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Contents
Authors 2
Introduction: Tips for Interpreting Vegetable Variety Performance 3
Green Bean Trials at Two Locations- 5
Four Eastern Melons to Challenge 'Athena' 7
Vidalia Onion Variety Trials 9
Bell Pepper Varieties in North Alabama 12
Commercial Pumpkin Variety Trials Include New Releases 14
Watermelon and Cantaloupe Variety Trials in Georgia 16
Hybrid Triploid Watermelon Cultivar Trials 19
Hybrid Triploid and Diploid Watermelon Cultivar Trials, 2000 (revised) 21
'Pinata' and 'Stargazer' Are Top Allsweet Watermelons 26
'Prelude II' and 'Destiny III' Outperformed by 'Zephyr' 28
Seed Sources for Alabama Trials 30
Guidelines for Contributions to the Vegetable Variety Regional Bulletin
Names of chemicals are mentioned only for describing the production practices used.
This represents neither a recommendation nor an endorsement of these products.
Information contained herein is available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June
30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department ofAgriculture. The Alabama Coopera-
tive Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials,
and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age,
veteran status, or disability.
Authors
Dennis Adams
Agricultural Research Specialist
NC Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University
Randy Akridge
Superintendent
Brewton Experiment Field
Brewton, AL
(334)867-3139
George Boyhan
Assistant Professor and Extension
Specialist
Georgia Cooperative Extension Ser-
vice, Statesboro, GA
(912) 386-3442
Jason Burkett
Superintendent, Horticulture Unit
E.V. Smith Research Center
Shorter, AL
(334) 727-6159
Arnold Caylor
Superintendent
North Alabama Horticulture Station
Cullman, AL
(256) 734-5820
M. Jefferson Cook
County Extension Agent
Tattnall County Extension Office
P.O. Box 580
Reidsville, GA 30453
David E. Curry
County Extension Coordinator
Toombs County Extension Office
Courthouse Square
Lyons, GA 30436
Tony Dawkins
Superintendent
Sand Mountain Research and
Extension Center
Crossville, AL
(256) 528-7133
Brian Gamble
Associate Superintendent
Wiregrass Research and Extension
Center, Headland, AL
(334) 693-2363
Darby M. Granberry
Professor and Extension Specialist
Rural Development Center, Tifton, GA
(912) 386-3410
Greg Hardison
County Extension Coordinator
Montgomery County Extension Office
P.O. Box 276
Mount Vernon, GA 30445
C. Randell Hill
Research Station Superintendent
8163 Hwy 178
Lyons, GA 30436
William Terry Kelly
Extension Horticulturist-Vegetable Crops
University of Georgia Cooperative
Extension Service
(912) 386-3442
Joe Kemble
Assisstant Professor and Extension
Horticulturist
Department of Horticulture
Auburn University, AL
(334)844-3050
Joe Little
Superintendent
Lower Coastal Plain Research and Ex-
tension Center
(334) 682-4662
Ron McDaniel
Superintendent
Gulf Coast Research and Extension
Center, Fairhope, AL
(334) 928-2740
Gilbert Miller
Clemson Extension Service
P. O. Box 299, Bamberg, SC 29003
GMLLR@CLEMSON.EDU
803-245-2661
John Mueller
Edisto Research and Education Center 64
Research Road, Blackville, SC 29817
JMLLR(@CLEMSON.EDU
803-284-3343
J. Thad Paulk
Agricultural Research Assistant III
Department of Horticulture
Coastal Plain Experiment Station
PO Box 748
Tifton, GA 31793-5401
Malcom Pegues
Assistant Superintendent
Gulf Coast Research and Extension
Center, Fairhope, AL
(334) 928-2740
Albert C. Purvis
Professor
Department of Horticulture
Coastal Plain Experiment Station
PO Box 748
Tifton, GA 31793-5401
William M. Randle
Professor
Department of Horticulture
1111 Plant Science Bldg.
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7273
Johnathan Schulthesis
Associate Professor and Extension
Specialist
NC Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University
Reid Torrance
County Extension Coordinator
Tattnall County Extension Office
P.O. Box 580
Reidsville, GA 30453
Joe Varn
Clemson Extension Service
P. O. Box 468, Barnwell, SC 29812
JVARN@CLEMSON.EDU
803-259-7141
Edgar Vinson, III
Research Assistant
Department of Horticulture
Auburn University, AL
(334) 844-3041
Larry Wells
Superintendent
Wiregrass Research and Extension
Center, Headland, AL
(334) 693-2363
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 
3
Introduction: Tips for Interpreting
Vegetable Variety Performance
Joe Kemble and Edgar Vinson
The Spring 2001 variety trial regional bulletin includes
results from Auburn University, Clemson University,
North Carolina State University, and the University of
Georgia. Trials conducted at various locations offer a
wealth of information to growers, Extension Specialists,
researchers, and seed companies. These trials provide
information as to how a particular variety performs in
several areas within the southeastern United States. With
this critical data, growers can select the best variety 
for
their operation.
