,375 3,000 375 9,148 2,439
ACX-27 (Yellow) Z 3,205 1,745 1,460 7,454 4,066
Embassy Z 2,847 2,334 514 8,444 3,753
Senator Z 2,119 2,007 112 5,590 508
R 0.36 0.39
CV 34 41
lsd 1,188 1,221
Upper Coastal Plain Substation
FMX-564 CN 4,559 1,300 3,259 4,027 15,879
Prelude CN 4,485 1,335 3,151 7,154 19,703
CS-9 CN 3,970 1,874 2,097 8,131 11,632
Picasso CN 3,928 1,825 2,103 8,809 13,213
Destiny III CN 3,645 1,323 2,321 8,285 11,276
Prelude II CN 3,590 1,949 1,641 10,672 10,890
Goldie CN 3,587 1,456 2,130 8,018 12,423
FMX-694 CN 3,548 1,293 2,255 7,792 14,117
Liberator III CN 3,233 1,479 1,754 9,148 12,563
Dixie CN 3,192 677 2,515 3,946 11,838
Meigs CN 3,095 1,869 1,225 14,268 8,860
Sundance CN 2,857 719 2,138 4,990 8,870
FMX-690 CN 2,691 1,059 1,632 6,970 10,128
Gentay CN 2,011 637 1,373 4,105 8,092
Suwanee CN 1,146 0 1,146 0 8,276
XPH 1776 Z 4,487 3,026 1,461 9,148 13,721
XPH 1777 Z 4,356 1,708 2,648 0 19,166
Embassy Z 2,115 0 2,115 0 3,049
R' 0.22 0.23
CV 48 87
lsd 2,263 1,583
CN = yellow crookneck; SCN = semi-crookneck; Z = zucchini
Combined productions of June 7, 9, 11, and 13 at BEF: June 6, 9, 11, and 13 at EVSRC; and, June 18, 20, 23, and 25 at UCPS.
Marketable yields were determined as US#1 + US#2 grades.
22
TABLE 4. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED SUMMER SQUASH VARIETIES
Variety Type Total Total Total Total 
Total Total Individual
marketable wt. US#1 wt. US#2 wt. cull US#1 no. US#2 no. US#1 fruit wt.
lb./acre lb./acre lb./acre lb./acre #/acre #/acre lb.
Brewton Experiment Field
FMX-564 CN 4,999 4,999 0 240 24,938 0 0.20
Gentry CN 4,617 4,617 0 0 
23,087 0 0.19
Picasso CN 4,555 4,555 0 278 20,691 0 0.23
FMX-690 CN 4,116 4,116 0 0 20,582 0 0.20
FMX-694 CN 3,980 3,980 0 0 20,364 0 0.20
Meigs CN 3,920 3,920 0 0 20,691 
0 0.19
Prelude CN 3,888 3,888 0 0 21,127 0 0.18
CS-9 CN 3,773 3,773 0 0 21,889 0 0.17
Dixie CN 3,752 3,752 0 22 18,949 0 0.20
Liberator III CN 3,735 3,735 0 0 15,246 0 0.23
Destiny III CN 3,294 3,294 0 0 18,077 
0 0.18
Sundance CN 3,294 3,294 0 0 17,969 0 0.18
Prelude II CN 3,256 3,256 0 0 16,771 0 0.19
Goldie CN 3,136 3,136 0 0 17,315 0 0.18
Condor Z 7,971 7,971 0 0 15,246 0 0.52
Super Select Z 6,098 6,098 0 0 13,068 
0 0.47
Sensation Z 5,793 5,793 0 0 11,326 0 0.51
Seasons Z 3,812 3,812 0 261 6,970 0 0.55
RZ 0.43 0.43
CV 28 28
Isd 1,610 1,610
E.V. Smith Research Center
Gentry CN 11,394 9,221 2,172 53 83,914 31,468 
0.11
SS-6 SN 10,229 8,517 1,712 232 59,532 19,457 
0.14
Prelude CN 9,105 6,721 2,383 157 65,522 34,463 
0.10
Enterprise SN 9,078 6,919 2,160 62 46,212 20,192 
0.15
Meigs CN 8,741 7,774 968 35 73,298 
21,344 0.11
Picasso CN 8,379 5,940 2,439 138 46,711 26,599 
0.13
Seneca Supreme SN 8,178 6,714 1,464 216 52,764 21,875 
0.13
Prelude II CN 8,099 6,229 1,870 32 55,617 21,100 0.11
Prolific SN 7,966 6,412 1,555 16 41,391 14,922 0.16
Sundance CN 7,536 6,208 1,327 142 57,762 25,314 0.11
Dixie CN 7,360 5,799 1,561 12 46,037 19,730 0.13
Lemondrop L. SN 7,324 5,888 1,436 70 39,152 14,392 0.15
Sunbar SN 5,839 4,818 1,021 76 39,319 13,962 
0.12
Spineless Beauty Z 15,662 13,355 2,306 0 42,689 7,207 0.31
Zucchini Elite Z 13,764 11,486 2,278 0 37,810 4,879 0.30
Condor Z 9,389 7,775 1,614 0 31,430 7,037 0.25
ACX-27 (Yellow) Z 9,385 5,563 3,822 0 25,071 10,164 
0.22
Embassy Z 8,864 7,323 1,541 0 25,332 6,568 0.29
Senator Z 8,035 7,102 933 0 23,377 2,033 0.30
RI 0.48 0.53
CV 22 24
lsd 2,370 1,989
Upper Coastal Plain Substation
FMX-564 CN 12,699 3,800 8,899 1,878 9,205 34,749 
0.43
CS-9 CN 10,619 2,588 8,031 1,261 10,051 20,780 
0.27
Picasso CN 10,460 4,143 6,317 3,399 15,811 32,412 
0.26
Destiny III CN 9,527 2,861 6,666 4,216 13,923 29,456 
0.21
Prelude CN 9,104 3,056 6,047 7,054 12,783 32,603 
0.24
FMX-694 CN 8,537 2,254 6,283 4,171 11,632 31,170 
0.19
Dixie CN 8,497 2,042 6,455 4,044 8,968 30,612 
0.26
Liberator III CN 8,435 2,713 5,722 3,716 13,782 29,638 
0.20
Goldie CN 8,188 3,212 4,976 4,339 14,681 26,765 
0.22
Meigs CN 8,136 3,127 5,008 2,503 19,101 
25,774 0.17
Prelude II CN 7,453 2,781 4,672 2,585 13,286 24,067 
0.21
Sundance CN 6,434 1,391 5,043 1,164 7,762 
21,954 0.21
FMX-690 CN 5,581 1,562 4,019 1,999 8,821 
21,453 0.18
Gentry CN 3,885 1,057 2,828 1,422 6,098 
15,832 0.20
Suwanee CN 1,437 170 1,268 1,764 436 
9,148 0.39
XPH 1777 Z 6,649 3,023 3,626 527 4,356 
23,522 0.69
XPH 1776 Z 6,159 3,186 2,973 1,553 10,164 . 21,344 
0.31
Embassy Z 2,372 0 2,372 0 0 
3,485 0.68
R' 0.37 0.29
CV 45 68
lsd 4,963 2,381
CN = yellow crookneck; SCN = yellow semi-crookneck; Z = zucchini
Actual harvest dates were June 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 19, and 20 at BEF; June 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26, and 30 at EVSRC; and June 18, 
20, 23, 25, 27, 30, July 2, 7, 9
and 11 at UCPS.
