Progress Report No. 130 October 1996 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station James E. Marion, Director Auburn University, Alabama CONTENTS A uthors ......................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................... 2 Spring Lettuce Shows Promise for Alabama .......................................................... 3 Bell Pepper Performance Depends on Bacterial Leaf Spot Susceptibility ....................................................................... 5 Small Melons for Alabama: Cantaloupes and Honey Dews ......................................................................... 8 Colored Pepper Varieties Respond Differently to Bacterial Leaf Spot Infection .......... 11 'General Lee' Among Top Marketable Yielders in SlicerCucumber Trial foThird Yer Third Year........................................................15 'Picasso' Performs Well During Sum m er Squash Variety Trial ......................................................................... 18 Several Sweet Corn Varieties Show Good Yield and Quality ................................................................................... 21 Yellow-Fleshed 'Mountain Gold' Shows Good Yield Potential and Fruit Characteristics ......................... 25 Watermelon Seed Supply Almost Back to Normal ......................................... 29 Sponsors and Suppliers ..................................................................................... 32 October 1996 Information contained herein is available to all without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin. Authors Eric Simonne Assistant Professor Department of Horticulture (334) 844-4862 Brian Gamble Assistant Superintendent Wiregrass Substation (334) 693-2363 John Owen Superintendent Piedmont Substation (334) 896-4422 Marvin Ruf Interim Superintendent Sand Mountain Substation (205) 528-7133 Amy Simonne Post-Doctoral Fellow Department of Nutrition and Food Science (334) 844-4261 Larry Wells Interim Superintendent Wiregrass Substation (334) 693-2363 Jim Bannon Director E.V. Smith Research Center (334) 844-5598 Arnold Caylor Interim Superintendent North Alabama Horticulture Substation (205) 734-5820 Joe Kemble Assistant Professor Department of Horticulture (334) 844-4862 Jimmy Witt Former Superintendent Horticulture Unit E.V. Smith Research Center Randy Akridge Superintendent Brewton Experiment Field (334) 867-3139 Bobby Boozer Area Horticulturist Chilton Area Horticulture Substation (205) 646-3610 David Dubois Visiting Scholar Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique de Toulouse, France Jim Pitts Superintendent Chilton Area Horticulture Substation (205) 646-3610 Joe Little Superintendent Lower Coastal Plain Substation (334) 682-4662 Emmett Carden Superintendent Gulf Coast Substation (334) 928-2740 Ronnie McDaniel Associate Superintendent Gulf Coast Substation (334) 928-2740 Malcomb Pegues Assistant Superintendent Gulf Coast Substation (334) 928-2740 Randall Rawls Superintendent Upper Coastal Plain Substation (205) 487-2150 Gene Hunter Senior Research Associate Department of Horticulture (334) 844-4862 2 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Introduction: Some Tips to Get the Most Out of Vegetable Variety Trial Results ERIC SIMONNE In spring 1996, replicated variety trials were con- ducted for tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, cucum- bers, lettuce, honey dew melons, green and colored bell peppers, sugar-enhanced (se) and supersweet (sh2) sweet corn, and yellow summer and zucchini squash.The fol- lowing pages present in-depth information on the yield and performance of these crops. However, glancing rap- idly at the yield results may not provide all the informa- tion necessary for choosing a the best varieties. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of these vegetable variety trial results. Trial Ratings: Each test was rated on a 1-5 scale, based on weather conditions, fertilizer, irrigation, pest pressure, and overall conditions (see table). Results from trials with ratings of 2 and under are not reported. Cultural Practices: Trials were fertilized accord- ing to the recommendations of the AU Soil Testing Labo- ratory. The actual fertilizers and chemicals used are de- scribed only to provide detailed information about the cultural 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 control in vegetable production in Alabama may be found in IPM Commer- cial Vegetables: Insect, Disease, Nematode and Weed Control Recommendations (Publication 951PM-2 from the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service). Produc- tion systems included bare-ground planting and plasti- culture, combined with overhead or drip irrigation. In some cases, double or triple cropping was used. Statistical Analyses: The coefficient of determina- tion (R 2 ), coefficient of variation (CV) and least signifi- cant difference (lsd) are reported for each test. These num- bers help separate differences due to small plots (sam- pling error) from true differences among entries. These three statistical parameters help minimize the potential errors due to the use of small plots. R 2 ranges between 0 and 1. Values close to I suggest that the test was conducted un- der good conditions and most of the vari- Rating ability observed was mainly due to the ef- 5 ............ V fect of variety and replication. Random, un- 4 ............ F controlled errors were less important. CV is 3 ............ A an expression of yield variability relative to I............E yield mean. Low CVs are desirable (under 20%),but are not always achieved. Lsd is the minimum yield difference that must be seen between two varieties in order for one to infer that the higher-yielding variety actually performed better than the lower. When the difference in yield between two varieties is less than the lsd value, one cannot conclude that one variety performed better than the other, despite a numerical difference in yield. For example, in the 1996 lettuce trial at the Piedmont Substation, Sierra yielded 10,013 pounds per acre, while Optima and Salinas 88 Supreme yielded 6,304 and 5,791 pounds per acre, re- spectively. Since there was less than a 3,457 (the lsd value for yield) difference between Optima and Salinas 88 Su- preme, there is no statistical difference between the yields of these two varieties. However, the difference between Sierra and Optima was 3,709, indicating that there is a real difference between the yields of these two varieties. From a practical point of view, growers should compare varieties in terms of lsd. Using Variety Trial Information for Selection of a Variety: The performance of a genotype is affected by factors such as soil type, growing environment, and weather conditions. Therefore, the information in this report should be used as a primary source of information to pre-select the varieties that have shown the potential for high yields and quality under the conditions described in this report. Also, vegetable varieties come and go, and good-performing varieties may not be available consis- tently. Therefore, it is better to make variety evaluation a part of vegetable production. On-farm evaluation will test the performance of a variety under more specific con- ditions. The final choice of a variety may have to be ad- justed after this second evaluation. DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS USED TO EVALUATE SPRING 1996 VARIETY TRIALS Weather Fertilizer Irrigation Pests Overall Very Good Very Good Very Good None Excellent avorable Good Good Light Good kcceptable Acceptable Acceptable Tolerable Acceptable kdverse Low Low Adverse Questionable )estructive Very Low Insufficient Destructive Useless SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 3 Spring Lettuce Shows Promise for Alabama ERIC SIMONNE, BRIAN GAMBLE, JOHN OWEN, MARVIN RUF, AMY SIMONNE, AND LARRY WELLS Lettuce variety trials were conducted at the Wire- grass Substation (WS) in Headland, Piedmont Substa- tion (PS) in Camp Hill,and Sand Mountain Substation (SMS) in Crossville (Tables 1 and 2). Lettuce was grown on black-plastic mulch and drip irrigation. Six- week-old lettuce were transplanted in staggered, double rows 12 inches apart at an in-row spacing of 12 inches. Plots were 20 feet long and contained 40 plants. This created a stand of approximately 21,800 plants per acre. Transplanting date was May 8 at WS, May 13 at PS, and May 16 at SMS. At WS, preplant fertilization consisted (per acre) of 500 pounds of 13-13-13 and two tons of broiler litter applied on April 10. Weekly injections at a rate of six pounds of N per acre were made on May 15, May 22, May 31, June 12, and June 19 with potas- sium nitrate (KNO 3 ); and on June 5 with calcium ni- trate [Ca(N0 3 ) 2 ]. Plants were sprayed with Bravo fun- gicide (at a rate of three pints per acre) on May 31 and June 6, June 10, June 17, and June 24; and Asana in- secticide (at a rate of nine ounces per acre) on June 10. This test was not replicated. At PS, a 13-13-13 fertilizer was preplant applied at a rate of 950 pounds per acre. Plots were fertilized weekly through the drip lines at a rate of five pounds of N, alterna- tively with 20-10-20 and Ca(NO 3 ) 2 . No sprays were used. TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 LETTUCE VARIETY TRIALS Location WS PS SMS W eather ........................... 4 4 4 Fertility ........................... 5 5 5 Irrigation........ ..... 5 5 5 Pests ......................... ........... 5 5 5 Overall ......... 5 5 5 At SMS, fertilization consisted of preplant appli- cations (per acre) of 250 pounds of a 8-24-24 fertil- izer and 175 pounds of ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ). A 20-20-20 fertilizer was injected on June 21 and 26 at a rate of six pounds of N per acre. Lettuce were sprayed with Sevin XLR insecticide at a rate of one quart per acre on June 21. Lettuce were harvested at marketable size and graded according to the U.S. Standards for Grades of Romaine (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Publication 60- 6130). Harvest dates were June 10,June 12, and June 14 at WS; June 20 and June 26 at PS; and June 26, June 30, and July 1 at SMS. Yields were expressed in 50-pound boxes of 24 units (Table 3), calculated by dividing the number of marketable heads by 24. Heads were culled because of bolting or insufficient head size. Most lettuce tasted good, and were not bitter. TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, EARLINESS, AND DISEASE CLAIMS OF SELECTED LETTUCE VARIETIES Variety Seed source Days to harvest' Head type Leaf color Disease claims- Years evaluated Big Curly ............................. Vilmorin NA Maraichere Green NA 96 Brunia ................................... Vilmorin 62 Oak Leaf Green/Red NA 95,96 Cabernet Red ........................ Asgrow NA Looseleaf Red NA 96 Epic ........................................ Sakata 45 Crisphead Green NA 95,96 Greengo ................................. Asgrow NA Looseleaf Green NA 96 Legacy ..................................... Takii NA Crisphead Green NA 95,96 Nancy .................................. SeedWay 66 Butterhead Green NA 96 Nevada ................................. Vilmorin 58 Batavia Green DM,LMV,TB 95,96 Optima .......................... Vilmorin 55 Butterhead Green DM,LMV 95,96 Ostinata ...................... Stokes 60 Boston Green TB 96 Parris Island .......................... Stokes 65 Romaine Green TB 95,96 Redprize ............................ Ferry-Morse 46 Looseleaf Green/Red TB 96 Red Salad Bowl .................. Vilmorin 50 Oakleaf Red NA 95,96 Salanca GM ......................... Vilmorin NA Maraichere Green NA 96 Salinas 88 Supreme .............. Sakata 75 Crisphead Green LMV 95,96 Sierra .................................... Vilmorin NA Batavia Green/Red DM,TB,LMV 95,96 Slobolt M.I .................... Harris Seeds 48 Looseleaf 'Frisee' Green N 96 'From seed catalogues; NA = not available. 2 Disease claims: LMV = Lettuce Mosaic Virus; TB = Tip Burn: DM = Downy Mildew; NA = not available; N = none. 4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION- TABLE 3. YIELD AND NUMBER OF 50-POUND CARTONS (24 HEADS) OF SELECTED LETTUCE VARIETIES' Variety Marketable Marketable Marketable Percent weight heads 50-lb. boxes stand lb./a. Salinas 88 Supreme ................ 12,121 Greengo ....................... ..... 12,034 Epic ....................... ....... ....... 11,249 Legacy ........................... ......10,290 Slobolt ......................... ...... 7,848 Nancy ...................... .......... 7,150 Parris Island .................................... 7,150 Optima ........................ ...... 6,976 Cabernet Red .............................. 5,930 Red Salad Bowl .......................... 4,883 Redprize .................... ..........3,401 R 2 . ............................ ...... CV .......... .................. ............... Isd ......... ................... ................. Sierra .................... ....... ...... 10,013 Salanca ....................... .........9,093 Big Curly ................................... 8,040 Nevada ........................ ...... 7,371 Red Prize ................................... 6,895 Optima ...................... ...... 6,304 Nancy ......................... ....... 6,275 Salinas 88 Supreme.................. 5,791 Greengo ....................... ...... 5,713 Legacy ........................................... 5,0 11 S lobolt .............................................. 4 ,696 B runia ....................... ..................... 4,132 O stinata .......................................... 3,704 R 2 ...................... ........... .......... 0.44 C V ................................... ..................... 3 7 lsd .................................................. 3 ,4 57 Big Curly ...................................... 14,932 Salinas 88 Supreme ...................... 11,504 B runia ............................................ 9,0 35 Redprize ......................................... 7,553 Salanca GM ..................................... 7,495 Legacy ...................... ..................... 4,096 FMX 2155 .................................... 3,951 E pic ....................................... ......... 3,699 Optima ............................................. 1,859 G reengo ......................................... 1,598 R 2 .... .. ............ . ... ...... .. ..... .. . . 0.62 C V ............................................................ 86 lsd ..................................................... 8 , 34 2 no./a. Wiregrass Substation 2 16,568 18,312 16,132 14,824 14,388 17,004 13,952 13,080 16,132 13,952 11,772 Piedmont Substation 15,106 15,106 15,106 15, 106 12,588 13,218 15,106 15,106 12,976 15,106 15,106 9,441 11,330 Sand Mountain Substation 15,687 14,525 11,330 6,972 11,039 5,229 5,810 5,616 4,939 6,391 no./a. 690 763 672 618 600 709 581 545 672 581 491 pc. I 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 629 629 629 629 525 551 62 9 629 541 629 629 393 472 87 87 87 87 72 76 87 87 74 87 87 54 65 654 605 472 291 460 218 242 234 206 266 90 83 65 40 63 30 33 32 28 37 'Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. 2 Observational trial. IJ. 1\II) SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 5 Bell Pepper Performance Depends on Bacterial Leaf Spot Susceptibility ERIC SIMONNE, JIM BANNON, ARNOLD CAYLOR, JOE KEMBLE, AND JIMMY WITT Bell pepper variety trials were conducted at the E.V. Smith Research Center (EVSRC) Horticulture Unit in Shorter and the North Alabama Horticulture Substation (NAHS) in Cullman (Tables 1-3). Five-week-old peppers were transplanted on May 16 at EVSRC and NAHS on four-foot-wide, drip-irri- gated, and plastic-mulched beds. Plastic-mulch color was black at EVSRC and white at NAHS. At EVSRC, pep- pers 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, pep- pers were planted in single rows at a within-row spacing of one foot, creating a stand of approximately 7,500 plants per acre. At EVSRC, a 10-10-20 fertilizer was applied pre- plant on April 9 to supply (per acre) 50 pounds of nitro- gen (N) and phosphorus (P,O,), and 100 pounds of po- tassium (K 2 0). Beds were fumigated with methyl bro- TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 BELL PEPPER VARIETY TRIALS Location' EVSRC NAHS W eather ................. .......... 5 5 Fertility ............................ 5 4 Irrigation ................................ 5 5 Pests ...................................... 3 3 Overall .............................. 4 4 At both locations, bacterial leaf spot was present mide at a rate of 400 pounds per acre on April 10. Start- ing immediately after transplanting and for 13 weeks, 10 pounds of N per acre were injected weekly through the trickle-irrigation system, alternatively from a 20-20-20 granular fertilizer and a calcium nitrate [Ca(NO 3 ) 2 ] solu- tion. TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED BELL PEPPERS Variety Type' Seed Color 2 Days to Disease Years source harvest' tolerance/resistance 4 evaluated Acapulco ........................... Fl Vilmorin G-R 70 NA 96 Admiral .............................. Fl Sandoz Rogers G-Y 76 TbMV,BLS(1,2),PVY 95,96 Belle Star ........................... Fi Ferry-Morse G-R 67 TbMV 94,96 Boyton Bell ....................... Fl Harris Seeds G-R 75 BLS(1,2,3) 96 Capistrano .......................... OP Petoseed G-R 74 TbMV 96 Chocolate Beauty ............. F1 Petoseed G-Br-R 85 TbMV 94,96 Enterprise 5 ......................... F1 Asgrow G-R 77 TbMV,BLS(1,2,3) 95,96 Figaro ................................. F1 Vilmorin G-R 71 TbMV,PVY 95,96 Goldcoast 6 ...... .. . . . . . . . . . . ....... F1 Asgrow G-Y 74 TbMV,BLS(1,2,3) 95,96 King Arthur .................... FI Petoseed G-R 72 TbMV,PVY,BLS(2),TbEV 94.95,96 Orange Grande ............ ..... FI Stokes G-O 76 TbMV 95,96 Purple Beauty .................... OP Petoseed Bk 74 TbMV 96 Redwing ....................... Fl Stokes G-R 72 TbMV,PVY,PEV 95,96 Red Dawn .......................... F1 Stokes G-R 69 N 95,96 Robin ............................ ...... F Stokes G-R 72 N 95,96 Superset .......................... FI Stokes G-R 64 TbMV 94,96 Tazza .................................. F1 Nunhems G-Y NA NA 95,96 X3R Camelot .................. FI Petoseed G-R 74 TbMV,BLS(1,2,3) 94,95,96 X3R Wizard ....................... F Petoseed G-R NA BLS(1,2,3),TbMV 96 Zerto ................................ Fl Nunhems G-R NA TbMV 94,95,96 'Type: F1 = hybrid; OP = open pollinated. "Fruit Color: G = green: Y = yellow; Bk = black; Br = brown; W = white; O = orange; R = red; P = purple; Pk = pink. 3From seed catalogues; NA = not available. 4 Disease resistance/tolerance: BLS (Race No.) = Bacterial Leaf Spot; PVY = Potato Virus Y; PEV = Potato Etch Virus; TbMV = Tobacco Mosaic Virus; TbEV = Tobacco Etch Virus; PMV = Pepper Mottle Virus; N = none; NA = not available. 5 Formerly XPH 12101. 'Formerly XPH 12113. 6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Weed control consisted of applications of Lexone 4L and Treflan (each at a rate of one pint per acre) on April 16. Insect control was provided by applications of Asana (at a rate of eight ounces per acre) on July 5 and 13; Ambush 2EC (at a rate of eight ounces per acre) on June 15; Thiodan 3EC (at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre) on June 5 and 19; and Phaser (at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre) on July 20, July 27, and Aug. 2. Fungicide applications consisted of Manzate (at a rate of three pounds per acre) on June 1, June 5, and July 5; Dithane DF (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on May 25 and June 19; Ridomil MZ58 (at a rate of three pounds per acre) on June 20; Kocide (at a rate of three pounds per acre) on June 1, June 10, June 15, June 19, June 26, July 5, and Aug. 9; and Manex (at a rate of 1.5 quart per acre) on June 10, June 15, June 26, July 13, and Aug. 9. At NAHS, beds were fumigated with 98% Methyl Bromide plus 2% Chloropicrin at a rate of 200 pounds per acre on April 27. Fertilization consisted of a preplant application (per acre) of 130 pounds of N. Insect control consisted of applications of Dimethoate (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 7; Asana XL (at a rate of 9.6 ounces per acre) on June 3, TABLE 3. DEFOLIATION RATINGS OF BELL PEPPERS DUE TO BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT' Variety EVSRC NAHS Acapulco................... ........ NP 20 Adm iral ................................. 2 N P Boyton Bell...................2 7 Capistrano................................NP 13 Chocolate Beauty ..................... 20 NP Enterprise.................. ......... 10 5 Figaro ................................. NP 23 Goldcoast .............. ................ 5 NP King Arthur ............ .............. 5 23 Orange Grande ......................... 30 NP Purple Beauty...........................30 NP Red Dawn ......................... NP 30 Redwing................. NP 6 Robin.................NP 25 Superset .............. ................... NP 10 Tazza .......................................... 30 NP X3R Cam elot ............................... 5 3 X3R W izard............ ..................... 6 5 Zerto........................................... 20 NP 'Mean of four ratings on Aug. 21 at EVSRC. and Aug. 13 at NAHS. No defoliation and total defoliation rated as 0 and 100%, respec- tively. Pepper pods are prone to severe sun burn at defoliation rates above 20%. Differences in defoliation rates across locations for the same variety may be due to differences in the severity of the infec- tion or the race of Bacterial Leaf Spot (1,2,3 or other) present. NP = not planted at that location. TABLE 4. EARLY PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED BELL PEPPER VARIETIES' Variety Early Early Early Early Early Early Early marketable wt. fancy wt. US#l wt. US#2 wt. fancy no. US#l no. US#2 no. lb./a. lb./a. lb./a. lb./a. no./a. no./a. no./a. E.V. Smith Research Center Zerto ................................. 13.628 2,120 11.508 16,474 3,939 33,698 64,346 King Arthur ....... .......... 13,212 3,188 10.024 13,062 9.441 30,067 50,692 Boyton Bell ...................... 10,801 2,452 8,349 15,358 6,391 24.112 53,016 Tazza .................................. 9,349 1.237 8,.112 12,489 3,486 23.531 48.514 Enterprise (Red) ................ 9,298 1,326 7,972 12,988 3,486 22.465 47.352 Enterprise (Green) ............. 9,043 2,328 7,297 15,722 4,648 2 1.352 58.826 X3R Wizard ....................... 8,166 1,880 6,286 14,299 4.503 14.961 44,592 X3R Camelot ..................... 6,660 1,275 5,704 10,433 3,292 14,525 37,475 Admiral .............................. 6,021 2,680 4,681 12,355 8,715 14,816 54,033 Orange Grande..................4,441 857 4.227 6,504 2,324 11,184 28,033 Chocolate Beauty .............. 3,907 3,543 3,022 16,144 12,782 11,620 73,787 Goldcoast ........................... 3,610 755 3,044 12.732 1,743 7.263 45,173 Purple Beauty .................... 2,200 0 2,200 11,572 0 7,553 49,966 R 2 ..................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 0.49 0.24 0.37 CV .......................................... 53 88 82 Isd ....................................... 5,917 2,495 6,068 North Alabama Horticulture Substation Red Dawn ..................... 10,662 4,640 6,021 3,703 16,204 25,013 15,551 Boyton Bell........................9,513 5,668 3,845 2,522 15,878 13,811 10,658 X3R Wizard ....................... 8,376 4,347 4,029 2,797 14,355 11,528 7,830 Redwing .............................. 8,031 3,826 4,205 2,173 10,440 14.138 9.353 Super Set ...................... 7,875 3.210 4,664 3,259 12,506 20,445 17,726 King Arthur ........................ 7,248 3,902 3,346 2,137 10,331 10,658 8,809 Figaro................................ 7,135 3,972 3,164 1,652 10,984 11,854 7,504 Acapulco ............................ 7,126 4,601 2,525 1,601 11,854 9,353 6,743 Enterprise ........................... 5,999 2,669 3,330 1,506 7,721 21,424 6,743 X3R Camelot ..................... 4,852 2,798 2,054 1,208 8,809 7.830 4,894 Robin .................................. 2,493 1,383 1,109 1,192 4,785 5,438 5,873 Capistrano .......................... 2,471 1,277 1,194 781 3.480 4,350 3,589 R 2 .......................................... 0.88 0.94 0.48 CV ........................................ . 30 35 43 lsd ...... .......................... 3, 643 2,667 6,553 'Cumulative productions of the first four harvests (July 19, July 30, Aug. 7, and Aug. 13 at EVSRC; and June 10 and Aug. 28 at NAHS). Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 7 June 7, June 21, July 3, July 12, July 19, July 26, and Plots were harvested five times between July 19 and Aug. 2; Thiodan (at a rate of 2.5 pounds per acre) on Aug. 21 at EVSRC, and on June 10 and Aug. 28 at NAHS. July 12; and Lannate (at a rate of three pints per acre) on At both locations, fruits were harvested at the mature- July 19, July 26, and Aug. 2. Fungicides used were Bravo green color stage, weighed and graded (Tables 4 and 5), 720 (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 3 and 7; using the standards of the Sweet Pepper Grader's Guide Dithane F-45 (at a rate of 2.4 quarts per acre) on June (Circular ANR-783 of the Alabama Cooperative Ex- 18, June 21, June 28, and July 3; and Kocide 101 (at a tension Service). rate of three pounds per acre) on June 18, June 21, and July 3. TABLE 5. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED BELL PEPPER VARIETIES Variety Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Ind. fancy market. wt. 2 fancy wt. US#1 wt. US#2 wt. cull fancy no. US#1 no. US#2 no. fruit wt. 2 lb./a. lb./a. lb./a. lb./a. lb./a. no./a no./a. no./a. lb. E.V. Smith Research Center King Arthur................ 14,261 3,188 11,073 16,582 9,957 9,441 33,553 66,960 0.34 Zerto .......................... 14,005 2,120 11,885 17,775 9,193 4,084 34,860 71,608 0.42 Boyton Bell ................ 11,345 2,452 8,892 18,146 11,225 6,391 25,709 66,670 0.41 Enterprise (Red) .......... 10,138 1,326 8,812 15,594 13,957 3,873 24,983 59,698 0.35 Tazza ............................ 9,417 1,237 8,179 13,919 13,103 3,486 23,821 56,357 0.35 Enterprise (Green) .........9,247 2,328 7,501 17,845 11,540 4,648 21,933 68,268 0.43 X3R Wizard ................. 8,745 1,880 6,865 15,706 11,642 4,503 16,994 51,854 0.41 X3R Camelot ............ 7,530 1,275 6,574 13,110 10,155 3,486 17,721 49,530 0.38 Admiral ........................ 6,210 2,680 4,870 14,558 13,113 8,715 15,542 64,491 0.37 Orange Grande ...............4,521 857 4,307 7,588 16,483 2,324 11,475 33,117 0.37 Chocolate Beauty ...........4,122 3,543 3,236 17,522 13,976 12,782 12,492 81,195 0.28 Goldcoast ..................... 3,722 755 3,156 14,766 9,564 1,743 7,553 54,759 0.43 Purple Beauty ............ 2,200 0 2,200 11,722 14,290 0 7,553 50,983 0.293 R 2 .............. .................. .... 0.51 0.23 0.36 0.36 CV ...................................... 51 87 81 21 lsd .................................... 6,001 2, 6 4 0 6,106 0.11 North Alabama Horticulture Substation Red Dawn .................... 10,662 4,640 6,021 3,703 3,943 16,204 25,013 15,551 0.28 Boyton Bell.....................9,513 5,668 3,845 2,522 3,608 15,878 13,811 10,658 0.35 X3R Wizard ....................8,376 4,347 4,029 2,797 3,663 14,355 11,528 7,830 0.32 Redwing ..........................8,031 3,826 4,205 2,173 3,944 10,440 14,138 9,353 0.37 Super Set .........................7,875 3,210 4,664 3,259 6,113 12,506 20,445 17,726 0.26 King Arthur.....................7,248 3,902 3,346 2,137 3,628 10,331 10,658 8,809 0.37 Figaro ..............................7,135 3,972 3,164 1,652 2,675 10,984 11,854 7,504 0.36 Acapulco .........................7,126 4,601 2,525 1,601 3,278 11,854 9,353 6,743 0.39 Enterprise ........................ 5,999 2,669 3,330 1,506 3,100 7,721 21,424 6,743 0.34 X3R Camelot ..................4,852 2,798 2,054 1,208 3,290 8,809 7,830 4,894 0.32 Robin ............................... 2,493 1,383 1,109 1,192 2,223 4,785 5,438 5,873 0.28 Capistrano .......................2,471 1,277 1,194 781 1,893 3,480 4,350 3,589 0.38 R2 .................................... 0.88 0.94 0.48 0.49 CV ......................................... 30 35 43 14 lsd .................................... 3,968 2,667 6,553 0.06 'Harvest dates were July 19, July 30, Aug. 7, Aug. 13, and Aug. 21 at EVSRC; and June 10 and Aug. 21 at NAHS. Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. 2 Marketable yield and individual fruit weight were determined as fancy + US#1 grades. 3 US#l. 8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Small Melons for Alabama: Cantaloupes and Honey Dews ERIC SIMONNE, RANDY AKRIDGE, JIM BANNON, BOBBY BOOZER, DAVID DUBols, JOE KEMBLE, JIM PITTS, AND JIMMY WITT Small melon (cantaloupe, honey dew, French Charentais) variety trials were conducted at the Brewton Experiment Field (BEF) in Brewton, E.V. Smith Research Center (EVSRC) Horticulture Unit near Shorter, Pied- mont Substation (PS) in Camp Hill, and Chilton Area Horticulture Substation (CAHS) in Clanton (Tables I and 2). Selected varieties of small melons were direct seeded in single rows on three-foot-wide beds, spaced within rows at 3.5 to four feet. At all locations, plastic mulch and drip irrigation were used. At PS, small melons were grown as a third crop following cabbage (fall 1994) and bell pepper (spring 1995). At BEF, EVSRC, and CAHS, the plastic was new. Plastic color was black at BEF and CAHS, and white at EVSRC and PS. Planting dates were April 26 at BEF, May 16 at EVSRC, June 18 at PS, and May 9 at CAHS. At BEF, beds were fumigated with methyl bromide two weeks before planting. Fertilization consisted of a preplant application of 13-13-13 at a rate of 450 pounds per acre and of weekly injections of seven pounds of nitrogen (N) as calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3),] and potas- sium nitrate (KNO,) between May 21 and July 11. A total of 56 pounds per acre of N was injected. Bravo 720 fungicide (at a rate of three pints per acre) and Lannate LV insecticide (at a rate of two pints per acre) were ap- plied on June 7, June 13, June 25, and July 10. At EVSRC, preplant fertilization broadcast applied on April 9 provided (per acre) 50 pounds of N and phos- phorus (PO 5 ), and 100 pounds of potassium (K 2 0) as 10-10-20. On April 10, beds were fumigated with me- thyl bromide at a rate of 400 pounds per acre. Between May 16 and Aug. 1, six pounds of N were injected weekly, alternatively from 20-20-20, Ca(NO), and KNO 3. A total of 72 pounds of N was injected. Preplant herbicide was Sonalan (at a rate of 4.5 pints per acre) applied on April 16. Insect control was pro- vided by applications of Thiodan 3EC (at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre) on June 5, June 19, and July 5; and Asana XL (at a rate of eight ounces per acre) on June 26. Fun- gicides used were Dithane DF (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on May 25 and June 19; Kocide (at a rate of three pounds per acre) on June 1, June 5, June 10, June 26, and July 5; Manzate 200 DF (at a rate of three pounds TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 SMALL MELON VARIETY TRIALS Location BEF EVSRC PS CAHS W eather ........................ 5 5 5 5 Fertility ........................ 5 5 4 5 Irrigation ........................ 5 5 5 5 Pests ............................. 5 5 4 5 Overall ....................... 