Marketable yields were determined as US#1 + US#2 grades.
23
Is 'Silver Queen' Still the Best White
Sweet Corn Variety?
ERIC SIMONNE, ROBERT BOOZER, ARNOLD CAYLOR, JOSEPH KEMBLE, RONALD
MCDANIEL, MALCOM PEGUES, JIM PITTS, RANDALL RAWLS, AND JEFF TAYLOR
.. Sugary (su), sugar-en- At UCPS, preplant 
fertilization provided (per acre) 70
.X' . hanced (se),and supersweet pounds of N, 90 pounds of P2 and 
120 pounds of K0 on May
(sh,) sweet corn varieties were 15. Preplant herbicide was Atrazine at a rate of one pound 
per acre.
evaluated at the Gulf Coast A sidedress application on May 29 provided 
an additional 27 pounds
Substation (GCS; su/se and of N per acre.
sh2) in Fairhope, Chilton Area Horticulture Substation 
(CAHS, su/ Su/se varieties were harvested 
on June 12 ('Legend'), 16
se) in Clanton, Upper Coastal Plain Substation 
(UCPS, su/se) in ('Snow Belle' and 'Champ'), 
19 ('Chief Ouray,' 'Merit,' and 'Fan-
Winfield, and North Alabama Horticulture Substation (NAHS, su/ 
tasia') and 23 ('Silver Queen' and 'GH-7080') at GCS; on July 2
se) in Cullman (tables 1 and 2). At all locations, three-row 
plots 20 ('Sparkler') and July 14 and 16 (other varieties) 
at CAHS; on Aug.
feet long and eight feet wide were established. Within-row 
spacing 8 at NAHS; and on July 21 and 29 at UCPS. 
Sh
2 
varieties were
was eight to 10 inches, creating a stand of approximately 26,000 
harvested on June 24 ('Blizzard', 'FMX 413' and 'Challenger') and
plants per acre. 
27 (all other varieties) at GCS. After 
harvest, ears were graded
Soils were fertilized according to the recommendations of 
following the Sweet Corn Grader's Guide (Circular 
ANR-679 of
theAuburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. Names of the 
chemi- the Alabama Cooperative Extension System). Yield 
(Table 4) and
cals are mentioned only for describing the production 
practices used. ear characteristics (Table 5) 
were determined.
This represents neither a recommendation nor an endorsement 
of
these products. Currentrecommendations forpestand weed control TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1997 SWEET CRN
in vegetable production in Alabama may be found in.lPM Commer- 
VARIETY TRAL
cial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nematode and Weed 
Control Rec-
ommendations (Publication 97IPM-2 from the Alabama Cooperative Location GCS 
CAHS UCPS NAHS
Extension System). Weather 5 5 5 5
At GCS, leaf spots caused by the common rust (P. sorghi) Fertility 
5 5 5 5
on the sh
2 
test were rated for severity 
(Table 3). Common 
rust was Irrigation 
5 5 
5 5
not detected in the su/se test. 
Pests 5 5 5 5
At GCS, cultural practices 
for su, se, and sh
2 
types were Overall 
5 5 
5 5
similar. However, within 
each location, sh
2 
varieties were separated 
See Introductionfor description of rating 
scales.
by 300 feet from other field and sweet corn plantings 
because cross
pollination alters grain characteristics, including sweetness. 
Fertiliza-
tion consisted of a preplant application (per acre) of 285 
pounds of a
14-14-21 fertilizer (su/se test) and 600 pounds of 10-10-10 
(sh
2 
test),
and of a sidedress application of ammonium nitrate 
(NH
4
NO
3
) at a
rate of 120 pounds per acre on May 7. Sulfur (at a 
rate of 10 pounds
per acre) and zinc (at a rate of three pounds per acre) were also 
applied
to the sh2 test on April 4. Preplant herbicide was Dual 
8EC applied
on April 4 at a rate of one quart per acre. Insecticides 
used were
Lorsban EC (at arate of onepintper acre) on June5 andAmbush 
2EC
(at a rate of 10 ounces per acre) on June 9.
At CAHS, Bicep herbicide was applied preplant at a rate 
of
0.5 gallon per acre. Preplant fertilization provided (per 
acre) 100
pounds of N, 40 pounds of P205 and 40 pounds of K20. 
Corn
seedlings were sidedressed three and six weeks after planting 
with 60
pounds of N per acre each time using ammonium nitrate. No 
chemi-
cals were used.
At NAHS, Sutan herbicide was incorporated before emer-
gence on May 19 at a rate of 4.75 pints per acre. Fertilization 
con-
sisted of a preplant application of 34-0-0 and 15-0-0 each at 
a rate of
100 pounds per acre on May 19 and a sidedress application 
of 34-0-
0 at a rate of 100 pounds per acre on June 24. Herbicide 
used
was Aatrex (at a rate of three pints per acre) on May 20. Insecticide
used was Asana (9.6 ounces per acre) on July 17.
24
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, TYPE, COLOR AND EARLINESS 
OF SELECTED SWEET CORN VARIETIES
Variety Seed source Color Type Days to Disease Years
harvest res./toL eval.