5 5 3 5 per acre) on June 5 and 26; and Manex (at a rate of 1.5 quarts per acre) on June 10. Plants were also sprayed with Guthion 35W (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on May 25. At CAHS, fertilization consisted of a preplant ap- plication (per acre) of 54 pounds of N and K20 and weekly injection ranging between seven and 14 pounds of N and K20 between May 1 and July 10. A total of 160 pounds of N and K20 were injected during the growing season. Insect control was provided by applications of Thiodan (at a rate of one pint per acre) on May 22 and 30; and Lannate LV (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 5, June 12, June 21, June 28, July 3, July 24, and Aug. 3. Fungicides used were Kocide (at a rate of 2.7 pounds per acre) and Maneb 80 (at a rate of 1.5 pounds per acre) on May 22, May 30, June 5, June 12, June 21, June 28, July 3, July 24, and Aug. 3; and Ridomil/Bravo 81W (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on Aug. 8. At PS, plots were fertilized weekly through the drip lines at a rate of 10 pounds of N from 20-20-20 the first two weeks, and at a rate of five pounds of N, alterna- tively with 20-10-20 and Ca(N0 3 ) 2 thereafter. No sprays were used. Harvesting small melons at an over-ripe stage may reduce shelf-life and increase the risk of splitting during transportation. Flavor may also be adversely affected. Selected cantaloupe varieties may be harvested at half- slip. Honey dews do not slip naturally from the vine and are considered vine-ripened when the pubescence on the melon falls and/or when rind color changes from green to yellowish. Honey dews may be harvested at an imma- ture stage; they will continue to ripen and become sweeter during storage. Hence, sugar content at harvest is not a good indicator of sweetness at maturity. French SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 9 Charentais melons may be harvested when the distal end 22, July 24, July 26, July 29, July 31, Aug. 2, and Aug. becomes soft to the touch, while the melon still shows a 6 at CAHS (Table 3). At PS, small melons were har- green appearance. vested before optimum time because of deer pressure. Melons were harvested and graded on July 3, July On eight representative melons of each variety at each 11, and July 18 at BEF; July 8, July 11, July 15, July 16, location, soluble-solid content was determined with a July 19, July 22, July 25, July 29, and Aug. 1 at EVSRC; hand-held refractometer. Soluble-solid content is a prac- on Aug. 20 at PS; and on July 12, July 16, July 19, July tical measurement of sweetness. TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED VARIETIES OF SMALL MELONS Variety Type Seed Rind Flesh Days to Disease Years source aspect' color' harvest 3 claims 4 evaluated Cantaloupe (Muskmelon) AC-82-37-RNL ............. OP Auburn U. N O NA NA 94,95,96 Allstar ......................... F1 Harris Seeds N O NA NA 96 Athena ...................... Fl Sandoz Rogers N O 80 PM,F 94,95,96 AUrora .................... OP Auburn U. N O 75 NA 95,96 Cordele ........................ Fl Asgrow N/Su O 85 PM,F 94,95.96 Durango ...................... F1 Petoseed N O 83 PM,F,S 96 Eclipse ......................... FI SeedWay/Petoseed N O 85 PM,F 96 Hi-Mark ...................... Fl Petoseed N O 83 PM,S 94,95,96 Laredo ......................... F1 Petoseed N O 82 PM,S 96 Mission ....................... Fl Asgrow N O 80 PMS 94,95,96 Pacstart ........................ Fl Asgrow N O 85 PM 96 SME 3118 ................... FI Sakata N O 85 F,PM 96 Sparkle" . ........... .............. Fl Ferry-Morse N O NA F,PM,DM 94,95,96 Starship ....................... Fl Harris Seeds N/Su O 86 F,PM 95,96 Superstar ..................... Fl Harris Seeds N/Su O 86 F 94,96 French Charentais Acor ................................ Fl Vilmorin Su O 75 F 95,96 Alienor ........................ FI Vilmorin Su O 75 F,TB 95,96 Savor ........................... FI Vilmorin Su O 75 F,PM 95,96 Honey Dew Daybreak ..................... FI Harris Seeds Sm Gr NA F,PM 96 Earli-Dew ....... F1.-....Fl Petoseed Sm Gr 80 F 95,96 Honey Brew ................... F1 Sakata Sm Gr 90 F,PM,DM 96 Magic-to-Dew ............... Fl A&C Sm Gr 92 F,PM 96 Morning Dew ............. FI Harris Seeds Sm Gr 96 F,DM,PM 95,96 Moonshine ..................... F1 Asgrow Sm Gr 80 F 96 Morning Ice ................... FI Harris Seeds Sm Gr 84 F,PM 95,96 Passport 6 .......... .. . . . . . . . . . ... Fl Stokes Ro Gr 75 Ant,GSB 96 Other Melons Iberix (Spanish) ............ OP Vilmorin Sm Gr NA NA 95,96 Lutina (Canary) ............ F1 Nunhems Sm Y 88 F 95,96 'Rind aspect: Sm = smooth; N = netted ? Su = sutured. 2 Flesh color: O = Orange; Gr = Green; Y = Yellow. 'From seed catalogues; NA = not available. 4 Disease claims: F = Fusarium Wilt; PM = Powdery Mildew; Ant = Anthracnose; DM = Downy Mildew; S = Sulfur; NA = not available. 'Formerly FMX 165. 6 Honey Dew x Galia cross. 10 AAAAARCLUA XEIETSAIN TABLE3.YIELD OF SELECTED SMALL MELON VARIETIES' Variety Type Marketable yield Marketable fruits Individual fruit wt. Soluble solids Cull wt. lb/1a. Morning Ice ........ Honey Dew Daybreake ......... Honey Dew 31,030 Eclipse ........... Cantaloupe 27,953 Passport ........... Honey Dew 26,942 Cordele ........... Cantaloupe 24,912 Starship ........... Cantaloupe 23,767 Lutina ............ Canary 23,291 Magic-to-Dew ............. Honey Dew 22,217 Superstar .......... Cantaloupe 21,320 Alistar ............ Cantaloupe 19,089 Earli-Dew ......... Honey Dew 18,868 HMX 2608 ......... Cantaloupe 18,868 Moonshine ......... Honey Dew 14,036 Hi-Mark ........... Cantaloupe 13,396 Iberix ............. Spanish 10,227 ....................... 0.64 CV ........................................ ................... 25 lsd ................................................. 7,581 Iberix ................. Spanish Melon 30,513 Eclipse ................ Cantaloupe 19,547 Earli-Dew ............. Honey Dew 17,029 Honey Brew ........... Honey Dew 15,386 Daybreake ............ Honey Dew 15,347 Passport .............. Cantaloupe 12,817 Acor ....................... F. Charentais 11.841 Lutina ................ Canary Melon 9,773 Morning Ice ........... Honey Dew 9,483 Morning Dew.........Honey Dew 8,708 Cordele ............... Cantaloupe 7,546 Alienor ............... F. Charentais 4,731 SME 3118 ............ Cantaloupe 3,756 Hi-Mark ............... Cantaloupe 2,117 R .................................................... 0.55 CV ........................................................... 66 lsd........................................................ 6,247 Pacstart..................Cantaloupe Athena .................. Cantaloupe HMX 2608 ......... Cantaloupe Cordele...........Cantaloupe Durango..............Cantaloupe Starship ................. Cantaloupe Hi-Mark .................. Cantaloupe Mission ....................... Cantaloupe SME 3118 ......... Cantaloupe AC-82-37-RNL ..... Cantaloupe FMX 217 .............. Cantaloupe Laredo................... Cantaloupe AUrora...............Cantaloupe Superstar..........Cantaloupe 52.281 49.508 48,546 47,665 47,568 46,364 44,301 43,466 39,714 3 8, 129 37,773 35,331 34,521 34,057 W ........................................... 0.32 CV .................................... ........... 23 lsd...................................................... .13,846 Chilt Cordele ........... Cantaloupe 44,801 Starship ........... Cantaloupe 44,221 Pacstart ....................Cantaloupe 42,481 FMX 217 .......... Cantaloupe 40.873 Allstar ............ Cantaloupe 40.254 FMX 165 .......... Cantaloupe 35,130 Laredo ............ Cantaloupe 34,182 HMX 2608 ......... Cantaloupe 32,629 Durango ............... Cantaloupe 3 1.534 Hi-Mark ............... Cantaloupe 3 1,507 AC-82.-37-RNL ..... Cantaloupe 3 0,029 Mission ............... Cantaloupe 29.906 AUrora ............... Cantaloupe 29,528 SME 3118 ............ Cantaloupe 28,68 6 RI ........................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.41 CV ........................................................... 22 lsd ................................................. I.......11. 202 tjo/a. Brewton Experiment Field 3,924 3.870 4,687 5,777 4,306 5,123 4,469 3,107 4,469 5,287 4,524 4,306 2,180 3,761 1,908 0. 62 2 3 1,328 Piedmont Substation 5,188 3,320 3,458 2,075 2,905 3.320 3,458 1,660 2,075 1.383 1. 5 22 1.868 1,038 623 0.45 69 1,330 E.V. Smith Research Center 8,575 10,137 9,483 8,829 10,846 8,775 11,718 13,462 8.720 14,552 7,412 10,900 10,028 5, 232 0.63 21 2,933 on Area Horticulture Substation 8,611 10, 192 8,012 8.448 11,990 8,339 12,154 8,339 9,102 10,192 11.336 9,647 8.012 8,611 0.43 2)0 .668 8. 1 8.0 6.0 4.7 5.9 4.7 5.3 7.1 4.9 3.7 4.3 4.4 6.7 3.7 5.3 0.79 15 1.2 5.9 5.8 6.0 7.7 5.8 4.0 3.3 6.1 4.6 7.2 5.2 2.6 3.6 3.3 0.68 26 2.0 6.1 4.9 5.1 5.5 4.4 5.3 3.8 3.2 4.7 2.6 5.1 3.3 3.4 6.5 0.82 13 0.9 'Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather. soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. lb. 0 PBrix 11.0 8.8 10.5 10.6 8.8 8.8 9.5 8.8 10.3 9.8 13.8 8.5 9.5 10.5 8.5 0.79 11 1.7 lb/a. 6,581 5,348 5,156 3,259 4,988 9,433 2,967 3,907 5,622 1,865 6,20 1 4,561 9.883 7,581 7.5 9.8 6.8 8.7 9.8 9.9 9.8 8.8 9.0 9.5 9.7 7.1 7.8 0.62 14 1.9 9.4 9.7 8.6 13.8 10.5 9.5 9.9 9.5 9.8 10.1 12.4 10.6 9.2 10.1 0.69 10 1.5 5.2 4.3 5.2 5.0 3.4 4.2 2.8 3.9 3.4 3. 1 2.6 3.1 3.7 3.3 ).88 9 1.1 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION - nr, I~n v rir SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 11 Colored Pepper Varieties Respond Differently to Bacterial Leaf Spot Infection ERIC SIMONNE, BOBBY BOOZER, JOE LITTLE, JIM PITTs, AND MARVIN RUF Colored pepper variety trials were conducted at the Lower Coastal Plain Substation (LCPS) in Camden, Chil- ton Area Horticulture Substation (CAHS) in Clanton, and Sand Mountain Substation (SMS) in Crossville (Tables 1-3). Five-week-old peppers were transplanted on May 27 at LCPS, and on May 15 at CAHS and SMS. Peppers were planted in double rows at CAHS, and in single rows at LCPS and SMS. Peppers were grown on bare ground at LCPS and SMS, while black plastic mulch and drip irrigation were used at CAHS. At all locations, within- row spacing was one foot, creating a stand of approxi- mately 14,600 plants per acre at CAHS, and 7,300 plants per acre at LCPS and SMS. At LCPS, preplant fertilization consisted (per acre) of 200 pounds of 0-20-20 and 70 pounds of nitrogen (N) as ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ). Preplant herbicide was Treflan (at a rate of one pint per acre) applied in early TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 COLORED BELL PEPPER VARIETY TRIALS Location LCPS CAHS' SMS W eather .......................... 4 5 5 Fertility ......................... 5 5 5 Irrigation ...................... 5 5 5 Pests .................................. 5 3 5 Overall ............................. 4 4 5 'At CAHS, bacterial leaf spot was present May. Plots were sidedressed with calcium nitrate [Ca(NO 3 ) 2 ] at a rate of 30 pounds of N per acre weekly between June 11 and Sept. 11. Total sidedress applica- tion was 270 pounds of N per acre. Alleys between plots were cultivated as needed to control weeds. No insecti- cide or fungicide was needed. Water was provided as needed through the drip system. TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED COLORED BELL PEPPER VARIETIES Variety Type' Seed source Color 2 Days to Disease Years harvest 3 tolerance/resistance 4 evaluated Admiral .................................. Fl Sandoz Rogers G-Y 76 TbMV,BLS(1,2),PVY 95,96 Black Bird .............................. Fl Stokes G-Bk-R 73 N 94,95,96 Blue Jay ................................. Fl Stokes P-R 73 N 94,95,96 Canary .................................... Fl Stokes G-Y 72 TbMV 94,95,96 Capistrano ............................. OP Petoseed G-R 74 TbMV 96 Chocolate Beauty ............ ...... F Petoseed G-Br-R 85 TbMV 94,96 Chocolate Bell ....................... Fl Stokes G-Br-R 75 N 95,96 Dove ....................................... Fl Stokes W-Pk-O 71 N 94,95,96 Enterprise' ............................. Fl Asgrow G-R 77 TbMV,BLS(1,2,3) 95,96 Goldcoast ............. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ... Fl Asgrow G-Y 74 TbMV,BLS(1,2,3) 95,96 Gold Finch ............................. F1 Stokes W-Y-R 72 N 96 King Arthur ............................ Fl Petoseed G-R 72 TbMV,PVY,BLS(2),TbEV 94,95,96 Lilac ........................................ Fl Sandoz Rogers P-R 68 TbMV 94,95,96 Orange Grande ................... FI Stokes G-O 76 TbMV 95,96 Purple Beauty ....................... OP Petoseed Bk 74 TbMV 96 Tazza ...................................... F1 Nunhems G-Y NA NA 95,96 X3R Camelot ...................... FI Petoseed G-R 74 TbMV,BLS(1,2,3) 94,95,96 Zerto ....................................... F1 Nunhems G-R NA TbMV 94,95,96 'Type: Fl = hybrid; OP = open pollinated. 2 Fruit color: G = green; Y = yellow; Bk = black; Br = brown; W = white; O = orange; R = red; P = purple; and Pk = pink. 'From seed catalogues; NA = not available. 4 Disease resistance/tolerance: BLS (Race #) = Bacterial Leaf Spot; PVY = Potato Virus Y; PEV = Potato Etch Virus; TbMV = Tobacco Mosaic Virus; TbEV = Tobacco Etch Virus: PMV = Pepper Mottle Virus; N = none; and NA = not available. Formerly XPH 12101. 6 Formerly XPH 12113. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 11 12 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION At CAHS, fertilization consisted of a preplant ap- plication (per acre) of 54 pounds of N and potassium (K 2 0) and weekly injection ranging between seven and 14 pounds of N and K20 between May 1 and July 10. A total of 160 pounds of N and K20 were injected during the growing season. Insect control was provided by applications of Thiodan (at a rate of one pint per acre) on May 22 and 30; and Lannate LV (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 5, June 12, June 21, June 28, July 3, and Aug. 3. Fungicides used were Kocide (at a rate of 2.7 pounds per acre) and Maneb 80 (at a rate of 1.5 pounds per acre) on May 22, May 30, June 5, June 12, June 21, June 28, July 3, and Aug. 3; and Ridomil/Bravo 81W (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on Aug. 8. At SMS, NH 4 NO, (at a rate of 150 pounds per acre) and a 8-24-24 fertilizer (at a rate of 250 pounds per acre) were applied preplant on May 20. Peppers were weekly sidedressed with Ca(NO 3 ) 2 (at a rate of 200 pounds per acre) on June 6, June 20, July 3, July 17, July 24, Aug. 8, and Aug. 14; NH4NO (at a rate of 100 pounds per acre) on July 10, and 13-13-13 (at a rate of 200 pounds per acre) on Aug. 14. Plots were overhead irrigated as needed. Preplant herbicide was Treflan 4EC applied on May 21 at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre. Insect control was pro- vided by applications of Sevin (at a rate of one quart per acre) on June 13, 21, and 23; Asana (at a rate of eight ounces per acre) on July 2, July 4, July 22, Aug. 2, and Aug. 16; and Phaser (at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre) on June 14, July 12, and Aug. 9. Kocide 101 fungicide was applied on June 4 and 2 at a rate of 1.5 pounds per acre. On June 26, Maneb fungicide was applied at a rate of 1.5 pounds per acre. TABLE 3. DEFOLIATION RATINGS OF COLORED BELL PEPPERS ATTRIBUTED TO BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT' Variety LCPS CAHS SMS Admiral .......................... NP 40 NP Black Bird ............ ......... 0 10 0 Blue Jay ................ ......... 0 NP 0 Canary ................................... NP 0 Chocolate Beauty ................ 0 20 0 Chocolate Bell .................. NP 50 NP Dove .................... ........... NP 0 Enterprise ............. ......... 0 NP 0 Gold Finch............ ......... 0 NP 0 King Arthur ....... ............ 0 27 0 Orange Grande..............0 70 0 Purple Beauty ................ 0 35 0 Tazza ............... NP 70 NP Goldcoast ............... ........0 10 0 X3R Camelot..............NP 0 0 'Mean of four ratings taken on Aug. 23 at LCPS, Aug. 21 at EVSRC and CAHS, and Aug. 13 at SMS. No defoliation and total defoliation are rated as 0 and 100%, respectively. Pepper pods are prone to severe sun burn at defoliation rates above 20%. Differences in defoliation rates across locations for the same variety may be due to differences in the severity of the infection or the race of bacterial leaf spot (1,2,3 or other) present. NP = not planted at that location. At all locations, fruits were harvested at the two- thirds colored stage, weighed, and graded using the stan- dards of the Sweet Pepper Grader's Guide (Circular ANR-783 of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Ser- vice). Plots were harvested nine times between July 18 and Sept. 10 at LCPS; three times between July 25 and Aug. 20 at CAHS; and six times between June 11 and Aug. 30 at SMS. Early production included the first four harvests (Tables 4 and 5). 12 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 1 TABLE4. EARLY PRODUCTION ANDGRADEDISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED COLOREDBELL PEPPER VARIETIES' Variety Early Early Early Early Early Early Early marketable wt. 2 fancy wt. US#l wt. US#2 wt. fancy no. US#l no. US#2 no. lb/1a. King Arthur (Red). 7,488 King Arthur (Green). 4,349 Black Bird........... 3,835 Dove......... ........ 3,607 Enterprise (Green). 2,751 Blue Jay ........ ..... 2,436 Gold Finch........... 1,525 Canary.......... ..... 1,219 Purple Beauty... ...... 1,069 Orange Grande ......... 479 Goldcoast...............0 R 2 .......... ......... . . . . . . . . . 0.75 CV ..................... ...... 51 lsd ..................... ...... 1,217 X3R Camelot (Red). 17,653 X3R Camelot (Green).. 15,070 King Arthur (Red). 12,696 Chocolate Beauty. 12,191 Black Bird..........11,157 Tazza................9,253 King Arthur (Green). 8,469 Goldcoast............6,107 Chocolate Bell ........ 2,920 Purple Beauty.. ...... 2,769 Admiral......... ..... 2,566 Orange Grande ........ 2,404 .2...0.64 CV ............................... 51 lsd ........................... 6,304 X3R Camelot (Green)..7,377 Dove......................... 5,62 3 Enterprise.................. 4,998 Gold Finch ............... 4,900 Black Bird ............... 4,316 Purple Beauty ............ 4,037 King Arthur (Green) .... 4,003 Canary...................... 3,701 Blue Jay ................. 3,135 X3R Camelot (Red)......2, 802 Goldcoast .................. 2,613 Orange Grande ........... 1,794 Capistrano ................. 1,663 King Arthur (Red).......1,648 Chocolate Beauty ..... 1,041 R 2 .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.58 CV ............................... 48 lsd ........................... 1,103 lb/1a. 2,144 364 117 31 123 0 0 0 0 181 0 0.59 134 206 lb/1a. lb/a. Lower Coastal Plain Substation 5,344 3,985 3,718 3,576 2,628 2,436 1,525 1,219 1,069 298 0 179 814 1,222 2,045 646 2,863 1,231 0 1,776 440 71 Chilton Area Horticulture Substation 4,870 1,068 435 1,051 836 1,057 145 308 0 104 110 0 0. 62 139 1,653 948 0 487 108 103 0 100 154 0 251 42 0 43 574 291 0.58 132 348 12),783 14,002 12,260 11,140 10, 321 8,197 8, 324 5,799 2 9 20 2,664 2,456 2,404 8,870 11,395 13,973 12,649 15,256 9,259 12,870 5,718 9,694 12,945 5.52 1 9,329 no/1a. 5,329 1,24 6 296 115 340 0 0 0 0 513 0 0.63 125 531 11,765 2,905 1, 162 3,050 2,179 3,196 436 872 0 291 291 0 0.60 134 4,177 Sand Mountain Substation 6,430 5,623 4,511 4,792 4,2 13 4,037 3,903 3,547 3,135 2,551 2,570 1,794 1,619 1,075 750 648 2.121 1, 62 6 0 1,010 1,090 933 317 1,628 233 3,133 0 1,211 24 2 1,095 317 2,804 0 918 654 852 119 1,717 0 763 115 1,112 1,246 843 698 0.54 139 851 no/a. 17,924 16,874 14,484 17,325 10,532 12,304 7,983 3,488 4,574 1 ,026 0 39,653 49,966 46,044 39,218 37,765 32,536 32,827 19,609 11,330 11,184 9,587 12,201 25,099 2 6, 84 8 16,895 25,843 20,928 19,537 15,623 14,745 17,803 11,009 11,228 8,607 7,802 3,397 2,442 no/1a. 969 6,229 7,833 15,719 4,190 17,201 10,071 0 14,724 1,026 459 38,201 55,631 76,111 66,670 81,631 55,776 77,709 28,614 43.430 84,390 32,972 56,648 54.124 13,654 6,813 7,769 14,998 25,277 7,872 8,086 23,859 7,52 1 6,331 13,137 5,737 6,908 6,162 'Cumulative productions of the first four harvests. Harvest dates were July 18. July 23, Aug. 2, Aug. 9, Aug. 14, Aug. 22, Aug. 29. Sept. 4, and Sept. 10 at LCPS; July 2.5, Aug. 5, and Aug. 20 at CAHS; and June 11, June23, July 2, July 13, July 23, and July30 at SMS. Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type. or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results colected at another site. 2 Marketable yield and individual fruit weight were determined as fancy + US#] grades. A/A SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 13 14 ALABAM GIUTRLEPRMN TTO TABLE5. TOTAL PRODUCTION ANDGRADEDISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED COLOREDBELL PEPPER VARIETIES' Variety Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Individual marketable wt. fancy wt. US#1 wt. US#2 wt. cull fancy no. US#l no. US#2 no. fancy fruit wt. lb/1a. lb/1a. King Arthur (Red). 60,798 Canary..............39,105 Orange Grande. 29,381 Black Bird.......... 23,427 Goldcoast..........22,700 King Arthur (Green). 19,173 Blue Jay.............16,980 Enterprise (Green). 14,500 Dove......... ...... 14,412 Purple Beauty... ..... 11,157 Gold Finch........... 8,814 R 2 ......... ......... . .. . . . . . . 0.63 CV ........................... 29 lsd .................... ..... 4,994 X3R Camelot (Red). 17,653 X3R Camelot (Green).15,070 King Arthur (Red). 12,696 Chocolate Beauty. 12.191 Black Bird..........11,157 Tazza...............9,253 King Arthur (Green). 8,469 Goldcoast...........6,107 Chocolate Bell........2,920 Purple Beauty... ..... 2.769 Admiral ........ ..... 2,566 Orange Grande ........ 2,404 R 2 . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.63 CV..... .......... 51 lsd .......................... 6,304 X3R Camelot (Green)..9,345 Enterprise................. 9,142 Dove....................... 7,784 Blue Jay ................ 7,001 King Arthur (Green) .... 6,987 Canary .................... 6,757 Gold Finch .............. 6,684 Black Bird .............. 5.817 X3R Camelot (Red) .... 5,480 Chocolate Beauty'.....5,460 Purple Beauty ........... 4,9 82 Orangce Grande .......... 4,204 King Arthur (Red).......3,974 Goldcoast.................. 3,570 Capistrano................. 3,446 R 2 .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.44 CV............................... 37 lsd.......................... 2,864 25,679 8 22 181 346 4,529 1,780 0 204 71 0 47 0.90 62 1,203 4,870 1,068 435 1,051 836 1,057 145 308 0 104 110 0 0. 62 139 1,649 1,282 487 0 0 396 578 353 103 1,737 1,338 0 631 2,093 313 729 0.59 94 878 lb./a. lb./a. lb/a. no./a. no/a. no/a. Lower Coastal Plain Substation 35,119 2,942 10,300 58,618 109,000 19,862 38,283 5,714 11,980 1,744 112,052 33,57 29,200 6,858 23,8 58 513 96,433 34,88( 23,081 8,415 1,194 887 385,601 57,641 18,171 783 4,719 10,556 53,697 4,58 17,393 1,836 1,091 4,983 63,192 13,476 16,980 9,068 715 0 52,6 78 66,29( 14,296 2,812 737 566 5 2, 54 6 16,30 14,340 6,925 674 459 72,514 55,074 11,157 10,835 346 0 48,174 77,901 8,768 6,076 706 123 46,302 47,402) 0.88 0.91 0.64 36 61 17 771 2,82 1 4,761 Chilton Area Horticulture Substation 12,783 8,870 3,361 14,002 11,395 2.937 12260 13,973 3,535 11,140 12.649 3,512 10,321 15,256 4,400 8.197 9,259 2,090 8,324 12.870 2,694 5,799 5,718 2.612 2920 9,694 3,884 2,664 12,945 5,793 2,456 5 ,521 3.228 2.404 9,329 1,712 0.40 0.60 44 134 2,225 4,177 Sand Mountain Substation 8,063 1,801 677 8,654 2,584 299 7,784 4,642 1,670 7,001 8,066 2,074 6,591 2,898 1.167 6,179 1,604 943 6.33 1 1,895 900 5,714 3.829 796 3, 742 1 ,132 1,561 4,123 1,312 2,455 4,982 5,336 955 3,573 1,799 2,094 1,881 1,112 2.571 3,25 8 881 2,418 2,717 1,299 1,706 0.65 0.56 38 98 786 2,0 16 11,765 39,653 2.905 49,966 1, 162 46,044 3,050 39,218 2,179 37,765 3,196 32,53 6 436 32,827 872 19,609 0 11,330 291 11,184 291 9,587 0 -12,20 0.66 6 5,841 2,946 32,641 1,090 34,608 0 39,240 0 42,389 969 29.06 7 1,268 '23,465 951 32,977 23 3 28.718 3,815 14,715 3,139 14,068 0 '24,946 1,585 14.496 4.303 5.662 717 13,259 1,492 11,244 0.52 9 650 3 8,20 1 55,631 76.111 66,670 81,631 55,776 77,709 2 8,6 14 43,430 84,390 32. 972 56,648 13,080 17,440 41,764 79,691 21,921 10.781 16,806 43,367 8,502 8,836 55,079 13,590 6,908 6,570 8,261 c1 'Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. 2 From US#l1.1 14 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION -b. 0.43 0.46 0.35 0.39 0.44 0.36 0.32?2 0.35 0.21 0.38 0.45 0.39 0.41 0.39 0.41 0.37 0.37 0.39 0.24 2 0.40 0.42 0.202 0.43 0.48 0.202 0.172 0.40 0.43 0.36 0.44 0.45 0.42 0.20" 0.40 0.49 0.45 0.49 SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 15 'General Lee' Among Top Marketable Yielders in Slicer Cucumber Trial for Third Year ERIC SIMONNE, EMMETT CARDEN, ARNOLD CAYLOR, JOE KEMBLE, RONNIE MCDANIEL, AND MALCOMB PEGUES Slicer cucumber variety trials were conducted at the Gulf Coast Substation (GCS) in Fairhope and North Ala- bama Horticulture Substation (NAHS) in Cullman (Tables 1 and 2). Selected varieties were direct-seeded on bare ground at a one-inch depth on April 10 at GCS and May 10 at NAHS. 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. At GCS, fertilization consisted of a preplant appli- cation (per acre) of a 10-10-10 fertilizer at a rate of 500 pounds and a sidedress application of ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO,) at a rate of 255 pounds. Pre-emergence herbi- cide was Curbit broadcast-applied on April 10 at a rate of four pints per acre. Ridomil/Bravo fungicide was ap- plied at a rate of two pounds per acre on May 27, June 5, and June 12. Bravo 720 fungicide was also applied on June 18 at a rate of three pints per acre. At NAHS, preplant herbicide was Curbit applied on May 10 at a rate of 4.5 pints per acre. Fertilization con- sisted of a preplant application of 150 pounds of N as NH 4 NO, on May 2 and a sidedress application of 15 pounds of N as NH4NO 3 on June 13. Insecticicides used were Asana (at a rate of 9.6 ounces per acre) on June 3, TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 SLICER CUCUMBER VARIETY TRIALS Location GCS NAHS W eather .............................. 5 5 Fertility ............................. 5 5 Irrigation ............. ........... 4 4 Pests ......... ......... 5 5 Overall ......... ....... 4 5 June 7, June 14, June 21, July 3, and July 12; and Dimethoate (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 7. Fungicide used was Bravo-720 (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 3, June 7, June 14, June 21, June 28, July 3, and July 12. Plants were over-head irrigated on June 24. Cucumbers were harvested 12 times between May 24 and June 19 at GCS and 10 times between June 28 and Aug. 2 at NAHS. After each harvest, fruits were weighed and graded according to the Cucumber Grader's Guide (Circular ANR-771 from the Alabama Coopera- tive Extension Service). Early (Table 3) and total (Table 4) yields were determined. Earliness was evaluated by adding the marketable yields of the first four harvests. TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF CUCUMBER VARIETIES Variety Type' Seed source Days to harvest 2 Disease tolerance/resistance 3 Years Dasher II ................................... Fl Petoseed 58 Sc,CMV,PM,DM,A,ALS 94,95,96 General Lee .............................. F1 Stokes 55 Sc,CMV,PM,DM 94,95,96 HMX 0431 ............................. FI Harris Seeds 66 Sc,CMV,PM,DM,ALS 96 HMX 1433............................. FI Harris Seeds 66 Sc,CMV,PM,DM,ALS 96 Indy ..................... ..................... FI Petoseed NA Sc, CMV, PM, ALS, A, ZYMV, PRV 96 Jazzer ......................................... F1 Stokes 48 Sc,CMV,PM,DM 96 Lightning .................................. F1 Asgrow 57 Sc,CMV,PM,DM,ALS 94,95,96 Meteor ....................................... F1 Asgrow 50 Sc,CMV,PM,DM,ALS,A 94,95,96 Prolific ...................................... FI Sakata 50 Sc,PM,DM,ALS 94,96 Raider ........................................ Fl Harris Seeds 52 Sc,CMV,ALS 96 Slice King ................................. F1 Sakata 50 Sc,PM,DM,ALS 96 Slice Max .................................. F Sakata 50 PM 96 Speedway.................................. F1 Petoseed 56 Sc,CMV,PM,DM,ALS,A 94,95,96 Thunder.................................. FI Asgrow 56 Sc,CMV,PM,DM,ALS 94,95,96 Turbo ......................................... F1 Petoseed 65 S,Sc,CMV,PM,DM,ALS.A 94,96 Ultraslice Early ........................ F1 Stokes 56 Sc,CMV,PM,DM,ALSA 95,96 Zenith ..................................... FI Ferry-Morse 50 Sc,PM,DM,CMV 95,96 'Type: Fl = hybrid; OP = open-pollinated. 2 NA = not available; from seed catalogues. 'Disease: A = Anthracnose; ALS = Angular Leaf Spot; CMV = Cucumber Mosaic Virus; DM = Downy Mildew; PM = Powdery Mildew; Sc = Scab; S = Stemphylium; ZYMV = Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus; PRV = Papaya Ringspot Virus. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 15 16 ALABAM GIUTRLEPRMN TTO TABLE 3. EARLY PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED SLICER CUCUMBER VARIETIES'] Variety Early Early Early Early Early Early 1 [marketable wt. fancy wt. fancy no. US#l wt. US#l no. US#2 wt.j lb/a. Jazzer......... ..... 12,625 FMX 5057..........11,233 HMX 0431..........10,496 FMX 5056..........8,782 Meteor........ ...... 7,032 Thunder........ .....5,995 Ultraslice Early. 5,995 General Lee ......... 5,134 R 2 ......... ......... . .. . . . . . . 0.55 CV .................... ....... 33 lsd ................. ..... 4,163 Speedway...........6,491 Thunder ........... ..... 5,641 Dasher II......... ..... 5,140 Prolific ............ ..... 3,782 Zenith FM .............. 3,684 HMX 0431 ............. 3,306 Lightningc.................. 3,289 HMX 1433 ............. 3,201 General Lee........ 21,740 K94624.................... 1,989 Slice Max ............... 1,951 Indy........................ 1,879 Turbo ........................ 943 K94630...................... 840 Ultraslice Early ........... 803 Meteor ....................... 546 Slice Kingo.................417 R 2 .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.44 CV ............................. 90 lsd.......................... 3,511 lb/a. 7,356 3,625 4,635 2,631 2,28 2 3,329 1,549 1,645 no/a. Gulf Coast Substation 20,396 9,335 14,700 8,453 5,860 11,188 4,564 4,071 lb/a. 5,198 7,608 5,7 32 4,656 3,708 2,255 1,886 1,819 North Alabama Horticulture Substation 3,720 13,691 2,771 4,012 13,068 1,629 4, 221 10,164 919 3,998 7,934 1,116 1,344 8,401 2,340 3,095 9,490 985 2,912 10,735 1,105 2,863 15,972 1,292 2,072 12, 0 31 1,359 1,085 7,053 904 3,034 9,957 434 1,236 10,579 952 513 5,601 429 118 5,912 781 319 4,978 484 0 933 546 193 4,564 369 no./a. 18,254 22,0 92 21,186 16,652 12,161 8,823 7,606 6,057 lb/1a. 877 825 464 750 491 221 165 241 8.712. 5,912 2,904 3,734 4,045 2,956 3,734 3,734 5,186 2),904 1,711 2,956 1, 452 2,489 1,400 2,282 1,245 1,739 1,971 1,070 718 327 930 817 753 753 573 898 450 177 437 33 429 308 'Combined productions of May 24, May 27, May 29, and May 31 at GCS;, and June 26, June 28, July 1, July 3, and July 8'at NAHS.' Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. ,................JIUL J)//V I)/J7 16 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 1 TABLE 4. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED SLICER CUCUMBER VARIETIES' Variety Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Individual marketable wt. 2 fancy wt fancy no. US#l wt. US#1 no. US#2 wt. cull fruit wt. 2 lb/a. HMX 0431 ......... 54,991 Jazzer............47,878 FMX 5057......... 46,579 FMX 5056......... 43,398 Meteor............42,861 Ultraslice Early. 40,823 General Lee ........ 40,185 Thunder...........32,422 . 02 ......... . .. 5 CV .......... ........ 27 lsd ...................... 17,349 Speedway..........38,645 Ultraslice Early. 37,327 General Lee ........ 37,039 Indy ..................... 35,252 HMX 0431 ............ 34,326 Thunder ................ 34,138 Slice Max ............ 32,062 HMX 1433............. 31,072 K94624 ....... 9,29 5 Slice King............28,873 Zenith FM ........... 27,29 9 Prolific ................. 25,24 5 Dasher 1 ............... 24,670 Turbo .............. 4,595 K94630.............. 23,783 Lightning .............23,257 Meteor.................. 18,713 R ........ .............0.28 CV ............................ 35 Isd 14,935 lb/a. 23,307 23,047 16,584 15,575 15,539 10,589 11,837 13,364 28,260 30,707 28,693 26,526 '25,678 '25,549 23,206 22,85 2 21,598 21,991 20,.139 18,818 19,055 18,109 18,328 16,340 13,814 o/1a. lb/1a. no/a. Gulf Coast Substation 54,437 30,970 95,509 50,816 24,523 71,860 37,027 29,995 84,944 35,881 21,285 66,456 34,227 20,979 61,452 24,484 12,905 38,700 26,225 14,284 44,811 33,984 15,499 50,973 North Alabama Horticulture Substation 54,451 10,385 29,093 5 1,962 6,620 16,180 58,963 8,347 25,670 51,495 8,726 22,092 53,829 8,648 23,647 51,495 8,589 23,336 43,561 8,857 19,291 50,095 8,219 21,469 4 1,d-27 7,696 20,847 40,138 6,883 16,180 43,717 7,160 19,602 37,182 6,427 15,869 36,405 5,615 15,713 36,093 6,486 17,580 41,227 5,454 16,180 39,049 6,917 18,980 28,315 4,899 14,313 lb./a. 4,919 4,493 7,654 5,020 3,257 2,112 2,444 2,423 9,912 4,24 1 7,790 7,412 5,719 7,262 7,754 6,109 3,900 4,954 5,504 4,467 5,238 4,726 4,177 6,505 2,915 lb/1a. 1,704 1,760 3,096 1,370 1,439 605 952 588 6,649 5.195 5,226 6,561 4,817 3,953 4,583 6,948 6,159 6,399 3,703 4,316 2,634 4,935 2,299 5,498 2,551 lb. 0.38 0.40 0.40 0.38 0.39 0.38 0.37 0.35 0.22, 8 0.04 0.44 0.51 0. 42 0.46 0.42 0.44 0.50 0.42 0.44 0.48 0.42 0.45 0.44 0.43 0.38 0.39 0.42 0.43 10 0.06 'Harvest Dates were May 24, May 27, May 29, May 31, June 3, June 5, June 7, June 10, June 12, June 14, June 17, and June 19 at GCS; and June 2.6, June 28, July 1, July 3. July 10, July 12, July 15, July 18, July 22, July 24, and July 26 at NAHS. Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. 2 Marketable yield and individual fruit weight were determined as fancy + US#] grades. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 17 'Picasso' Performs Well During 'Picasso' Performs Well During Summer Squash Variety Trial EnRIC SIMONNE, BRIAN GAMBLE, JOE KEMBLE, RANDALL RAWLS, AND LARRY WELLS ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Yellow and zucchini squash variety trials were con- ducted at the Wiregrass Substation (WS) in Headland and Upper Coastal Plain Substation (UCPS) in Winfield (Table 1 and 2). At both locations, squash were direct seeded at a one-inch depth in single-row, five-foot-wide, and 20-foot-long plots. In-row spacing was 18 inches, which provided a stand of approximately 6,000 plants per acre. Yields were corrected for stand. Both trials were drip irrigated, and the beds were covered with black-plas- tic mulch. Planting date was April 26 at WS and May 23 at UCPS. At WS, preplant fertilizer consisted of applications of broiler litter at a rate of two tons per acre, a 13-13-13 fertilizer at a rate of 500 pounds per acre on April 10. Gypsum (calcium sulfate) was applied over the row at a TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 SUMMER SQUASH VARIETY TRIALS Location WS UCPS W eather.................................. 5 5 Fertility .................................. 5 5 Irrigation ................................ 5 5 Pests ....................................... 5 4 Overall ................................... 5 4 rate of 500 pounds per acre on April 11. Soluble fertil- izer was injected at a rate of six pounds of N per acre as potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ) on May 15, May 22, May 31, June 15, and June 19, and calcium nitrate [Ca(NO 3 ),] on June 5. Squash plants were sprayed with Bravo fungi- 18 TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT TYPE, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED SQUASH VARIETIES Variety Type Seed source Days to harvest' Disease claims' Years evaluated Yellow Crookneck CS-4 .......................................... Fl Sandoz Rogers NA NA 95,96 Dixie ............................................. F Asgrow 41 N 94,95,96 Goldie ............................................ FI Petoseed 43 N 94,95,96 Medallion ...................................... FI A&C 52 N 96 Meigs ................... . ................. ...... F 1 Asgrow NA NA 96 Pavo ............................................... F1 Asgrow 40 N 94,95,96 Prelude II..................................... F1 Asgrow 40 ZYMV, WMV, PM 95,96 Sundance ....................................... FI Petoseed 45 N 94,95,96 Supersett ...................... . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . Fl Harris Seeds 50 N 94,96 Yellow Semi-Crookneck Picasso .......................................... F Ferry-M orse 40 N 96 Yellow Straightneck Gold Rush ..................................... FI Stokes 52 N 96 Lemondrop L ................................ F Asgrow 41 N 94,95,96 Monet ...................................... ...... F Ferry-Morse 48 N 96 PSX 391 ........... ................. FI Petoseed NA NA 94,95,96 Sunbar ............................... Fl ............ FPetoseed 43 N 94,96 Zucchini Condor .......................................... F Vilmorin 44 N 95,96 Embassy ..................................... Fl Petoseed 49 PM,DM 94,95,96 M agda ........................................ FI Vilmorin NA N 96 Senator ....................................... Fl Asgrow 41 N 94,95,96 Sensation ...................................... FI Asgrow 40 N 96 Spineless Beauty .......................... FI Sandoz Rogers 43 N 94,95,96 Super Select .................................. FI Stokes 48 PM,DM 96 Taylor ............................................ FI Vilmorin NA NA 95,96 Tigress 5 .................... .................. ... F1 Harris Seeds 47 ZYMV,WMV 95,96 Zucchini Elite ............................... F1 Harris Seeds 48 N 95,96 INA = not available; from seed catalogues. 2 Disease Claims: PM = Powdery Mildew; DM = Downy Mildew; ZYMV = Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus; WMV = Watermelon Mosaic Virus. 3To be named 'Gentry.' 4 Precocious variety. 'Transgenic variety. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 19 cide (at a rate of three pints per acre) on May 31, June 6, June 10, June 17, and June 24; and Asana insecticide (at a rate of nine ounces per acre) on June 10. At UCPS, beds were fumigated with 98% methyl bromide + 2% chloropicrin at a rate of 400 pounds per acre approximately two weeks before planting. Preplant fertilizer provided (per acre) 60 pounds of nitrogen (N) and of phosphorus (P), and 75 pounds of potassium (K 2 0). Beginning May 25 and for nine weeks, weekly injections through the drip tubes provided six pounds of N per acre, alternatively from 20-20-20 and Ca(N0 3 ) 2 . Alleys between the beds were sprayed with Roundup three weeks after emergence. No other chemical sprays were used. Frequent harvests are needed for summer squash to remain "fairly young and fairly tender," which are nec- essary characteristics for squash to be graded as US#1. Hence, fruits were harvested four times between May 24 and June 3 at WS, and 15 times between June 24 and July 29 at UCPS. At harvest, fruits were graded -as US#l, LIS#2, or cull according to the United States Standards for Grades of Summer Squash (U.S. Dept. Agr. G.P.O. 1987-180-916:40730 AMS). Marketable yield was cal- culated by adding the US#1 and US#2 yields. Earliness (Table 3) was evaluated by combining the yields of the first four harvests. Total production (Table 4) was also determined. TABLE 3. EARLY PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED SUMMER SQUASH VARIETIES' Variety Type 2 Early Early Early Early Early marketable wt.' US#l wt. US#2 wt. US#] no. US#2 no. lb/1a. CS-4 ..................... CN 9,757 Picasso ................ SCN 9,734 Pavo ..................... CN 9,238 Dixie .................... CN 9,159 Supersett ............... CN84..3 Sundance ................ CN 6,983 Goldie ................... CN 6,460 Prelude II ................. CN 6,35 Super Select ............. Z 11,421 Zucchini Elite............Z 9,757 Sensation ................. Z 9,026 Magda .................... Z 8,407 Tigress ................... Z 8,380 Spineless Beauty ......... Z 7,070 Condor ............................ Z 5,764 R 2 .................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.45 CV....................................................... 27 lsd................................................... 2,944 Pavo ............................. CN 7,522 Prelude 11 .................. CN 5,143 Supersett ................... CN 5.009 Medalion ........................ CN 4,499 Goldie ...................... CN 4,349 Sundance ................... CN 3,882 Picasso ......................... SCN 3,004 Dixie ....................... CN 2,704 Meigs ............................ CN 1,610 PSX 391 .................... SN 5,328 LemondropL ............... SN 2,130 Sunbar ........................... SN 1,913 Monet ....................... Z 6,468 Taylor ....................... Z 4,249 Embassy .......................... Z 3,514 Senator ........................... Z 2,002 Gold Rush ................... Z 1,394 R 2 .................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.51 CV...................................................... 49 lsd.................................................. .2,607 lb/1a. Wiregrass Substation 9,757 9,734 9,238 9,159 8,343 6,983 6,460 6,32 5 11,421 9,757 9,026 8,407 8,380 7,070 5,764 0.45 27 2,944 Upper Coastal Plain SubstE 3,473 2, 227 1.889 2,180 2,28 7 2,26 9 1,576 1,490 358 1,991 917 928 3,372 2,784 2,265 0 523 0.45 58 1,541 lb/1a. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ation 4,049 2,916 3,120 2,864 2,633 1,613 1,428 1,214 1,252 3,337 1,213 1,294 3,096 1,953 1,815 2,002 1,045 no/a. nola. 31,537 23,341 27,854 27,9 61 '26,467 23,796 19.650 19,5 72 13,306 13,693 11,465 10,781 13,326 8,470 8,370 12,987 11,350 7,792 10,992 9,166 8,357 6.431 5,766 1,694 4,324 2,777 3,920 11,011 5,100 2,915 0 1,307 11.5 19 11,350 11,519 8,131 8,760 9,148 4,213 5,433 10,729 8,649 2,182 5,082 7,623 5, 322 2,531 2,541 1,742 'Combined yields of May 24. May 27, May 3 1, and June 3 at WS; and June 24, June 26, June 28, and July 1 at UCPS. Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weath er, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. 2 CN = yellow crookneck; SCN = semi-crookneck; and Z = zucchini. 'Marketable yields were determined as US#l + US#2 grades. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 19 TABLE 4. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED SUMMER SQUASH VARIETIES' Variety Type' 2 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./a. CS-4 ............................ CN 43,316 Picasso ...................... SCN 37,380 Supersett ....................... CN 37,371 Prelude II ...................... CN 34,066 Dixie ........................... CN 31,758 Pavo ............................ CN 30,894 Sundance .................... CN 29,404 Goldie ......................... CN 26,946 Sensation ...................... Z 51,373 Super Select .................... Z 46,747 Zucchini Elite ................ Z 44,553 M agda ........................... Z 42,101 Tigress .......................... Z 40,475 Spineless Beauty ............ Z 37,155 Condor .......................... Z 33,852 R 2 ....................................................... 0 .5 2 C V .............. ......... .. . . ... . ................. 23 sd ...................... .. ................... ... 11,244 Pavo .................. ........... CN 22,052 Picasso ......................... SCN 18,291 Prelude II ...................... CN 17,972 Meigs ............................. CN 17,151 Medalion ....................... CN 16,568 Sundance ....................... CN 16,133 Supersett ....................... CN 15,891 Goldie ............................ CN 14,210 Dixie .............................. CN 14,092 PSX 391 ......................... SN 15,923 Lemondrop L ................. SN 13,051 Sunbar ............................ SN 11,965 Monet .............................. Z 19,836 Taylor .............................. Z 15,046 Embassy .......................... Z 12,906 Senator ............................ Z 6,422 Gold Rush .................... Z 5,222 R 2 ........ ............................ ................. 0 .5 7 C V ................................... .................... 29 lsd ................... ............................ 5,727 lb./a. 40,981 34,247 35,224 30,095 28,306 28,740 28,041 24,936 43,689 41,358 38,662 36,612 37,765 32,547 29,428 0.54 20 lb./a. lb./a. Wiregrass Substation 2,335 1,359 3,133 1,339 2,147 878 3,971 1,305 3,452 1,887 2,154 830 1,363 1,148 2,010 1,717 7,684 805 5,389 857 5,891 921 5,489 523 3,614 926 4,608 271 4,424 1,889 8,800 Upper Coastal Plain Substation 9,476 12,576 19,822 6,373 11,917 19,504 7,198 10,774 21,097 5,788 11,363 14,279 6,717 9,852 16,820 7,195 8,938 19,012 6,373 9,518 20,248 5,082 9,128 23,040 5,886 8,206 17,470 5,852 10,071 28,638 3,481 9,570 17,040 4,352 7,613 13,462 9,253 10,583 15,573 5,411 9,635 22,987 4,138 8,768 26,047 2,044 4,378 18,915 1,220 4,612 12,032 0.46 44 3,375 'At WS, plots were harvested on May 24, May 27, May 31, and June 3. At UCPS, harvest dates were June 24, June 26, June 28, July 1, July 3, July 8, July 10, July 12, July 15, July 17, July 19, July 22, July 24, July 26. and July 29. Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. 2 CN = yellow crookneck: SCN = yellow semi-crookneck; Z = zucchini. 3 Marketable yields were determined as US#1 + US#2 grades. no./a. 128,415 90,185 108,186 100,411 84,687 82,523 96,737 74,875 47,568 43,021 44,530 39,531 50,029 37,946 35,634 37,155 27,720 34,431 29,701 33,315 32,073 29,476 21,732 26,279 14,858 12,197 17,860 38,369 10,755 5,638 3,430 2,831 no./a. 2,439 2,750 2,317 4,680 3,682 2,465 1,674 2,485 3,903 2,439 2,416 1,960 1,958 2,191 1,794 41,672 33,264 35,828 41,559 34,106 38,397 32,525 29,272 27,942 23,396 24,840 23,087 31,635 15,967 11,161 6,883 7,950 lb. 0.32 0.38 0.32 0.30 0.34 0.34 0.29 0.33 0.92 0.96 0.88 0.93 0.76 0.86 0.83 0.25 0.23 0.21 0.20 0.21 0.23 0.21 0.23 0.22 0.39 0.28 0.24 0.24 0.50 0.79 0.61 0.45 111 1 r\ rr\r 20 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 21 Several Sweet Corn Varieties Show Good Yield and Quality ERIC SIMONNE, BOBBY BOOZER, EMMETT CARDEN, ARNOLD CAYLOR, KAREN DANE, BRIAN GAMBLE, JOE KEMBLE, RONNIE MCDANIEL, MALCOMB PEGUES, JIM PITTS, RANDALL RAWLS, AMY SIMONNE, AND LARRY WELLS Sugary (su), sugar-enhanced (se) and supersweet (sh 2 ) sweet corn varieties were evaluated at the Gulf Coast Substation (GCS) in Fairhope, Wiregrass Substation (WS) in Headland, Chilton Area Horticulture Substation (CAHS) in Clanton, Upper Coastal Plain Substation (UCPS) in Winfield, and North Alabama Horticulture Substation (NAHS) in Cullman (Tables 1 and 2). At all locations, cultural practices for su, se, and sh 2 types were similar. However, within each location, sh 2 varieties were separated by 300 feet from other field and sweet corn plantings, because cross pollination alters grain characteristics, including sweetness. At all loca- tions, two-row plots 20 feet long and five feet wide were established. Within-row spacing was eight to 10 inches, creating a stand of approximately 26,000 plants per acre. Yields were corrected for stand. At GCS, preplant herbicide was Dual 8E applied on April 4 at a rate of one quart per acre. Planting date was April 4. Fertilization consisted of a preplant application of a 10-10-10 fertilizer at a rate of 400 pounds per acre and a sidedress of ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ) at a rate of 360 pounds per acre on May 7. Plots were over-head irrigated as needed to provide approximately 1.5 inches water per week. Insect control was provided by applications of Lannate LV (at a rate of 24 ounces per acre) on May 29, June 3, June 11, and June 14; Ambush (at a rate of 10 ounces per acre) on May 30 and June 5; Asana XL (at a rate of eight ounces per acre) on May 31 and June 12; Lorsban (at a rate of one pint per acre) on May 27, June 4, and June 13; and Larvin (at a rate of 25 ounces per acre) on May 28. At WS, preplant fertilization consisted of an appli- cation (per acre) of a 13-13-13 granular fertilizer broad- cast applied at a rate of 250 pounds and of a 16-16-0 liquid fertilizer (11 pounds per gallon) at a rate of 15 gallons. Planting date was April 23. Plots were sid- edressed with 60 pounds of NH 4 NO 3 per acre on May 23. Lannate LV insecticide was applied at a rate of one quart per acre on May 27. The test was over-head irri- gated with 1.25 inches of water on May 13, May 30, May 25, June 5, June 13, June 19, June 28, and July 3. TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 SWEET CORN VARIETY TRIALS Location GCS WS CAHS UCPS NAHS Weather............ 5 5 5 5 5 Fertility ............ 5 5 5 5 5 Irrigation .......... 5 5 5 5 5 Pests ................. 5 5 5 5 5 Overall ............. 5 5 5 5 5 At CAHS, planting date was May 6. Bicep herbi- cide was applied preplant at a rate of three quarts per acre. Fertilization consisted of a preplant application (per acre) of 75 pounds of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P 2 05), and potassium (K20) on May 3 and a sidedress applica- tion of 60 pounds of N on May 29 and June 10 for the sh2 test, and May 31 and June 10 for the su/se test. No spray was used. Overhead irrigation was used to supple- ment rainfall and provide a total of approximately one inch per week. At UCPS, preplant fertilization provided (per acre) 60 pounds of N and of P,O, and 75 pounds of K,O. Pre- plant herbicide was Aatrex 4L at a rate of one quart per acre. Planting date was May 15. Approximately three weeks later, plants were sidedressed with 120 pounds of N per acre. The test was irrigated throughout the grow- ing season. No spray was used. At NAHS, planting date was May 10 for the st/se test and May 8 for the sh2 test. Fertilization consisted of a preplant application (per acre) of 120 pounds of N and a sidedressed application of 50 pounds of N on June 4, both as NH4NO . Weed control was provided by a preplant applica- tion of Aatrex at a rate of two pints per acre on May 14 and 48 ounces per acre on June 14. Insect control was provided by applicationsof Asana at a rate of 9.6 ounces per acre on June 3 and 21; Lannate LV (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 26, June 28, July 3, July 12 (sh2 test only), July 19 (sh2), July 24 (sh2), and Aug. 9 (sh2); and Larvin (sh2 test only, at a rate of 45 ounces per acre) on July 12, July 19, July 24, and Aug. 9. Overhead irri- gation was applied on June 17 and 21. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 21 Su/se varieties were harvested on June 13, June 15, July 18 at NAHS. After harvest, ears were graded fol- and June 20 at GCS; on June 11 and 18 at CAHS; on lowing the Sweet Corn Grader's Guide (Circular ANR- July 22 at UCPS; and on July 10 and 15 at NAHS. Sh 2 679 of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service). varieties were harvested on June 15 and 20 at GCS; on Yield (Table 3) and ear characteristics (Table 4) were June 28 and July 1 at WS; on June 18 at CAHS; and on determined. TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, TYPE, COLOR, AND EARLINESS OF SELECTED BI-COLOR AND WHITE SWEET CORN VARIETIES Variety Seed source Color Type Days to Disease Years harvest resistance/tolerance' evaluated A-Maizingly Sweet .......... Ferry-Morse Dazzle ..................... .... Asgrow Diabolo .............................. Ferry-Morse Festival ................... ... Asgrow Geronimo ................... Stokes Sir Galahad ........................... Stokes SS 8102 .................. .... A&C Sweet Rhythm ............... Harris Seeds Blizzard .................. ..... Stokes Fantasia .................. .... Asgrow Frontier .................. .... Asgrow Pegasus ................. SeedWay Quick Silver.................... Harris Seeds Rising Star ............ .......... SeedWay Silver Dollar ................. Harris Seeds Silver Queen ....................... SeedWay Silverado ...................... Harris Seeds Snow Belle......................... Asgrow Snow White ................... Harris Seeds SS 72 11 .................................. A & C SS 8 101 ................................... A & C Starshine ............................... Seneca Sweet Ice ........................... Harris Seeds Sweet Magic ..................... Harris Seeds Treasure ............................. Harris Seeds Challenger............................. Asgrow Forever-.................. ............... A sgrow Legend .............................. Harris Seeds Maxim ............................. Harris Seeds Merit .................................... GroSouth Merlin ..................................... Stokes Punchline .............................. Asgrow Seneca Horizon ..................... Stokes SS7210 ................................... A&C SS 7620 ................................... A & C SS7710 ................................... A&C Sugar Ace .......................... Harris Seeds Sweet Desire .......................... Stokes Sweet Ear .......................... Ferry-Morse Victor ................................ Ferry-M orse Bi-color Bi-color Bi-color Bi-color Bi-color Bi-color Bi-color Bi-color White White White White White White White White White White White White White White White White White Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow sh2 sh2 sh2 sh2 se se sh2 sh2 sh2 se sh2 sh2 su se sh2 su se se sh2 sh2 sh2 se sh2 sh2 sh2 sh2 sh2 se sh2 su se sh2 su sh2 sh2 sh2 se sh2 sh2 sh2 82 83 78 75 63 85 81 73 83 82 83 90 75 79 76 92 80 85 81 72 81 71 74 74 83 78 84 73 81 78 84 74 64 72 76 77 79 69 75 80 CR NCLB,SBW SBW NCLB N N NCLB,SCLB,SBW CS,SBW N CR,CS NCLB,CR,SBW NCLB,SCLB SBW SBW MDMV,SBW,NCLB,CS NCLB,SCLB,SBW CS,SBW CR,SCLB MDMV NA NA NA SBW,CS CS,SBW NCLB,SCLB,CR,SBW NCLB,SBW,SCLB,CS NCLB,SCLB,CR,SBW,A MDMV,NCLB,CS,SBW MDMV,SCLB,SBW CS,SBW,SCLB,NCLB,MDMV SBW,CR,CS,NCLB NCLS,SBW,.A,SCLB CR,SBW SCLB NCLB,SBW,A NCLB,SBW,A CR,CS,SBW N NA NCLB.CS 96 95,96 96 94,95,96 95,96 95,96 94,96 96 96 95,96 95,96 96 96 96 96 94,95,96 94,95,96 95,96 94.95,96 96 96 95,96 96 96 95,96 94,95,96 96 95,96 95,96 96 95,96 94,95,96 96 94,96 96 95,96 94,95,96 94,96 96 96 'Disease: 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; A = Anthracnose; NA = not available; N = none. -Formerly XPH 3024. 22 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS IVariety 2 Yield lb/1a. Gulf Coast Substation FMX 413 (W, sh2) ........... 16,575 Treasure (W, sh2)........... 16,458 Silver Queen (W, su)......... 16,192 Pegasus (W, sh2) ............ 15,662 Blizzard (W, sh2) ............ 15,033 Snow White (W, sh2).........14,450 Fantasia (W, se) ............. 14,440 SS 8101 (W, sh2) ............ 13,937 Silverado (W, se) ............ 13,906 Snow Belle (W, se) .......... 12,826 Starshine (W, se) .......... 1.. 2,098 SS 7211 (W, sh2) ............ 11,372 Maxim (Y, sh2) ............. 19,982 Sugar Ace (Y, se) ........... 17,345 Merlin (Y, se) .............. 15,860 SS 7620 (Y, sh2) ............ 14,818 SS 7610 (Y, sh2) ................. 14,693 Sweet Desire (Y. sh2) ........ 13,986 Punchline (Y. sh2)........... 13,945 Legend (Y, se) .......... .... 13704 Seneca Horizon (Y, su).... 13.219 Challenger (Y. sh2l ...... .... 13,177 R .................... . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . 0.64 CV ............................................ 1I lsd ....................................... ..... 2,256 Wiregrass Substation Sir Galahad (B, se) ........... 10,521 SS 8102 (B. sh2)....................8,167 Geronimo (B, se)............. 7,567 Dazzle (B, sh2) .............. 7,497 A-Maizingly Sweet (B, sh2). 7,145 Diabolo (B, sh2) ............. 6.695 Festival (B, sh2) ............. 4,944 Sweet Rithm (B, sh2).... ....... 557 Quick Silver (W. su).......... 9,620 Pegasus (W. sh2) ............. 8,456 Treasure (W, sh2) ............ 8,217 Fantasia (W, se) ............. 7,706 Snow Belle (W, se)........... 7,300 Blizzard (W, sh2) ............ 7,252 Silverado (W, se) ............. 6,967 Silver Queen (W, su) ............ 6,912 Starshine (W, se) ................5,731 Frontier (W, sh2) ................5,517 Sweet Ice (W. sh2) ...............3,804 Merlin (Y, se) ..................11,565 Maxim (Y, sh2) ................10,524 Victor (Y, sh2) .................10.360 Merit (Y, su) ..........................7,334 Challenger (Y, sh2) .............. 6.491 Punchline (Y, sh2) ................ 5,850 R 2 ............... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.60 CV.......................................... 29 lsd ...................................... 3,063 Chilton Area Horticulture Sub Geronimo (B3, se) ................ 9,964 Treasure (W, sh2-))...............18.647 Blizzard (W, sh2) ...............17,829 Sweet Ice (W, sh2) .............15,075 Frontier (W, sh2) ................14,902 Snow White (W, sh2) ...........14.809 SS 8101 (W, sh2) ...............14.619 Pegasus (W, sh2) ................14,616 FMX 413 (W, sh2) ..............14,065 TABLE3.YIELD OF SELECTED SWEET CORN VARIETIES' Ear no. Ear set ht. no/a, in. 26,417 29,374 26,551 29,575 27,724 27,148 27,381 25,907 25,489 28.503 24,760 21,398 35,545 30,846 29,644 27,165 25.056 24,442 25,028 24.522 26.136 25.073 0.67 8 3.206 18.494 15.876 18,153 13.852 14,611 13,304 10,957 1,295 18.664 16.432 14,408 14.266 15,839 13 .505 14.9 18 11,657 11.694 10.625 10,479 20.217 18,714 19.988 13,900 13.000 13,001 0.59 27 5.398 bstation 22,991 41,115 36,378 37,265 36,250 34,119 36.646 37,973 29.648 31,229 33,554 26,980^ 19 24 24 28 24 23 17 20 16 16 12 18 21 20 20 20 13 .18 9 11 17 0.88 11 3 10 13 10 13 12 9 11 8 9 11 11 9 11 13 11 14 11 12 6 12 14 0.71 13 2 14 20 23 18 23 20 23 29 20 21 9 ),521 i, 116 ',532 Variety' Yield Ear no. Ear set ht. lb/a. no/a. Chilton Area Horticulture, Substation (continued) Starshine (W, se)............ 10,315 24,301 Silverado (W, se)............ 10,304 28,662 Forever (Y, sh2)............ 17,280 38,476 Sweet Desire (Y, sh2)........15,580 32,755 Sweetear (Y, sh2)........... 14,713 30,946 SS 7620 (Y, sh2)............ 13,521 35,897 Challenger (Y, sh2) .......... 13,448 30,469 SS 7710(Y,sh2)............12,529 35,540 Merit (Y, su)............... 12,388 26,933 Punchline (Y, sh2)........... 12,226 31,631 R 2 ......... .................. 0.35 0.37 CV .......... .................... 27 27 sd ......................... 5,117 12,654 Upper Coastal Plain Substation Sweet Rythm (B, sh2) ......... 9,301 25,303 SS 8102(B,sh2)............. 9,100 23,121 Sir Galahad (B, se)............8900 23,296 Festival (B, sh2)............. 7,757 23,470 Geronimo (B. se)............. 7,285 19,021 A-Maizingly Sweet (B, sh2)..6.465 15,705 Dazzle (B, sh2).............. 6,326 19,108 Diabolo (B. sh2)............. 5,008 14,309 Quick Silver (W, su) ......... 13,690 35,685 Silverado (W, se)............ 10,917 33,330 Frontier (W, sh2)............. 9,693 27,135 SS 7211 (W, sh2)............ 7.826 20.678 Blizzard (W, sh2)............ 7,783 21,638 Fantasia (W, se)............. 7,224 21,638 Silver Queen (W, su) .......... 7,137 15,531 Snow Belle (W, se)...........6.413 20,853 Seneca Horizon (Y, su).. 9,650 23,645 Victor (Y, sh2).............. 8,716 22,685 SS 7710(Y,sh2).............7,748 24,517 Punchline(Y,sh2)............7,248 19,311 Challenger (Y, sh2)........... 7,242 21.115 SweetEar(Y.sh2) ........... 6.980 17,188 Sweet Desire (Y. sh2. . 4,383 12.913 Merit (Y, su)................ 2,524 7,678 R2............R 2 . ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.57 0.59 CV........ ................... 28 27 lsd ...................................... 3.043 7,933 North Alaba'ma Horticulture Substation Snow Belle (W, se) ............. 18,879 39.524 Quick Silver (W, su) ............ 18,820 42,055 Fantasia (W, se) ................. 18,466 44,847 SS 7211 (W, sh2) ............... 15.339 27,222 Frontier (W. sh2) ................ 13,262 23,383 Silver Dollar (W, sh2) ....... 12.667 19.457 Sweet Magic (W, sh2)..........12,478 21.8 13 Snow White (W. sh2) ........... 12,390 19,108 Silverado (W, se) ................ 12,136 23,121 SS 8101 (W, sh2) ............... 10.994 16,839 Silver Queen (W, su) ............ 9,939 31,585 Blizzard (W. sh2) ................ 7,842 12,651 Treasure (W, sh2) ................ 6,478 11,168 Pegasus (W, sh2) ................ 3,882 6.718 Sugar Ace (Y, se) ............... 20,555 32,457 Seneca Horizon (Y. su).........15,749 22,685 Merlin (Y, se) ..................14,482 19,544 Forever (Y. sh2) ...............12,420 17,712 Legend (Y, se) ..................10,672 23,034 Punchline (Y. sh2) ................8,558 17,712 Maxim (Y, sh2) ..................7,389 13,349 Sweetear (Y, sh2) ................6,979 8,812 23 in. 17 17 25 16 17 22 19 25 29 21 0.74 16 5 10 16 19 13 10 16 19 12 12 15 14 12 19 17 14 14 8 18 16 15 14 13 9 13 0.61 210 4 10 17 18 15 13 23 24 17 16 20 20 18 16 7 25 19 19 15 esi16 r(Y9 (0.4 ger 32 (Y8 Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. 2 Note that corn varieties are torted by color and by yield at each location. W = white, Y = yellow, and B = bi-color. sh2 = supersweet, se = sugar-enhanced. and su = sugary. 24 ALABAMAAGRICULTURALEEXPERIMENTRSTATION Variety' Quality Tip Ear Eye Ear Ear Cob rating' cover fill appeal length diam. diani. rating 4 rating' rating' in. int. in. Gulf Coast Substation Silverado (W, se) .......... 15.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 Fantasia (X, se) .............. 14.95 5.00 5.00 4.95 Snow Belle (X, se) .......... 14.70 5.00 4.85 4.85 Pegasus (W, sh2) .......... 14.65 5.00 4.80 4.85 SS 7211 (W, sh2) .......... 14.60 5.00 4.80 4.80 SS 8101 (W, sh2) .......... 14.05 4.75 4.65 4.65 Starshine (X, se) .......... 13.95 5.00 4.50 4.45 Silver Queen (W, su) ....... 13.65 4.95 4.35 4.35 FMX 413 (W, sh2) .......... 13.60 4.65 4.35 4.60 Snow White (W, sh2) ...... 13.20 4.30 4.35 4.55 Treasure (W, sh2) .......... 13.20 3.60 4.80 4.80 Blizzard (W, sh2) .......... 12.90 3.95 4.45 4.50 Sugar Ace (Y, se) .......... 15.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 Challenger (Y, sh2) .......... 15.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 Legend (Y, se) ........ 14.75 5.00 5.00 4.75 SS 7620 (Y, sh2) .......... 14.75 5.00 4.85 4.90 Merlin (Y, se) .............. 14.60 4.90 4.80 4.90 SS 7210 (Y, sh2) .......... 14.60 5.00 4.85 4.75 Maxim (Y, sh2) ............... 14.55 4.85 4.85 4.85 Punchline (Y, sh2) .......... 14.55 4.75 4.85 4.95 Sweet Desire (Y, sh2) ...... 13.90 4.60 4.60 4.70 Seneca Horizon (Y, su) .... 12.85 4.0 4.50 4.35 R .................................... 0.36 0.63 0.18 0.15 CV ................. 7 6 10 10 lsd ................ 0.90 0.20 0.30 0.3 Wiregrass Substation SS 8102 (B. sh2) .......... 10.85 3.90 3.50 3.45 Geronimo (B. se) ........... 8.75 3.65 2.60 2.50 Diabolo (B. sh2) ............... 8.50 2.80 2.80 2.90 Festival (B, sh2) ............ 8.50 2.55 2.80 3.15 Sir Galahad (B, so) .......... 7.65 2.10 2.80 2.75 Sweet Rythm (B. sh2)...7.38 3.00 3.00 1.38 Dazzle (B3, sh2.)..........7.25 2.45 2.30 2.50 A-Maizingly Sweet (B3, sh2).........7.20 2.45 2.35 2.40 Silverado (W, se)........10.40 4.00 3.25 3.15 Silver Queen (W, su) ....9.95 4.00 3.05 2.90 Quick Silver (W,. su)......9.75 3.70 3.30 2.75 Frontier (XW, sh2) ...... 9.45 3.55 3.10 2.80 Pegasus (XV, sh2) ...... 9.30 3.15 3.10 3.05 Treasure (W, sh2)........9.30 3.40 3.15 2.75 Blizzard (W. sh2)........9.05 3.10 3.15 2.80 Snow Belle (W, se).......8.70 3.40 2.95 2.35 Fantasia (XVso) ...... 6.55- 2.00 2.75 1.80 Sweet Ice (W, sh2).......6.50 1.65 2.40 2.45 Starahine (XV, so) ...... 6.15 1.85 2.10 2.20 Maxim (Y, sh2).........10.40 3.45 3.55 3.40 Punchline (Y. sh2).......10.05 3.50 3.30 3.25 Challenger (Y, sh2).......9.65 2.85 3.40 3.40 Victor (Y, sh2) ........... 9.10 2.30 3.50 3.30 Merit (Y, su) ............ 8.12 3.53 2.29 2.29 Merlin (Y, so) ............ 7.45 2.65 2.40 2.40 R 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... 0.39 0.53 0.27 0.23 CV ...................... 26 34 34 37 lud ........................... 1.05 0.4 0.5 0.5 7.9 7.8 7.3 7.6 7.2 7.8 6.6 7.7 7.8 8.1 7.7 7.5 7.3 7.5 7.2 7.4 8.3 7.6 6.7 7.2 8.1 6.7 0.57 5 0.6 7.1 6.2 7.0 7.3 7.4 6.2 7.3 7.3 7.1 7.9 6.1 7.1 7.3 7.6 7.2 6.9 7.0 6.5 6.1 6.8 5.9 7.1 7.0 6.9 8.1 0.47 8 0.4 Chilton Area Horticulture Substation Geronimo (B. se) ...... 10.5 2.00 3.75 5.0 SS 8101 (W. sh2) ............. 14.0 3.75 4.25 5.0 Silver Queen (W, su) ....... 14.0 4.00 5.00 5.0 Blizzard (, sh2) ........ 13.0 4.00 4.25 5.0 Fantasia (W, se) .............. 12.0 3.75 3.75 4.0 FMX 413 (X, sh2) ........... 12.0 2.75 4.50 5.0 Snow Whte (XV, sh2)...12.0 3.25 3.75 5.0 - Treasure (X, sh2) ........ 12.0 3.25 4.00 5.0 Rizing Star (W. se) ........... 11.5 3.75 3.75 4.5 Starshine (W, se) ...... 11.5 3.00 4.50 4.5 - Fronfier (W.sh2) ...... 11.0 3.00 425 30 Pegasus (W, sh2) ...... 11.0 3.25 4.50 4.0 - Silverado (W. se) ...... 10.5 3.50 3.75 3.5 - Snow Belle (W, se).......10.0 2.75 3.215 4.0 - Sweet Ice (W, sh2).......10.0 2.00 3.50 4.0 - 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.2 1 .3 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.5 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.7 01 Variety 2 Quality Tip Ear Eye Ear Ear Cob rating' cover fill appeal length diam. diam. rating' rating' rating' 'Differences in variety petformance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type. orcultural practices. Results colected atone site should not becompared to results collected at anothersite. 2 Note that corn varieties are sorted by color and by quality rating at each location.W = white. Y = yellow, and B = hi-color. Sh2 = superusweet, SE = sugar-enhanced, and Su = sugaty. 'Quality rating is the sum of tip cover, ear fill. and eye appeal ratings. 'ip cover. ear fill, and eye appeal ratings: 5 = excellent; 4 = good; 3 = fair: 2 = poor; I = vety poor. 0 in. in. in. Chiton Area Horticulture Substation (continued) Sweet Magic (W, sh2). 10.0 1.50 3.50 4.0 Quick Silver (W, su). 8.5 2.75 3.75 2.5 SS 7620 (Y, sh2). 14.0 4.25 4.00 5.0 Forever (Y, sh2). 13.0 3.75 3.75 5.0 SS 7710 (Y, sh2). 13.0 4.25 3.75 5.0 Challenger (Y, sh2). 12.0 3.25 4.25 5.0 - Punchline (Y, sh2). 11.0 3.25 4.25 4.0 - Merit (Y, su) .......... 10.5 3.75 3.25 5.0 Sweet Desire (Y, sh2). 10.0 3.25 3.25 3.0 Sweetear (Y, sh2). 9.0 2.75 3.75 3.0 R2 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.91 .................... CV ........... ...... 11 20 15 11 lsd ................. 3.5 0.88 0.79 1.5 Upper Coastal Plain Substation Sir Galahad (B, se). 11.00 3.25 4.00 3.75 Geronimo (B, se). 10.00 3.75 3.50 2.75 SS 8102 (B, sh2). 8.00 2.50 2.50 3.00 Sweet Rythm (B, sh2). 7.75 2.25 2.75 2.75 Festival (B, sh2). 7.50 2.50 2.50 2.50 A-Maizingly Sweet (B, sh2). 700 225 225 250 Dazzle (B, sh2). 7.00 2.25 2.50 2.25 Diabolo (B, sh2). 6.75 2.25 2.00 2.50 Snow Belle (W, se). 10.25 3.75 3.50 3.00 Quick Silver (W, su). 10.00 3.75 3.00 3.25 Fantasia (W, se). 