A-Maizingly Sweet Ferry-Morse BC sh2 82 
CR 96,97
Blizzard Stokes W sh2 83 
-- 96,97
Challenger Asgrow Y sh2 78 CS,NCLB,SBW,SCLB 
94-97
Champ Asgrow Y se 
68 CR,CS 97
Chief Ouray Solar Seeds Y se -- 
- 97
Diabolo Ferry-Morse BC sh2 78 
SBW 96,97
Double Dots Ferry-Morse BC sh2 -- 
-- 97
Fantasia Asgrow W se 82 
CR,CS 95-97
Festival Asgrow BC sh2 75 
NCLB 94-97
Geronimo Stokes BC se 63 
-- 95-97
King Arthur Stokes Y se 70 
-- 97
Legend Harris Seeds Y se 73 CS,MDMV,NCLB,SBW 
95-97
Merit Asgrow Y su 78 CS,SBW,SCLB,MDMV,NCLB 
96,97
Pegasus SeedWay W sh2 90 NCLB,SCLB 
96,97
Precious Gem Asgrow Y se 78 
CR 97
Prime Plus Sandoz Rogers Y sh2 -- -
97
Prime Time Sandoz Roger Y sh2 -- 
-- 97
Punchline Asgrow Y sh2 74 
ANT,NCLS,SBW,SCLB 94-97
Rising Star SeedWay W se 79 
SBW 96,97
Silver King Sandoz Rogers W se 82 CR,NCLB,SBW 
97
Silver Queen SeedWay W su 92 
NCLB,SBW,SCLB 94-97
Sir Galahad Stokes BC se 85 
-- 95-97
Snow Belle Asgrow W se 85 
CR,SCLB 95-97
Sparkler Solar Seeds W se 
.. -- 97
SS 8100 A&C Y sh2 
.. - 97
SS 8101 A&C W sh2 81 
-- 96,97
SS 8102 A&C BC sh2 
81 NCLB,SBW,SCLB 94,96,97
Sweet Desire Stokes Y sh2 
69 -- 94,96,97
Sweet Ice Harris Seeds W sh2 
74 CS,SBW 96,97
Sweet Rhythm Harris Seeds BC sh2 73 
CS,SBW 96,97
Sweet Symphony Harris Seeds BC sh2 75 
CS,CW,MDMV 97
Vail Sandoz Rogers W sh2 
.. .. 97
S= not available; -- = none; from seed catalogues
isease: CR = corn rust; CS = corn smut; MDMV = maize dwarf mosaic virus; 
NCLB = northern corn leaf blight; SBW = Stewart's bacterial
wilt; SCLB = southern corn leaf blight; ANT = anthracnose
TABLE 3. RATINGS OF LEAF SPOT CAUSED BY THE COMMON RUST 
(P. SORGHI)ON SH2 SWEET CORN VARIETIES
AT THE GULF COAST SUBSTATION
Variety Average rating Rating range
Vail 5 3-4
SS8101 3 2-4
Blizzard 5 4-5
Pegasus 5 4-5
FMX 413 1 1
Challenger 3 2-3
Sweet Desire 5 4-5
Punch Line 3 3-4
SS8100 3 2-4
FMX 415 3 2-4
Prime Plus 1 1
Prime Time 5 
4-5
Rating scale includes: 1 = 0%, 2 = 10%, 3 = 11-25%, 4 = 26-50%, 5 = 51-100% 
ofleaf area showing leafspots. Ratings were made
on June 19.
25
TABLE 4. YIELD OF SELECTED SWEET CORN 
VARIETIES
Variety Kernel color Type 
Yield Ear no. Ear set ht.
lb./acre #/acre in.
Gulf Coast Substation
FMX 413 W 
sh2 17,356 
29,766 19
SS 8101 W 
sh2 13,717 
27,588 16
Sweet Desire W 
sh2 10,459 
25,95511
Blizzard W 
sh2 10,382 
27,316 20
Vail W 
sh2 8,095 
16,244 18
Pegasus W 
sh2 7,473 
19,874 21
Prime Plus Y 
sh2 17,882 
32,035 19
SS 8100 Y 
sh2 16,389 
31,309 16
Challenger Y sh2 
14,275 29,675 
14
Prime Time Y sh2 
14,266 28,405 
15
Punchline Y 
sh2 13,481 
30,946 14
FMX 415 Y 
sh2 12,029 
24,503 14
R
2  
0.74 0.69 0.79
CV 
17 13 
10
Isd 
2,936 4986 
7
Gulf Coast Substation
Snow Belle . W se 
17,687 39,113 23
Fantasia W se 
14,656 29,131 
19
Silver Queen W su 
16,412 28,949 28
GH-7080 Y so 
23,014 33,668 
23
Champ Y se 
18,949 32,035 16
Legend Y se 
16,498 31,581 
13
Chief Ouray Y se 
15,051 29,766 
18
Merit Y su 
18,055 31,309 32
R' .
0.83 0.8 
0.93
CV 
7 5 9
Isd 
1,862 2,569 9
Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
Precosious Gem BC se 
19,990 33,215 18
BC-7182 BC se 
19,695 30,129 
18
Sir Galahad BC 
se 18,421 
28,586 19
WH-4487 W 
se 21,228 
28,496 17
Silver King W se 
20,374 37,117 
14
Snow Belle W se 
19,427 32,489 
22
Silver Queen W su 
18,653 31,309 29
Fantasia W 
se 16,992 
22,869 21
Sparkler W 
se 15,858 
30,583 11
Rizing Star W 
se 15,207 
15,428 20
R
2  
10.739 0.73
CV 
15 13
Isd 
1966 5,788
Upper Coastal Plain Substation
BC-7192 BC se 
13,838 33,456 
45
Sir Galahad BC se 
10,801 30,328 38
Precosious Gem BC se 
9,380 30,260 
36
GH-7080 BC 
se 5,356 
20,060 10
Legend Y se 
10,801 32,776 
49
Champ Y se 
15,140 34,000 
12
King Arthur Y se 
6,971 27,540 
11
Chief Ouray Y se 
2,244 27,880 
7
Merit Y su 
8991 30,328 
61
R
2  
0.38 0.46 
0.39
CV 
75 64 
62
Isd 
3,341 11,229 
4
North Alabama Horticulture Substation
Sweet Symphony BC 
sh2 30,752 
42,753 20
Sweet Rithm BC 
sh2 23,809 
35,424 15
Bi-Time BC 
sh2 22,746 
25,303 19
Double Dots BC sh2 21,786 
18,323 19
SS 8102 BC sh2 
17,836 33,940 
21
Diabolo BC sh2 
16,099 13,437 15
Festival BC sh2 
12,187 12,564 
15
A-Maizingly BC sh2 
7,880 10,994 
17
Sweet Ice W sh2 
29,800 37,169 
13
FMX 413 W sh2 
27,551 30,450 
17
Vail W sh2 
23,715 34,726 20
SS 8101 W sh2 
21,187 18,323 
13
Pegasus W sh2 
20,124 22,947 
21
FMX414 W sh2 
19,279 24,517 
16
Blizzard W sh2 
12,801 14,484 
16
R' 0.44 0.74 0.29
CV 
40 26 26
lsd 
5,238 9,394 2,304
26
TABLE 5. EAR CHARACTERITICS OF SELECTED 
SWEET CORN VARIETIES
Variety Kernel color Type Quality 
Tip cover Ear fill Eye appeal Ear length 
Ear diameter
rating rating rating rating in. In.