9.75 3.25 3.25 3.25 Silverado (W, se). 9.75 3.50 3.25 3.00 Silver Queen (W, su). 9.25 3.25 3.25 2.75 SS 7211 (W, sh2). 8.00 2.50 2.75 2.75 Blizzard (W, sh2). 7.75 2.50 2.50 2.75 Frontier (V, sh2). 7.00 2.25 2.25 2.50 Seneca Horizon (Y, su). 9.00 3.50 3.25 2.25 Merit (Y, su)..........8.67 3.00 2.67 3.00 Challenger (Y, sh2). 8.00 2.75 2.75 2.50 Sweet Ear (Y, sh2). 8.00 2.50 2.75 2.75 Punchline (Y, sh2). 7.67 2.67 2.67 2.33 Sweet Desire (Y, sh2). 7.40 2.40 2.60 2.40 SS 7710 (Y, sh2). 7.00 2.50 2.25 2.25 Victor (Y, sh2) ........ 7.00 2.00 2.50 2.50 R 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.27 .................... CV ................ 20 25 23 24 lud ........................... 1.2 8 0.98 0.94 0.93 North Alabama Horticulture Substation Fantasia (W, se).........11.43 3.95 3.60 3.88 SS 8IO1 (W, sh2) ..... 11.00 3.43 3.70 3.88 SS 7211 (XV, sh2) ..... 10.80 3.18 3.65 3.98 Sweet Magic (WV, sh2) 10.68 3.10 3.631 3.95 Snow Belle (WV. se) .... 10.25 3.48 3.08 3.70 Peagasus (W, sh2) ..... 9.78 3.03 3.23 3.5 3 Blizzard (W, sh2)........9.75 2.25 3.55 3.95 Silver Queen (XV, su) ....9.30 3.23 2.53 3.55 Silverado (W, su) ......9.28 2. 63 3.05 3.60 Silver Dollar (XV, sh2)...9.23 2.05 3.43 3.75 Treasure (WV, sh2)........8.98 1.88 3.20 3.90 - - Quick Silver (WV, su)......7.78 2.85 2.48 2.45 Snow VWte (XV, sh2)...7.30 2.30 2.50 2.50 Frontier (XV, sh2) ...... 6.18 1.65 2.20 2.33 Maxim (Y, sh2).........11.88 4.00 4.00 3.88 Sugar Ace (Y, se) ..... 11.40 3.78 3.83 3.80 Puachline (Y, sh2).......11.30 3.85 3.45 4.00 Sweetear (Y, sh2) ..... 11.13 3.73 3.70 3.70 - - Challenger (Y. sh2) .... 11.10 4.00 3.13 3.98 Legend (Y, se) ........... 10.58 3.78 3.45 3.35 24 0, ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Yellow-Fleshed 'Mountain Gold' Shows Good Yield Potential and Fruit Characteristics ERIC SIMONNE, ARNOLD CAYLOR, BRIAN GAMBLE, JOE KEMBLE, MARVIN RUF, AND LARRY WELLS Tomato variety trials were conducted at the Wire- grass Substation (WS) in Headland, North Alabama Hor- ticulture Substation (NAHS) in Cullman, and Sand Moun- tain Substation (SMS) in Crossville (Tables 1 and 2). Five-week-old tomatoes were transplanted on May 8 at WS, on May 16 at NAHS, and on May 8 at SMS onto three-foot-wide, trickle-irrigated beds covered with plastic. Plastic color was black at WS, white at NAHS, and silver at SMS. At all 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. At WS, gypsum (calcium sulfate) was applied on April 11 at a rate of 500 pounds per acre. Preplant fertil- izers (per acre) were 13-13-13 applied on April 10 at a TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 TOMATO VARIETY TRIALS Location WS' NAHS SMS W eather ............................. 5 5 5 Fertility ............................. 5 4 5 Irrigation ........................... 5 5 5 Pests................ 3 4 4 Overall .............................. 4 4 4 'At WS, the Tomato Spotted Wilt virus was detected by ELISA technique on some plants rate of 500 pounds, along with broiler litter at a rate of two tons. Beds were fumigated on April 3 with 250 pounds per acre of methyl bromide. Fertilizer was in- jected weekly through the drip lines at a rate of six pounds TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED TOMATO VARIETIES Variety Type' Seed source Plant Fruit Days to Disease Years habit 2 color harvest claims' evaluated Acclaim ................. F, FM Sakata Det Red 73 V,F,N,TbMV,ASC,St 95,96 Celebrity ............... Fl, FM Petoseed Det Red 72 V,F,N,TbMV,ASCSt 94,95,96 Colonial ................ Fl, FM Petoseed Det Red 76 V,F,ASC,St 94,96 Daybreak............... Fl, FM Petoseed Det Red 68 V,F,ASC,St 94,95,96 FMX 174............... FI, FM Ferry-Morse Det Red NA NA 96 HMX 4700 ............ Fl, FM Harris Seeds Det Red NA NA 96 Medina .................. Fl, FM Vilmorin Det Red NA NA 95,96 Merced .................. Fl, FM Sandoz Rogers Det Red 69 V,F,TbMV 94,95,96 Mt. Belle ............... Fl, CH SeedWay Det Red 65 V,F 96 Mt. Delight ........... Fl, FM Petoseed Det Red 70 V,F,ASC,St 94,95,96 Mt.. Fresh ............... FI, FM Ferry-Morse Det Red 75 V,F 96 Mt. Gold ............... OP, FM Stokes Det Golden 70 V,F 96 Mt. Pride ............ Fl, FM Stokes Det Red 77 V,F,ASC,St 96 Mt. Spring ............ Fl, FM Sandoz Rogers Det Red 69 V,F 94,95,96 Orange Queen ...... OP, FM Stokes Det Orange 65 NA 96 Pilgrim ............... Fl, FM Seed Way Det Red 68 V,F,ASC,St 96 PS 804393 ............ Fl, FM Petoseed Det Red NA NA 96 Spitfire .................. Fl, FM Ferry-Morse Det Red 68 V,F,ASC,St 96 Sunbeam ............... Fl, FM Asgrow Det Red 75 V,F 94,95,96 Sunbelt .................. FlI, FM Petoseed Det Red 72 V,F,N,ASCSt 96 Sunpride ............. F1, FM Asgrow Det Red 80 V,F,ASC,St 94,95,96 Supersonic ............ Fl, FM Harris Seeds Indet Red 79 V,F 95,96 Ultramagnum........ FI, FM Stokes Det Red 68 V,F,TbMV 94,95,96 Ultra Sweet ........... FI, FM Stokes Det Red 62 V,F,TbMV 95,96 HMX 2867............ FI, RO Harris Seeds Det Red NA V,F,N 96 Macero II .............. OP, RO Harris Seeds Det Red 76 V,F 95,96 Sheriff ................... FlI, RO Ferry-Morse Det Red 74 V,F,N 96 'Type: Fl = hybrid; OP = open pollinated; FM = fresh market; RO = Roma (elongated fruits); CH = cherry (small, round fruits). 2 Plant habit: Det = determinate; Indet = indeterminate. INA = not available; from seed catalogues. 4 Disease (Resistance/Tolerance): F = Fusarium Wilt; V = Verticillium Wilt; ASC = Alternaria Stem Canker; ST = Stemphylium (gray leaf spot); N = Root-knot Nematodes; TbMV = Tobacco Mosaic Virus; NA = not available. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 25 26 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION of nitrogen (N) per acre, from potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ) At NAHS, beds were fumigated with 98% methyl on May 15, May 22, May 31, June 12, June 19, and June bromide + 2% chloropicrin at a rate of 200 pounds per 26 and from calcium nitrate [Ca(NO, ] on June 5. A acre on April 27. Soil test results reported high and very total of 42 pounds of N per acre was injected throughout high levels of P and K. Preplant fertilization consisted of the growing season. an application of 120 pounds of N as NH 4 NO 3 . Weed Insect control was provided by applications of Asana control between the beds was provided by an applica- (at a rate of 9.6 ounces per acre) on June 10 and July 8. tion of Gramoxone (at a rate of three pints per acre) and Bravo fungicide was applied at a rate of three pints per Sencor DF (at a rate of 12 ounces per acre) on June 25. acre on May 3 1, June 6, June 17, June 24, July 1, July 8, Insecticide used was Asana XL (at a rate of 9.6 and July 15. ounces per acre) on June 3, June 7, June 2 1, June 28, TABLE 3. EARLY PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED TOMATO VARIETIES'] Variety Early Early Early Early Early Early Early Early Early 1 marketable wt. jumbo wt. jumbo no. extra-large wt. extra-large no. large wt. large no. medium wt. med. no.J lb/a. Sunbeam...........8,168 Spitfire......... .... 8,022 Pilgrim......... .... 6,219 Ultrasweet ......... 2.886 Sunbelt......... .... 2,577 Ultramagnum........2,341 Merced ........ 32 Sunpride...........2.051 Daybreak...........1,670 Supersonic...... ..... 920 Acclaim.............690 Celebrity............690 Mt. Delight .... ......... R ......... ............0.68 Cv .... ......6...2 lsd ................. ..... 3,120 Sunpride..........38.483 Daybreak..........33,532 Mt. Belle .......... 33,164 Celebrity..........32,625 Mt. Pride.......... 32,400 Mt. Sprihg ......... 31,715 Sunbeam..........30,200 Merced ................. 29,189 Spitfire ................. 28,701 Mt. Fresh ............. 28,347 Colonial ................ 28,223 Mt. Delight .......... 27,209 Mt. Gold ............. 18,370 Ultramagnum.........17,580 Orange Queen .......... 9,765 R2......... ............0.56 CV............................. 20 lsd ........................ 8,543 HMX 4700 ............ 3,073 Merced ...........2,849 Ultrasweet .............2784 M edina .............. 2612 Ultramagnum............ 1,469 Sunpride ................. 1,429 Celebrity................. 1,200 Mt. Spring ............. 1.054 Mt. Delight .............. 475 XPH 10047......... 451 Acclaim .................... 353 FMX 174 ................ 203 Sunbeam................... 119 PS 804393 .............. 104 R 2 .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.57 CV............................8 2 lsd .......................... 950 16./a. 2,142 726 0 0 508 1.924 1,065 944 1,452 1, 162 0 581 0 0.28 95 1,950 17,961 18,070 33,164 14,099 10,304 16,228 16,379 17,420 10,469 15,288 12,925 13,288 10.284 10,796 8 42 0.73 26 5,953 1,197 1,794 304 0 783 287 436 600 139 0 140 0 0 0 0.41 176 639 o/la. 1./a. 1t./a. Wiregrass Substation 2,541 3,249 5,990 908 2,1124 4,175 o 2,493 2,904 0 2,577 3,993 726 835 1,452 2,360 1,307 2,178 1,210 1,089 1,694 1,089 1,307 2.178 1,452 1,113 1,936 1,452 472 726 0 726 1,452 726 0 0 0 0 0 North Alabama Horticulture Substation 29,403 17,419 40,656 25,773 12,914 25,955 22,506 16,253 35,574 16,335 17,308 40.112 25,410 13,832 27,770 25229 12,411 27,588 25,410 10,433 20,691 17,424 15,304 33,033 23,7 77 11.266 28.677 19,602 13.652 28,677 2 0, 8 73 12,386 29,948 16.154 7,746 17.061 16.517 6,100 13,250 2,904 3,372 1,2 Sand Mountain Substation 1,452) 1,622 3,086 1,997 981 1,634 363 1,232 2,178 0 376 908 1,089 445 726 363 716 1,271 545 634 1,9271 7 26 400 726 182 287 54 0 203 363 182 92 182 0 80 182 0 119 182 0 104 182 16./a. ,to./a. 2,777 5,173 3,727 1,597 1,488 363 1,234 629 327 327 399 0 3,104 2,548 2,272 4,788 1,655 1,410 1,336 2,928 1,793 1,646 1,535 339 684 5,550 254 74 1,248 2,236 242 426 130 54 49 248 121 123 0 0 5,264 10,709 7.5 02 2,723 2,541 726 178 2,662 1,452 1,452 726 726 0 10,346 8,349 7,986 15,609 4.175 10,346 5,990 5,082 5,082 1,089 2,360 19,602 908 182 3,449 7,079 545 1,271 363 182 182 726 363 363 0 0 16./a. 110.a. 1,234 4,011 5.469 1,761 1,839 454 1.053 1,343 635 774 762 1,343 1,035 548 0 81 753 0 125 0 0 130 0 100 443 139 0 1,997 9.983 10,648 3,630 3,630 1,089 2,541 3,267 1,089 1.694 1,634 726 1,694 0 0 726 2,178 0 182 0 0 182) 0 726 726 545 0 'Combined productions of July 3, July 8. and July 11 at WS; July 29, Aug. 1 and Aug. 5 at NARS; and July 18. July 25. and Aug. 1 at SMS. Marketable production was calculated by combining the jumbo. extra-large, and large grades. Grades and corresponding fruit diameters (D) for fresh-market tomato were jumbo (D>3.5 inch), extra- large (D>2.9 inch), large (D>2.5 inch), medium (D>2.3 inch), and small (others). Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather. soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. 26 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION I July 3, July 12, July 26, and Aug. 2; Dimethoate (at a July 26; Dithane F-45 (at a rate of 2.4 quarts per acre) on rate of two pints per acre) on June 7; Thiodan (at a rate June 18, June 21, June 28, and Aug. 3; and Kocide 101 of 2.5 pounds per acre) on July 12; and Lannate LV (at a (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on June 18, June 21, rate of three pints per acre) on July 19, July 26, and Aug. 2. June 28, and Aug. 3. Fungicides used were Bravo 720 (at a rate of two At SMS, beds were fumigated with methyl bromide pints per acre) on June 3, June 7, July 12, July 19, and at a rate of 300 pounds per acre one week before trans- TABLE 4. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED TOMATO VARIETIES' Variety Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Ind. marketable jumbo jumbo extra-large extra-large large large medium medium cull fruit wt. wt. no. wt. no. wt. no. wt. no. wt. lb./a. lb./a. no./a. lb./a. no./a. lb./a. no./a. Wiregrass Substation Sunbeam .......... 15,700 4,156 5,264 4,193 11,798 7,351 13,794 Pilgrim ............. 12,076 1,065 1,694 3,049 7,502 7,962 16,456 Acclaim............ 10,981 1,461 1,997 3,557 7,986 5,962 10,890 Spitfire ............. 10.890 853 1,089 2,541 7,260 7,496 15,791 Merced ............... 9,039 2,178 2,723 2,142 5,808 4,719 9,075 Supersonic.......... 8,349 3,775 4,901 1,543 4,538 3,031 5,990 Sunpride ............. 8,022 1,742 2,178 1,561 5.264 4,719 10,164 Daybreak ............ 7,732 1,888 2,178 2,741 6,353 3,104 6,171 Celebrity ............ 7,714 557 726 2.251 7,079 5,046 10,164 Sunbelt .............. 7,532 2,214 3,086 1,906 4,538 3,412 6,353 Ultramagnum ..... 6,788 2,741 3,449 1,815 4,719 2,232 3,993 Ultrasweet .......... 4,283 581 726 2,795 2,904 2,741 4,901 Mt. Delight........ 3,594 944 1,089 1,779 2,541 2,232 4,175 R 2 ............ . . . . . . . . . . . ... 0.58 0.41 CV ............................ 41 77 lsd ....................... 4,760 2,236 Mt. Fresh .......... 72.898 Colonial ........... 71,948 Celebrity .......... 68,070 Mt. Gold ........... 67,703 Sunpride ........... 66,057 Daybreak .......... 63,115 Mt. Pride .......... 60,677 Mt. Spring ........ 56,200 Mt. Delight....... 56,004 Spitfire ............. 55,463 Sunbeam .......... 54,265 Merced ............. 50,001 Mt. Belle .......... 44,823 Ultramagnum ... 34,131 Orange Queen .. 14.475 R 2 .............. . . . . . . . .. . . 0.49 C V ............................ 22 Isd ........... 17,942 HMX 4700 ....... 48,089 Mt. Spring ........ 41,505 Sunpride ........... 41.085 Ultramagnum ... 40,542 XPH 10047 ...... 37.945 PS 804393........ 37,223 Sunbeam .......... 36,547 Celebrity .......... 35,743 Mt. Delight ....... 34,917 Acclaim............ 33,219 Merced ............. 33,049 Ultrasweet ........ 29,660 FMX 174 .......... 22,552 Medina ............. 16,031 R 2 .......................... 0.35 CV ........................... 35 lsd ...................... 7,862 32,214 24,639 26,710 33,009 27,156 31,006 15,248 27,321 25,165 18,161 25,512 27,742 44,823 17,088 842 0.59 25 10,086 9,209 9,598 4,800 10,036 6,124 10,012 8,241 4,481 7,950 9,084 15,192 3,910 2,304 119 0.47 64 2,988 North Alabama Horticulture Substation 51,728 34,193 79,316 6,490 21,054 40,112 38,993 87,665 8,316 25,047 45,194 35,616 79,679 5,744 19,965 51,909 33,289 58,443 1,405 5,264 44,649 32,577 75,504 6,323 21,054 46,646 26,481 58,262 5,628 15,791 25,410 34,365 83,490 11,064 37,389 43,379 25,319 55,358 3,559 12,161 41,201 25,807 59,351 5,031 16,335 29,040 30,855 68,426 6,447 22,143 39,930 24,363 56,447 4,390 14,883 41,201 19,626 41,382 2,634 8,712 27,044 14,578 32,670 2,465 8,349 2,904 3,547 11,072 10,086 35.393 Sand Mountain Substation 12,342 22,390 41,382 16,491 43,016 12,161 20,717 37,208 11,190 27,770 6,716 19,945 36,119 16,341 40,293 12,887 19,835 36,845 10,671 23,051 7,986 23,206 41,382 8,615 22,325 11,435 20,068 33,578 7,143 18,513 10,527 18,839 33,215 9,467 23,958 5,808 16,690 30,129 14,572 36,119 9,620 18,251 32,126 8,716 22,325 11,979 14,953 26,136 9,182 22,869 17,606 13,105 23,595 4,752 11,072 5,627 11,627 21,780 14,124 40.656 2,904 12,996 23,958 7,252 19,784 182 3,660 10,346 12,252 37,571 lb./a. 10,164 19,336 11,353 11,144 6,316 4,338 7,224 8,930 11,435 7,841 4,819 17,315 10,001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,905 2,572 4,020 2,345 1,475 1,564 2,494 4,096 4,374 4,958 1,346 7,239 3,068 30,995 no./a. lb./a. 16,335 27,177 19,602 17,606 11,072 7,079 12,705 14,883 22,688 13,431 5,990 19,784 7,986 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12,342 10,346 10,709 7,805 4,719 5,990 8,712 14,883 14,157 17,969 4,901 25,592 9,438 100,914 1,597 2,517 2,650 3,031 3,303 4,755 1,906 2,178 3,194 5,554 5,009 3,757 2,009 10.168 13,718 9,750 6,735 9,997 8,235 13,896 9,917 9,109 8,912 8,808 7,064 16,711 49,976 10,237 14,478 4,307 14,018 10,902 12,123 12.208 16,289 13,780 10,302 18,218 16,581 10,299 13,153 lb. 0.59 0.69 0.66 0.74 0.66 0.68 0.72 0.57 0.61 0.66 0.53 0.69 0.88 0.26 22 0.34 0.37 0.38 0.37 0.41 0.37 0.42 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.40 0.38 0.50 0.16 11 0.06 0.55 0.57 0.56 0.59 0.55 0.61 0.58 0.57 0.58 0.57 0.61 0.53 0.55 0.45 0.51 6 0.05 'Harvests dates were July 3, July 8, July 11, July 15, July 19. and July 22 at WS; July 29, Aug. 1, Aug. 5, Aug.9, and Aug. 14 at NAHS; and July 18. July 25, Aug. 1. Aug. 8, Aug. 15, Aug. 21, and Aug. 28 at SMS. Grades and corresponding fruit diameters (D) were jumbo (D>3.5 inch), extra-large (D>2.9 inch), large (D>2.5 inch), medium (D>2.3 inch), and small (others). Marketable production and individual fruit weight were calculated by combining the jumbo, extra-large, and large grades. Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. Irr ~- nl/r Ar\AIA ~r\nrr /n In/ 27SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 28 planting. Ammonium nitrate (at a rate of 175 pounds per acre) and a 8-24-24 fertilizer (at a rate of 250 pounds per acre) were preplant applied on May 8. Between May 31 and Aug. 14, fertilization consisted of weekly injections of five pounds of N per acre, alternatively as 20-20-20, KNO 3 (13-0-44) and Ca(N0 3 ).. The injections provided a total of 60 pounds of N per acre. Insect control was provided by applications of Sevin XLR (at a rate of one quart per acre) on June 21; Asana (at a rate of eight ounces per acre) on June 26, July 2, July 4, July 22, July 26, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16; and Phaser (at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre) on July 12 and Aug. 9. Fungicide sprays consisted of applications of Manzate 200 DF (at a rate of two pounds per acre) on July 4 and Aug. 2; Ridomil (at a rate of 1.5 pounds per acre) on June 21, July 4, July 12, July 22, Aug. 8, and Aug. 16; and Bravo 720 (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 7, June 17, June 28, July10, July 16, July 26, Aug. 8, and Aug. 23. Plots were harvested six times (on July 3, July 8, July 11, July 15, July 19, and July 22) at WS; five times (July 29, Aug. 1, Aug. 5, Aug. 9, and Aug. 14) at NAHS; and seven times at SMS between July 18 and Aug. 28. At all locations, fruits were harvested at the breaker stage, weighed, and graded. Grades and corresponding fruit diameters (D) of fresh-market tomato were adapted from the Tomato Grader's Guide (Circular ANR 643 from the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service): Jumbo (D>3.5 inch); Extra-Large (D>2.9 inch); Large (D>2.5 inch); Medium (D>2.3 inch); and Small (others). The grading of Roma-type tomatoes was based on fruit shape more than on fruit size: Marketable (fruits free of injury and well shaped); Misshaped (fruits free of in- jury, with defects including pointed end ["nippling"], pear-shape, or eight-shape); and Cull. Yields of the first harvests were used to evaluate early production (Table 3). Marketable yield was calculated by combining the Jumbo, Extra-Large, and Large grades (Tables 4 and 5). TABLE 5. EARLY AND TOTAL YIELD OF SELECTED ROMA-TYPE TOMATO VARIETIES' Location Variety Early Early Total Total Total Total Total market. wt. market. no. market. wt. market. no. misshaped wt. misshaped no. cull lb./a. no./a. lb./a. no./a. lb./a. no./a. lb./a. WS ............. Sheriff 1,978 3,630 21,720 39,870 -- -- 2,904 WS ............. Macero II 1,924 5,082 16,117 46,283 -- -- 3,358 SMS ........... Sheriff 2,640 12,705 36,837 213,626 5,999 35,937 9,753 SMS ........... HMX 2867 953 4,175 24,269 117,975 16,540 78,771 12,556 SMS ........... Macero II 662 3,267 11,775 66,974 19,818 114,890 9,464 'Grades of Roma-type tomatoes were marketable (fruits free of injury and well shaped), misshaped (fruits free of injury, with defects including pointed end, pear-shape, or eight-shape), and cull. ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION - Watermelon Seed Supply Almost Back to Normal ERIC SIMONNE, EMMETT CARDEN, DAVID DUBols, BRIAN GAMBLE, GENE HUNTER, JOE KEMBLE, RONNIE MCDANIEL, MALCOMB PEGUES, RANDALL RAWLS, MARVIN RUF, AND LARRY WELLS Watermelon varieties were tested at the Gulf Coast Substation (GCS) in Fairhope, Wiregrass Substation (WS) in Headland, Upper Coastal Plain Substation (UCPS) in Winfield, North Alabama Horticulture Sub- station (NAHS) in Cullman, and Sand Mountain Substa- tion (SMS) in Crossville (Tables 1 and 2). Watermelons were established on bare ground in 60- foot-long, five-foot-wide plots with a hill spacing of ap- proximately 10 feet. Seeds were used at GCS, WS, and UCPS, while transplants were used at NAHS and SMS. Planting dates were April 9 at GCS, April 10 at WS, and May 15 at UCPS. Transplanting dates were May 15 at NAHS and May 13 at SMS. At GCS, fertilization consisted of a preplant appli- cation of a 4-12-12 fertilizer at a rate of 465 pounds per acre on April 9. Plants were trickle irrigated as needed. Weed control consisted of applications of Curbit (at a TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 1996 WATERMELON VARIETY TRIALS Location GCS WS UCPS NAHS SMS W eather..............5 5 5 5 5 Fertility .............. 5 5 5 5 5 Irrigation ............ 5 5 5 5 5 Pests......... 5 5 5 5 5 Overall ............... 5 5 5 5 5 rate of four pints per acre) on April 10 and Poast + Crop oil concentrate (at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre each) on May 13. Ridomil/Bravo 81W fungicide was applied at a rate of two pounds per acre on May 27, June 6, and June 12. Bravo 720 fungicide was applied at a rate of two pints per acre on June 18 and 24. At WS, 500 pounds per acre of a 13-13-13 fertilizer and two tons per acre of broiler litter were applied pre- TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED WATERMELONS Variety Type Seed source Fruit Flesh Days to Disease Years shape color narvest i claims 2 evaluated Seeded/Diploid AU-Allsweet ........................ OP Auburn University Elongated Red NA NA 94,96 AU-Golden Producer ........... OP Auburn University Round Golden 75 Ant,F,GSB,DM 95,96 AU-SS Sweet Scarlet ........... OP Auburn University Round Red NA NA 96 Baron .................................... F1 American Sunmelon Elongated Red NA NA 96 Crimson Glory ...................... FI Petoseed Round Red 82 F 96 Huck Finn ............................. Fl Ferry-Morse Elongated Red 85 N 94,95,96 Oasis ..................................... F1 Harris Seeds Elongated Red 74 Ant,F 96 Paradise .......................... F Harris Seeds Elongated Red 75 Ant,F 94,96 Regency ................................ F1 Petoseed Elongated Red 83 AntF 94,96 Royal Jubilee ........................ FI Petoseed Elongated Red 95 Ant,F 94,96 Royal Majesty ....................... F1 Petoseed Elongated Red 90 Ant,F 94,96 Royal Sweet .......................... FI Petoseed Elongated Red 85 Ant,F 94,96 Sweet Favorite ...................... FI Sakata Elongated Red 83 N 96 Var #510 ............................... F1 A&C Elongated Red NA NA 96 Var #420 ............................... F A&C Elongated Red NA NA 96 Yellow Doll .......................... Fl Petoseed Oblong Yellow 68 N 96 Seedless/Triploid Paladin .................................. F1 Sakata Oblong Red 80 Ant, F 96 Tri-X 313 .............................. F1 American Sunmelon Oblong Red NA NA 96 Tri-X Shadow .................... FI American Sunmelon Round Red NA NA 96 Tri-X Sunrise ........................ F1 American Sunmelon Round Red NA NA 96 Var #2532 ............................. F1 A&C Round Red 90 Ant 96 Var #5244 ............................. Fl A&C Oblong Red 90 Ant 94,96 Var #5544 .......................... FI A&C Oblong Red NA NA 96 'NA = not available; N = none; from seed catalogues. 2 Disease claims: Ant = Anthracnose; F = Fusarium Wilt; GSB = Gummy Stem Blight; DM = Downy Mildew. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 29 30 ALABAMA AGRICULTURALTEXPERIMENT STATION Variety Market. Market. Ind. Soluble Hollow yield fruits fruit wt. solids heart in. Market. Market. Ind. Soluble Hollow yield fruits fruit wt. solids heart 24 11.3 0 17 10.9 0 21 12.1 0 17 10.9 0 17 11.8 0 17 11.9 0 4 10.9 1 Royal Jubilee.53,673 2,281 Baron ............38,727 2,281 Oasis ............ 35,004 1,679 Var. #510 ..... 34,292 2,008 Royal Majesty . 33,069 1,953 Sweet Favorite.. 31,372 1,862 Yellow Doll ....31,025 7,501 AU-Golden lb/1a. no/1a. lb. 0 Brix Gulf Coast Substation Producer .......... 30,186 2,154 14 10.7 0 Crimson Glory ... 29,109 1,606 18 11.6 0 Paradise ........ 26.809 1,570 17 11.3 0 Var. #420..... 26,663 1,588 17 10.3 0 AU-SS Sweet Scarlet .. '26,517 1,916 14 10.4 0 AU-Allsweet .... 23,725 1,405 17 11.3 0 Royal Sweet....... 18,378 1,588 12 8.6 0 R 2 .............. ....0.81 0.88 0.62 0.24 CV ............... 14 11 7 748 lsd ............6,189 3 1.1 1 Wiregrass Substation Royal Jubilee..50,681 2,139 24 10.3 1 Regency. 36,486 2,139 17 10.4 1 Oasis......... 28,750 1,450 19 10.9 2 Baron ............ 25,915 2,139 12 10.5 1 Crimson Glory ... '25,34A2 1,559 16 10.3 2 Royal Majesty .... 24,733 1,813 13 10.7 0 AU-SS Sweet Scarlet .. 22,674 1,378 16 11.7 0 Paradise .........2 2,2 00 1,885 13 11.2 1 AU-Allsweet....... 21,957 1,450 15 10.0 0 Yellow Doll ... 18,053 4,9241 5 11.3 0 Sweet Favorite... 16,059 1,559 12 10.8 1 AU-Golden Producer .... 15,595 1,015 15 10.7 0 Huck Finn.......14,957 1,196 13 10.3 1 Royal Sweet...12,883 943 13 9.3 4 S ............................. 0.60 0.60 0.59 0.18 CV .............. 41 28 15 159 lsd ............ 12,593 6 1.4 2 Upper Coastal Plain Substation Royal Jubilee ..... 48,731 2,412 20 10.3 -- Var.#55 .......... 33,443 2,776 12 11.3 Royal Majesty.... '26,345 1,661 16 11.3 - Huck Finn ........... 26,299 1,570 17 10.9 Paradise ............... 24,525 1,547 16 11.2 AU-Allsweet...... 23,114 1,365 17 10.6 Yellow Doll .... 22,250 4,891 5 10.7 - Paladin......... 22,659 1479 15 10.5 AU-SS Sweet Scarlet .. 20,475 1,365 Var. #2532 ........... 19,429 1,479 CrimsonGlory ... 19,110 1,138 AU-Golden Producer .......... 15,857 1,047 Royal Sweet...15,713 910 Sweet Favorite ... 15,061 1,251 R 2 ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.58 CV ...................... 35 lsd................. 14,097 15 10.5 - 15 10.7 -- 18 10.3 -- 15 10.4 - 17 10.1 -- 10 11.0 -- 0.66 0.221) 21 8 - 4 1.21 - 'Differences in variety performance among locations are due to factors such as weather, soil type, or cultural practices. Results collected at one site should not be compared to results collected at another site. Variety I lb/a. no/a . lb. 0 Brix in. North Alabama Horticulture Substation Regency. 39,239 1,706 23 9.9 0 AU-Allsweet. 38,948 2,025 20 10.4 0 Paradise. 38,193 1,911 19 11.2 0 AU-SS Sweet Scarlet.. 37,927 2,093 19 10.5 0 Royal Sweet. 34,922 1,502 23 10.2 0 Oasis .........31,510 1,342 23 9.9 0 Yellow Doll. 28,107 4,209 8 8.8 0 AU-Golden Producer... 24,882 1,229 21 9.1 0 Crimson Glory ... 11,874 614 18 9.3 0 Var. #5244. 49,594 2,980 17 11.8 0 Var. #5544. 45,791 2,958 16 9.8 0 Tri-X 313..... 42,764 2,889 15 10.3 0 Tri-X Sunrize.33,386 2,252 15 10.6 0 Tri-X Shadow.32,515 2,662 12 10.1 0 R 2 ..... ...... ... 0.46 0.63 -- - CV............................ ....3222 lsd ........... 19,140 6 -- Sand Mountain Substation Oasis ......... 49,880 2,030 27 11.4 0 AU-Golden Producer .... 46,835 1,813 26 12.0 0 Regency ........46,654 2,211 21 12.1 0 Var. #5244 .... 45,168 3,009 15 11 .2 1 Baron ............ 42,848 2, 10 3 21 11.7 0 Royal Sweet...41,398 1,740 24 11.7 1 AU-SS Sweet Scarlet .. 38,244 1,450 26 12.3 0 AU-Allsweet...37,048 1,595 23 11.4 0 Var. #5544 .... 35,235 2,574 13 11.0 0 Paradise.........34,619 1,704 20o 11.6 0 Var. #2532 .... 32,625 2, 3 56 14 11.9 0 Tri-X 313 .....31,755 2,139 15 11.6 1 Tri-X Shadow..31,755 2,211 15 11.8 0 Tri-X Sunrize..30,631 2,030 15 11.1 0 Crimson Glory ... 30,341 1,595 19 8.4 1 Yellow Doll .... 26,173 3,371 8 11.7 0 R 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 0.57 0.75 0.26 0.32 CV .................... 18 19 15 200 lsd ................ 9,715 5 2.4 1 30 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 31 plant on April 10. On May 20, ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ) was sidedressed at a rate of 70 pounds of ni- trogen (N) per acre. Plants were overhead-irrigated on June 6, 14, and 18. Watermelons were sprayed with Bravo fungicide (at a rate of three pints per acre) on May 31, June 6, June 10, June 17, and June 24. At UCPS, 60 pounds of N and of phosphorus (P 2 0 5 ), and 75 pounds of potassium (K 2 0) per acre were pre- plant incorporated. Plants were trickle irrigated as needed throughout the growing season. Preemergence herbicide used was Poast (at a rate of one pint per acre) on June 6 and June 26. Alleys were also hand-weeded as needed. An injection of 30 pounds of N per acre as Ca(NO 3 ) 2 was made at fruit set. At NAHS, preplant fertilization consisted of an ap- plication of NH4NO, at a rate of 60 pounds of N per acre on May 14. Plants were sidedressed at layby with 30 pounds of N. The field was hand-weeded on June 13 to remove emerged weeds. Alanap herbicide was applied on June 14 at a rate of eight quarts per acre. Fungicide used was Bravo-720 (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 3, June 7, June 14, June 21, July 3, July 12, July 19, and Aug. 2. Insecticides used were Asana XL (at a rate of 9.6 ounces per acre) on June 3, June 7, June 14, June 21, June 28, July 3, July 12, July 19, and Aug. 2; and Dimethoate (at a rate of two pints per acre) on June 7. Plants were over-head irrigated as needed. At SMS, fertilization consisted of a preplant appli- cation (per acre) of 125 pounds of NH4NO , 60 pounds of muriate of potash (KCI) and 250 pounds of a 8-24-24 fertilizer on May 10 and a sidedress application of 40 pounds of NH4NO 3 and 50 pounds of KCI on May 31. Herbicides were Alanap (at a rate of four quarts per acre) applied preplant on May 22 and Poast + crop oil concen- trate (each at a rate of 1.5 pints per acre each) applied June 12. Watermelons were harvested on July 10 at GCS, July 9 at WS, Aug. 23 at UCPS, Aug. 13 at NAHS, and July 30 and Aug. 13 at SMS. Important characteristics for watermelons are mar- ketable yield, sweetness, and rind thickness. Fruits were graded as described in the Watermelon Grader's Guide (Circular ANR 681 from the Alabama Cooperative Ex- tension Service) and marketable yield was determined. Two representative melons were selected from 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, as well as resistance to bruising and splitting dur- ing handling. Yellow Doll had a rind thickness of less than 0.25 inch, and was difficult to handle without crack- ing. For other varieties, rind thickness ranged between 0.5 and 0.75 inch. SPRING 1996 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 31 32 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Sponsors and Suppliers CORPORATE SPONSORS Micro Macro International, Inc. Mike Duemmel 183 Paradise Blvd., Suite 108 Athens, GA 30608 (706) 548-4557 Asgrow Seed Co. Brent Farrington P.O. Box 48503 Doraville, GA 30362 (912) 243-7023 Lewis Taylor Farms, Inc. Bill Brim P.O. Box 822 Tifton, GA 31793 (912) 382-4454 Inland Container Corporation Joe Quilen 29 George Wallace Drive Albertville, AL 35950 (205) 878-1941 SUPPORTING SEED COMPANIES American Sunmelon Glenn Price P.O. Box 153 Hinton, OK 73047 (405) 542-3456 Petoseed Co. Mario Rivas 3085 Whilraway Trail Tallahassee, FL 32308 (904) 668-9068 Abbott & Cobb Inc. Pete Suddarth 207 Wellington Woods Dr. Hahira, GA 31632 (912) 249-8135 Stokes Seeds Inc. Joe Butwin P.O. Box 548 Buffalo, NY 14240-0548 (716) 695-6980 Ferry-Morse Seed Co. Glenn McKay P.O. Box 392 Sun Prairie, WI 53590 (608) 837-6574 Sakata Seeds Co. Howard Adams P.O. Box 1103 Lehigh, FL 33970-1103 (813) 369-0032 SEED SUPPLIERS GroSouth Frank Green P.O. Box 349 Montgomery, AL 36101 1-800-633-8700 Seedway Jimmy Street P.O. Box 1047 Theodore, AL 36590 (334) 653-9206 Seaborn Roddenberry Cairo, GA (912) 377-6252 (Grew Transplants) Harris Seeds Bob Wilkins 60 Saginow Dr. Rochester, NY 14692-2960 1-800-544 7938 Vilmorin Gilles Laurin P.O. Box 707 Empire, CA 95319 (209) 529-6000 Sandoz Rogers Mr. Curt Pollard 2101 Melrose Drive Valdosta, GA 31602 (912) 560-1863 Takii Seeds Haki Yamasaki 301 Natividad Rd. Salinas, CA 93906 (408) 443-4901 32 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION The AU vegetable variety trial program was supported by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) and the vegetable industry. Variety trials were conducted at nine AAES substations: Gulf Coast Substation (GCS) in Fairhope, Brewton Experiment Field (BEF) in Brewton, Wiregrass Substation (WS) in Headland, and Lower Coastal Plain Substation (LCPS) in Camden, in southern Alabama; the Horticulture Unit of the E.V. Smith Research Center (EVSRC) in Shorter, Piedmont Substation (PS) in Camp Hill, and Chilton Area Horticulture Substation (CAHS) in Clanton, in the central part of the state; and Upper Coastal Plain Substation (UCPS) in Winfield, North Alabama Hort- iculture Substation (NAHS) in Cullman, and Sand Mountain MSELL Substation (SMS) in Crossville in the northern part of the state. Without the commitment of the ,RBOUR substation personnel, results presented in this report would not have been presented in a ENRY timely manner.