Gulf Coast Substation
Champ Y se 
14.55 4.85 4.85 
4.85 7.1 1.8
Fantasia W se 
14.10 4.80 4.70 4.60 
7.7 1.6
Legend Y se 
13.95 4.75 4.65 
4.55 6.9 1.6
Silver Queen W su 13.70 
5.00 4.35 4.35 
7.8 1.6
Snow Belle W se 
13.65 4.65 4.50 4.50 
7.2 1.5
GH-7080 Y se 
13.65 4.80 4.40 
4.45 8.8 1.8
Merit Y se 12.95 
4.15 4.40 4.40 7.9 
1.7
Chief Ouray Y se 10.55 
3.60 3.55 3.40 
6.8 1.9
R 
0.41 0.48 0.25 
0.26
CV 
11 10 15 
16
lsd 1.98 
0.64 0.9 0.94
Gulf Coast Substation
SS 8100 Y sh2 14.05 
5.00 4.70 4.35 7.5 
1.6
Prime Plus Y sh2 13.80 
4.85 4.75 4.20 7.2 
1.7
Prime Time Y sh2 13.75 
4.85 4.70 4.20 7.2 
1.7
SS 8101 W sh2 13.55 
4.85 4.45 4.25 7.6 
1.8
Vail W sh2 13.30 
4.80 4.50 4.00 7.2 
1.8
Punchline Y sh2 13.00 
5.00 4.15 3.85 7.1 
1.7
Challenger Y sh2 12.95 
4.85 4.05 4.05 7.5 
1.7
FMX 415 Y sh2 12.95 
5.00 4.15 3.80 
7.4 1.8
Pegasus W sh2 
12.90 4.70 4.25 
3.95 7.3 1.7
Sweet Desire Y sh2 12.85 
4.90 4.20 3.75 8.0 
1.7
FMX 413 W sh2 11.60 
3.65 3.85 4.10 7.3 
1.9
Blizzard W sh2 
10.30 3.50 3.45 
3.35 6.8 1.7
R
2  
0.43 0.60 0.30 
0.16 0.25
cv 9 
9 13 15 7
Isd 1.6 
0.57 0.79 0.84 0.66
Upper Coastal Plain Substation
BC-7192 BC se 
7.25 2.50 2.25 2.50
Sir Galahad BC so 7.00 
1.50 3.00 2.50
Legend W se 6.00 
2.00 2.00 2.00
Champ Y se 
6.00 2.00 2.00 
2.00
Merit Y su 
6.00 1.75 2.25 2.00
Precosious Gem BC se 5.50 
2.25 1.25 2.00
King Arthur Y se 
5.50 2.00 1.75 
1.75
GH-7080 W so 
5.25 1.75 2.00 1.50
Chief Ouray W se 
5.00 2.00 2.00 
1.00
R
a  
0.41 0.38 0.46 
0.28
CV 
57 62 56 
71
lsd 
8.19 6.27 1.21 1.55
Chilton Area Horticulture Substation
Silver Queen W su 11.10 
4.05 3.55 3.50 7.0 
1.7
Sparkler W se 
10.90 4.10 3.45 3.35 
6.2 1.4
Precosious Gem BC se 
10.60 3.50 3.50 3.60 
7.7 1.8
Rizing Star W se 
10.35 3.55 3.45 3.35 
7.4 1.8
BC-7182 BC se 
10.30 3.05 3.55 
3.70 7.6 1.7
Sir Galahad BC se 10.15 
4.35 2.80 3.00 
7.7 1.8
Fantasia W se 9.20 
3.30 2.95 2.95 7.3 
1.7
WH-4487 W se 8.85 
3.35 2.45 3.05 7.2 
1.8
Silver King W se 8.55 
3.40 2.65 2.50 6.7 
1.7
Snow Belle W se 8.45 
3.80 2.20 2.45 6.7 
1.6
R
2  
0.33 0.24 0.28 0.28 
0.50 0.60
CV 
14 20 26 22 
6 6
lsd 
6.85 2.44 1.49 1.75 
5.43 1.06
North Alabama Horticulture Substation
Sweet Symphony BC sh2 13.33 
4.78 4.15 4.40 6.5 
1.5
Double Dots BC sh2 
12.95 4.40 4.05 4.50 
7.7 1.7
FMX 414 W sh2 12.60 
4.65 3.88 4.08 6.7 
1.7
Festival BC sh2 11.94 
3.78 4.10 4.07 8.0 
1.4
Sweet Ice W sh2 11.55 
4.85 3.13 3.58 7.0 
1.6
Diabolo BC sh2 11.35 
2.98 3.85 4.53 
7.8 1.6
Pegasus W sh2 11.24 
2.68 4.01 4.54 
7.2 1.4
Bi-Time BC sh2 11.00 1.75 4.65 4.60 
7.3 1.3
Vail W sh2 10.93 
2.92 4.07 3.95 6.8 
1.4
FMX 413 W sh2 10.90 
3.03 3.95 3.93 7.3 
1.5
SS 8102 BC sh2 10.85 
3.68 3.38 3.80 7.1 
1.5
Sweet Rithm BC sh2 10.13 
4.53 2.58 3.03 6.5 
1.7
A-Maizingly Sweet BC sh2 10.10 
3.18 3.45 3.48 7.3 
1.7
Blizzard W sh2 9.73 
2.40 3.58 3.75 7.2 
1.4
SS 8101 W sh2 8.38 
1.85 3.18 3.35 5.6 
1.0
Dazzle BC sh2 2.25 
0.25 1.00 1.00 1.7 
0.3
RI 0.6 0.599 0.49 
0.48 0.59 0.57
CV 22 
36 27 29 19 
22
lsd 3.45 
1.66 1.5 1.51 1.9 
0.4
Quality rating is the sum of tip cover, ear fill, and eye appeal 
ratings.
Tip cover, ear fill, and eye appeal ratings include: 5 = excellent; 
4 = good; 3 = fair; 2 = poor; 1 = very poor.
-Tomat
..... ERIC SIMONNE,
Tomato variety trials were
- conducted at the Wiregrass
.Substation (WS) in Headland
and North Alabama Horticul-
ture Substation (NAHS) in
Cullman (tables 1 and 2).
Five-week-old tomatoes were transplanted on May 10 at
WS, and on May 16 at NAHS into three-foot-wide trickle-irrigated
beds covered with white plastic. At both locations, plots were 12 
feet
long and four feet wide. Within-row spacing was 18 inches, which
created an approximate stand of 5,800 plants per acre. Plants 
were
staked and tied.
Soils were fertilized according to the recommendations of
theAuburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. Names of thechemi-
cals are mentioned only for describing the production practices used.
This represents neither a recommendation nor an endorsement 
of
these products. Current recommendations for pest and weed control
in vegetable production in Alabama may be found in IPM Commer-
cial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nematode and Weed Control Rec-
ommendations (Publication 97IPM-2 from the Alabama Coopera-
tive Extension System).
At WS, 450 pounds per acre of a 13-13-13 fertilizer, 50
pounds per acre of ammonium nitrate (NH
4
NO
3
), and 700 pounds
per acre of gypsum (CaSO
4
) were preplant applied on April 15. Beds
were fumigated with methyl bromide at a rate of 200 pounds per acre
and formed on April 16. Weekly injection of fertilizer (at a rate of six
pounds of N) were made between May 28 and July 14 using calcium
nitrate [Ca(NO
3
)
2
] and potassium nitrate (KNO
3
). A total of 42
pounds of N per acre was injected. Disease control was provided
with applications of Bravo (at a rate of 3 pints per acre) on May 14,
21, 27, June 2, 6, 9, 23, 30, and July 8. Asana (insecticide) was
applied on May 27 and June 2 and 23 ata rate of eight ounces per acre.
Several plants infected with the tomato spotted wilt virus had to be
removed from the test.
At NAHS, 500 pounds of a 15-0-0 fertilizer were preplant
incorporated on April 18. Beginning after transplanting and through
harvest, tomatoes were fertilized with weekly injections at a rate of
five pounds of N alternatively from Ca(NO3)
2 
and NH
4
NO
3
. Fungi-
cides used were Dithane F-45 (at arate of 2.4 quarts pre acre) on May
22 and29 and June 6,19, and 27; Kocide 101 (atarateof two pounds
per acre) on May 22, 29, June 6, 19, 27, and July 3 and 10; and, Bravo
(at a rate of 32 ounces per acre) on July 17. Insect control was
provided by applications of Asana XL (at a rate of 9.6 ounces per
acre) June 19, 27, and July 3; and, Lannate and Phaser (both at a rate
of 32 ounces per acre) on July 17 and Aug. 1, respectively.
Plots were harvested on July 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, and 21
at WS, and July 31, Aug. 4, 13, 21, and 29 at NAHS. At both
locations, fruits were harvested at the breaker stage, weighed, and
graded. Grades and corresponding fruit diameters (D) of fresh-mar-
ket tomato were adapted from the Tomato Grader's Guide (Cir
27
o Varieties Differ in Yield and
Quality
ARNOLD CAYLOR, BRIAN GAMBLE, JOSEPH KEMBLE, JEFF TAYLOR,
AND LARRY WELLS
cular ANR 643 from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
and were Jumbo (D>3.5inches),-Extra-Large (D>2.9 inches), Large
(D>2.5 inches), Medium (D>2.3 inches). and Small (others). The
grading of Roma-type tomatoes was based on fruit shape more than
on fruit size and were Marketable (fruits free of injury and well
shaped); Misshaped [fruits free of injury, with defects including
pointed end ("nippling"), "pear-shaped," or "eight-shaped"]; and
Cull. Yields of the first three harvests were used to evaluate early
production (Table 4). Marketable yield was calculated by combin-
ing the Jumbo, Extra-Large, and Large grades (Table 5).
'Celebrity' yielded well at both locations. 'Agriset 761'
(standard Florida-type tomato) and 'XPH 10091' were the top yield-
ers at WS. 'Sunpride' and 'Colonial' were the top performers at
NAHS. The yellow varieties 'Lemon Boy,' 'Orange Queen,' and
'Husky Gold' were not as firm as 'Mt. Gold.' Because of the labor
needed or harvest (fruits are the size of blueberries), 'Spoon' is not
suited for commercial production. The standard 'Mt. Delight' was
among the top varieties at NAHS.
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1997 TOMATO
VJAMETY TRIUALS
Location WS NAHS
Weather 5 5
Fertility 5 4
Irrigation 5 5
Pests .3 5
Overall 4 5
See Introductionfordescription of rating scales.
At 9, the tomato spotted wilt virus was detected by ELISA technique on some
plants.
28
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUiT 
CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE 
EARLINESS OF SELECTED TotATo 
VUmES
Variety Type Seed source 
Plant Fruit Days to 
Disease Years
habit color harvest 
res.Itol. eval.
Affirm F19FM
Agriset 761 F19FM
Atomic F19FM
Celebrity F19FM
Colonial FlFM
Daybreak F19FM
Flavor More F19FM
Florida 47* FlFM
Golden Boy F19FM
Husky Gold F1,FM
Lemon Boy F19FM
Majesty F19FM
Marina F1,SA
Merced F19FM
Mt. Belle F19CH
Mt. Delight F19FM
Mt. Fresh F19FM
Mt. Gold OPFM
Mt. Pride F19FM
Mt. Spring FIFM
Orange Queen OP,FM
Pilgrim F1,FM
Royal Mountie F19FM
Solar Set F19FM
Spitfire F19FM
Spoon OPICH
Springfield F19FM
Sunbeam F19FM
Sunbelt F19FM
Suncrest Fl,FM
Sunmaster F1,FM
Sunpride F19FM
Supersonic F19FM
Sweepstakes F19FM
Sweet Million F19CH
Ultramagnum F19FM
Ultrasweet F19FM
Veronica F1.SA
I~
Sakata
U. of Florida
Sakata
Petoseed
Petoseed
Petoseed
Ferry-Morse
Asgrow
Park Seed
Stokes
Park Seed
Asgrow
Sakata
Sandoz Rogers
SeedWay
Petoseed
Ferry-Morse
Stokes
Stokes
Sandoz Rogers
Stokes
SeedWay
Seed Way
Asgrow
Ferry-Morse
Park Seed
Ferry-Morse
Asgrow
Petoseed
Sandoz Rogers
Park Seed
Asgrow
Harris Seeds
Park Seed
Park Seed
Stokes
Stokes
Sakata
vet.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Ind.
Ind.
Ind.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Ind
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Det.
Ind.
Det.
Ind.
Det.
Det.
Det.
T% -4
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Gold
Yellow
Yellow
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Golden
Red
Red
Orange
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Red
Formerly XPH 1004 7;. = not 
available; from seed catalogues
Type: Fl = hybrid; OP open pollinated
FM =fresh market; RO= roma (elongated 
fruits); CH = cherry (small, round fruits) 
;SA = saladette
Plant habit: Det. = determinate; nd. 
= inderminate
Disease: EW = fusarium wilt; V = verticillium 
wilt; ASC = alternaria stem canker; ST = stemphylium 
(gray lea/spot); NE root-knot
nematodes; TbMV = tobacco mosaic virus
72
76
68
80
70
72
75
69
65
70
75
70
77
69
65
68
68
65
75
72
72
80
79
65
68
62
,,_,, r~ll urr ~tALT~L I~~~C~P
r\ _I I\--
I ~nlTrfTe I I;L IVI rL;IIV'IVIVLB~ U~L
97
97
9497
94-97
9497
97
97
97
97
97
97
94-97
96,97
94-97
96997
96,97
96s97
94-97
96997
96997
97
97
96P97
97
97
94-97
961,97
97
97
94-97
95-97
97
97
94-97
95-97
97
ASC,FW,NE.,St,TbMV,VW
ASC,FW,St,VW
ASC,FW,St,VW
FW.,VW
ASC
ASC,FW,NE.St,VW
ASC,FW,St,VW
FW,TbMV,VW
FW,VW
ASC,FW,St,VW
FW,VW
FWVW
ASC,FW,St,VW
FW,VW
ASCpFWtVW
ASC,FW,St,VW
ASC,FWSt,VW
FWVW
ASC,FW,.NE.St,VW
ASC,FW,St,VW
ASC,FW,St,VW
FW,VW
FW,NE.St,TbMV,VW
FW,NE,TbMV
FW,TbMV,VW
FWTbMVVW
29
TABLE 3. EARLY PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED TOMATO VARIETIES
Variety Early Early Early Early Early Early Early Early 
Early
market. wt. jumbo wt. jumbo no. extra-large wt. extra-large no. large wt. large no. med. wt. med. no.
lbJacre lb.acre #/acre lb.acre #/acre lblacre #/acre lbJacre 
#/acre
Wiregrass Substation
Suncrest 5,100 345 363 1,815 2,723 2,940 
5,627 2,468 5,082
Merced 4,646 218 363 1,978 2,904 2,450 
4,175 2,850 6,353
DPS 994 (obs) 3,920 508 726 1,597 2,178 
1,815 2,904 4,719 10,890
Agriset 761 3,848 327 363 1,579 2,178 
1,942 3,449 2,505 5,627
Solar Set 3,812 0 0 1,216 1,634 
2,595 5,082 2,868 7,079
Celebrity (obs) 3,412 1,162 1,452 581 726 1,670 
2,904 2,468 6,534
Sunbeam 3,285 327 363 1,016 1,452 
1,942 3,267 1,960 3,993
Sunpride (obs) 3,049 508 726 2,033 2,904 
508 726 1,742 3,630
Sunmaster (obs)2,977 581 726 944 1,452 
1,452 2,178 3,267 7,986
Ultramagnum 2,958 472 545 1,343 
1,997 1,143 2,178 2,886 6,353
Ultrasweet 2,795 272 363 436 908 
2,087 3,993 5,082 11,798
Supersonic 2,704 0 0 653 908 
2,051 3,630 1,924 3,993
Keren (obs) 2,686 508 726 436 726 
1,742 2,904 1,742 3,630
Majesty 2,450 0 0 762 1,089 
1,688 2,904 2,995 6,897
Florida 47 2,414 163 182 1,162 1,634 1,089 
1,815 2,142 4,901
Atomic 2,378 0 0 1,089 1,634 1,289 2,178 
1,797 4,175
Pilgrim 2,196 0 0 726 1,271 
1,470 2,904 3,285 8,168
XPH 10091 2,196 345 363 1,016 1,452 
835 1,271 853 2,178
Affirm (obs) 1,016 581 726 0 0 
436 726 726 1,452
Spitfire 908 0 0 0 0 
908 2,178 2,523 5,990
Sunbelt 908 0 0 417 
545 490 908 1,869 3,630
Hadas (obs) 726 0 0 0 0 
0 0 726 1,452
Mt. Delight 436 0 0 436 726 
0 0 3,340 7,986
(obs)
R
2  
0.42 0.38
CV 67 179
lsd 2,581 498
North Alabama Horticulture Substation
Springfield 64,563 37,861 57,354 21,925 39,204 
4,777 18,876 0 0
Celebrity 64,113 45,027 61,710 16,386 35,574 
2,701 7,986 0 0
Sunpride 61,260 30,585 44,649 27,443 
41,745 3,233 9,075 0 0
Colonial 52,337 27,777 39,567 19,796 
41,564 4,764 12,161 0 0
Daybreak 50,623 34,315 49,368 13,761 
30,311 2,546 7,442 0 0
Flavor More 46,333 20,480 30,311 20,413 
41,382 5,440 15,609 0 0
Royal Mountie 45,077 28,067 35,574 14,803 
29,040 2,207 6,534 0 0
Mt. Fresh 44,829 34,726 41,382 8,923 
18,332 1,180 3,086 0 0
Lemon Boy 44,743 16,981 26,136 22,237 51,546 
5,525 18,150 0 0
Mt. Delight 41,760 25,864 36,119 12,286 26,318 
3,610 11,072 0 0
Mt. Pride 41,576 23,622 32,489 14,863 28,496 
3,091 9,620 0 0
Merced 41,389 29,114 37,026 10,271 
21,962 2,004 6,534 0 0
Spitfire 41,113 22,689 31,218 15,714 
34,485 2,710 7,260 0 0
Sweeepstakes 40,721 35,189 50,094 4,320 7,260 
1,212 4,356 0 0
Mt. Spring 37,315 28,686 35,030 7,251 13,794 
1,378 3,630 0 0
Golden Boy 23,196 17,344 22,506 5,162 
11,616 690 2,178 0 0
Mt. Gold 20,466 14,103 18,332 5,558 
12,887 806 2,904 0 0
Orange Queen 18,669 630 1,997 7,581 
19,965 10,458 34,122 0 0
Ultra- 17,417 5,358 8,712 8,596 
18,150 3,463 10,890 0 0
magnum (obs)
Husky Gold 5,986 1,900 2,360 3,084 6,716 
1,002 3,630 0 0
R
2  
0.36 0.63
CV 70 69
lsd 41,216 26,094
Combined productions of July 3, 7, and 9 at WS, and July 31, Aug. 4 and 13 at NAHS.
Grades and corresponding fruit diameters (D) for fresh-market tomato were Jumbo (D>3.5 
inches), Extra-large (D>2.9 inches), Large (D>2.5
inches),Medium (D >2.3 inches), and Small (others).
Marketable production calculated by combining the Jumbo, Extra-large, and Large grades.
30
TABLE 4. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED TOMTO VARIETIES
Variety Total Total Total Total Total Total Total 
Total Total Total Individual
marketable wt. Jumbo wt. jumbo no. extra-large wt. extra-large no. large wt. large no. medium wt. medium no. 
cull fruit wt.
lb./acre lb/acre #/acre lb./acre #/acre lb./acre #/acre IbJacre #/acre 
Ib./acre lb.
Wiregrass Substation
Fresh market
Celebrity 34,539 3,775 4,356 7,405 11,616 13,358 26,136 
12,850 31,944 3,920 0.88
Atomic 24,121 4,719 5,264 10,509 16,154 8,894 15,428 8,676 
20,691 3,638 0.69
Affirm 21,272 6,389 8,712 6,897 10,164 7,986 15,246 5,837 
13.068 2,614 0.73
Agriset 761 19,566 2,033 2,178 6,607 9,257 10,926 
17,606 16,898 37,026 4,683 0.97
Sunmaster 17,279 581 726 7,696 11,616 9,002 18,150 16,262 
32,670 1,016 0.74
XPH 10091 16,389 1,652 1,815 6,897 9,620 7,841 14,157 
6,661 14,702 5,173 0.75
Merced 15,264 1,888 2,541 5,663 7,623 7,714 
13,794 12,179 25,592 2,741 0.82
Sunbeam 14,284 3,086 3,812 4,701 6,716 
6,498 11,072 7,750 17,424 3,358 0.89
Supersonic 14,103 2,142 2,541 5,136 7,805 6,824 
11,798 9,747 20,328 4,465 0.78
Keren 13,721 2,468 2,904 4,356 6,534 6,897 
15,246 11,689 24,684 1,045 0.85
Sunbelt 13,395 2,287 2,723 4,029 6,171 7,079 12.524 9,075 
20,147 2,995 1.00
Majesty 12,433 309 363 3,812 3,993 
8,313 15,246 12,524 27,770 2,904 1.45
Ultramagnum 11,961 2,015 2,178 5,046 7,442 4,901 8,531 
6,153 23,232 3,104 0.74
Florida 47 11,925 1,470 1,634 4,156 5,990 6,298 
10,709 9,220 19,058 3,743 1.05
Solar Set 11,126 690 908 3,975 5,627 6,461 
12,524 12,578 29,585 3,340 0.82
Ultrasweet 10,600 1,434 1,815 2,196 3,630 6,970 
13,794 11,943 28,496 3,158 1.04
Hadas 10,454 0 0 2,396 3,630 
8,059 5,082 10,672 25,410 2,614
Sunpride 9,329 508 726 2,396 3,630 
6,425 10,164 16,117 35,574 5,460 1.03
Suncrest 9,166 345 363 2,795 4,356 
6,026 11,616 6,915 16,880 2,980 1.07
Pilgrim 6,189 145 182 1,797 3,086 
4,247 8,349 9,692 23,051 2,704 0.81
DPS 994 6,026 508 726 2,033 2,904 3,485 
6,534 8,276 20,328 2,468 0.86
Spitfire 2,051 0 0 218 363 
1,833 3,812 6,225 14,883 5,681
Mt. Delight 1,162 0 0 436 726 
726 1,452 10,527 21,780 3,993
Cherry and Saladette
V-104 1,815 0 0 0 
0 1,815 2,904 12,197 48,642 1,888
Coronado 799 0 0 0 0 
0 0 799 2,178 1,888
R 0.52 0.40
CV 55 132
Isd 9,694 2,974
North Alabama Horticulture Substation
Freshmarket
Lemon Boy 99,527 35,567 58,080 49,629 107,448 
14,331 47,916 0 0 33,657 0.40
Celebrity 96,442 63,438 81,312 26,201 58,806 
6,803 21,054 0 0 28,873 0.44
Colonial 76,548 33,801 49,187 31,612 71,330 
11,135 3,033 0 0 26,989 0.38
Sunpride 75,675 36,213 53,180 34,218 56,447 55,244 
16,517 0 0 11,721 0.46
Flavor More 72,286 27,445 41,382 35,169 68,426 
9,672 30,311 0 0 11,556 0.43
Sweeepstakes 67,634 44,330 63,162 17,279 
37,026 6,026 20,328 0 0 35,015 0.44
Mt. Fresh 66,792 43,622 54,813 19,451 36,300 3,719 
11,979 0 0 12,513 0.49
Springfield 66,051 38,376 58,080 22,143 39,930 
5,532 21,054 0 0 23,726 0.45
Mt. Delight 65,289 36,037 51,728 23,435 48,824 
5,817 20,147 0 0 16,820 0.43
Daybreak 58,863 37,170 53,543 17,213 38,297 
4,479 14,157 0 0 20,945 0.42
Mt. Gold 56,951 35,044 47,916 18,094 41,927 
3,813 13,431 0 0 13,674 0.41
ML. Spring 55,564 37,736 49,005 14,714 30,492 
3,115 9,620 0 0 22,468 0.45
Spitfire 52,620 24,125 33,578 22,479 50,276 
6,017 16,154 0 0 20,818 0.45
Merced 52,239 32,683 42,108 15,231 33,941 
4,325 14,883 0 0 17,556 0.45
Mt. Pride 51,557 26,504 37,571 20,048 41,564 5,004 
16,517 0 0 17,065 0.43
Royal Mountie 47,393 28,416 36,300 15,638 31,218 
3,340 10,890 0 0 17,105 0.46
Golden Boy 41,861 28,321 39,204 12,415 30,492 
1,125 4,356 0 0 44,025 0.38
Ultramagnum 27,116 6,048 10,164 15,006 34,122 
6,062 19,602 0 0 21,054 0.40
Husky Gold 19,464 4,472 7,079 10,997 27,225 
3,995 14,883 0 0 28,330 0.41
Orange Queen 18,669 630 1,997 7,581 19,965 
10,458 34,122 0 0 47,564 0.19
Cherry and Saladette
STM 3806 114,301
Veronica 98,620
Marina 92,405
STM 5403 70,843
Mt. Belle 50,312
Sweet Million 37,549
Spoon
R
z  
0.36 0.58
CV 70 68
lsd 56.566 31,860
Harvest dates were July 3, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, and 21 atWS and July 31, Aug. 4. 13, 21, 
and 29 at NAHS.
Grades and corresponding fruit diameters (D) were Jumbo (D>3.5 inches), Extra-large 
(D>2.9 inches), Large (D>2.5 inches), Medium (D>2.3 inches), and Small
(others) .
Marketable production and individual fruit weight calculated by combining the Jumbo, 
Extra-large, and Large grades.
31
APPENDIX: SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS
Corporate Sponsors
Micro Macro International, Inc.
Mike Duemmel
183 Paradise Blvd., Suite 108
Athens, GA 30608
Ph: (706) 548-4557
Lewis Taylor Farms, Inc.
Bill Brim
PO Box 822
Tifton, GA 31793
Ph: (912) 382-4454
Inland Container Corporation
Joe Quilen
29 George Wallace Drive
Albertville, AL 35950
Ph: (205) 878-1941
Asgrow Seed Co.
South Alabama
Greg Davis
Alachua, FL
Ph: (904) 462-7838
Central Alabama
Rusty Autry
Venis, FL
Ph: (941) 497-4227
North Alabama
Ken Baker
Hendersonville, TN
Ph: (615) 824-0383
Supporting Seed Companies
Abbott & Cobb Inc.
Pete Suddarth
207 Wellington Woods Dr.
Hahira, GA 31632
Ph: (912) 249-8135
American Sunmelon
Glenn Price
PO Box 153
Hinton, OK 73047
Ph: (405) 542-3456
Supporting Seed Companies,
cont.
Ferry-Morse Seed Co.
Glenn McKay
PO Box 392
Sun Prairie, WI53590
Ph: (608) 837-6574
Harris Seeds
Bob Wilkins
60 Saginow Dr.
Rochester, NY 14692-2960
Ph: 1-800-544 7938
Hollar Seeds
P.O. Box 106
Rocky Ford, Colorado
81067-0106
Ph: (719) 254-3539
Internet: www.hollarseeds.com
Petoseed Co.
John Nance
926 Sweet May CT.
Macon GA, 31204
Ph: (912) 477-5544
john.nance@svseeds.com
Sakata Seeds Co.
Howard Adams
P.O. Box 1103
Lehigh, FL 33970-1103
Ph: (813) 369-0032
Sandoz Rogers
Mr. Curt Pollard
2101 Melrose Drive
Valdosta, GA 31602
Ph: (912) 560-1863
curt.pollard@seed.novartis.com
Seed Suppliers
Peter Edwards Seed Co.
Jimmy Street
P.O. Box 1047
Theodore, AL 36590
Ph: (334) 653-9206
Peter Edwards Seed Co.
Roland Verlaik
302 South Center Street
Eustis, FL 32726
Ph: 1-800-CARROTS
Seedway
Neal Shank
1225 Zeager Rd.
Elizabethtown, PA
Ph: (717) 367-1075
Shamrock Seed Co.
Bill Johson
3832 Hanover Hill Dr.
Valrico, FL 33594
Ph: (813) 245-1371
Steve Olsen
U. of Florida
NFREC Route 3 Box 4370
Quincy, FL 32351
Ph: (904) 875-7144
Stokes Seeds Inc.
Joe Butwin
PO Box 548
Buffalo, NY 14240-0548
Ph: (716) 695-6980
Vilmorin
Gilles Laurin
P.O. Box 707
Empire, CA 95319
Ph: (209) 529-6000
Tom Gordon
2235 Kraft Rd
Ithaca, NY 14850
Ph: (607 387-3959


Alabama's 
Agricultural
Experiment 
Station 
System
AUBURN 
UNIVERSITY
Main Agricultural 
Experiment Station,
Auburn.
JUEST00iE "A1SN 
JACKSON 
E. V. Smith 
Research 
Center,
Shorter.
MARS-LAr DE KALB
1. Tennessee Valley 
Substation,
cBelle 
Mina.
ESous ow 
2. Sand Mountain Substation,
Crossville.
c- 3. North Alabama Horticulture 
Substation,
SEks so-c Cullman.
4. Upper Coastal Plain Substation,
LE Winfield.
S CLA Y5. 
Forestry Unit, 
Fayette County.
6. Chilton Area Horticulture 
Substation,
SClanton.
,7. 
Forestry Unit, Coosa County.
S8 
8. Piedmont Substation,
Camp Hill.
S9. Forestry 
Unit, Autauga County.
10. Prattville 
Experiment Field,
10 assE. Prattville.
V 11. Black 
Belt Substation,
JMarion Junction.
oIB 12. The Turnipseed-lkenberry 
Place,
L IE Union Springs.
) 13. Lower Coastal Plain 
Substation,
o Nv Camden.
CO~ FE DALE 
14. Forestry Unit, Barbour 
County.
coEc 16 
15. Monroeville Experiment Field,
Monroeville.
' oGEE' 16. Wiregrass 
Substation,
Headland.
17. Brewton Experiment 
Field,
Brewton.
18. Ornamental 
Horticulture Substation,
Spring Hill.
19. Gulf Coast 
Substation,
Fairhope.