However, it is not enough to simply look through a
list of tested varieties and pick the one with the highest
marketable yield. The information in this report must be
carefully studied. Here are a few tips for interpreting the
results of the trials reported here.
Open Pollinated vs. Hybrids
In general, hybrids (also referred to as F1) mature
earlier and produce a more uniform crop. Often, they
have improved horticultural qualities as well as multiple
pest tolerances and/or resistances. Generally, hybrid seed
is more expensive than that of open-pollinated (OP) cul-
tivars. With hybrid cultivars, seeds cannot be 
collected
and saved for planting next year's crop. Hybrid seed 
is
available for most crops that are grown throughout 
the
southeastern United States. Despite the advantages hy-
brids offer, OP varieties are still planted in Alabama.
Selecting a hybrid variety is the first step toward improved
crop quality and crop uniformity.
Yield Potential
Yields reported in variety trial results are extrapo-
lated from small plots. Depending on the vegetable crop,
plot sizes range from 100 to 500 square feet. Yields 
per
acre are estimated by multiplying plot yields by correc-
tive factors ranging from 100 to 1,000. Small errors 
can
be amplified, and estimated yields per acre may not 
be
realistic. Therefore, locations cannot be compared to 
one
another by just looking at the range of 
yields actually
.reported. The relative differences, however, 
in perfor-
mance among varieties within a location are 
realistic and
can be used to identify the best-performing 
varieties.
Statistical Interpretation
The coefficient of determination (R
2
), coefficient of
variation (CV), and least significant difference (lsd, 5%)
are reported for each test. These numbers 
are helpful in
separating differences due to small 
plots (sampling er-
ror) and true (but unknown) differences among entries.
R
2 
values range between zero and one. Values close
to one suggest that the test was conducted under good
conditions and most of the variability observed was
mainly due to the effect of cultivars and replication. 
Ran-
dom, uncontrolled errors were of lesser importance.
CV is an expression of yield variability relative to
yield mean. Low CVs (under 20%) are 
desirable but are
not always achieved.
There must be a minimum yield difference between
two cultivars before one can statistically conclude 
that
one cultivar actually performs better than another 
does.
This is known as the least significant difference (lsd).
When the difference in yield is less than 
the lsd value,
one cannot conclude that there is any real difference 
be-
tween two cultivars. For example, in the watermelon 
trial
presented in this issue conducted at the Wiregrass 
Re-
search and Extension Center, 'Pinata' yielded 
34,794
pounds per acre, while 'Athens' and 'SXW5038' 
yielded
32,358 and 20,343 pounds per acre, respectively. 
Since
there was less than a 13,826 difference (the 
lsd value)
between 'Pinata' and 'Athens', there is no statistical 
dif-
ference between these two varieties. However, the 
yield
difference between 'Pinata' and 'SXW5038' 
was 14,451,
indicating that there is a real difference between 
these
two varieties. From a practical point of view, 
producers
should place the greatest importance on lsd 
values when
interpreting results.
4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Testing Conditions
AU vegetable variety trials are conducted under stan-
dard, recommended commercial production practices. In-
formation on soil type (Table 1), planting dates, fertilizer
rates, and detailed spray schedule is provided to help
producers compare their own practices to the standard
practices used in the trials.
Ratings of Trials
At each location of the AU tests, the growing condi-
tions of each variety trial were rated on a 1 to 5 scale,
based on weather conditions, fertilization, irrigation, pest
pressure, and overall performance (Table 2). Results from
trials with ratings of 2 and under are not reported. These
numbers may be used to interpret differences in perfor-
mance from location to location.
Where to Get Seeds
Because seeds are alive, their performance and ger-
mination rate depend on how old they are, where and
how they were collected, and how they have been handled
and stored. It is always preferable to purchase certified
seeds from a reputable seedsman.
Several factors other than yield should be consid-
ered when choosing which variety to grow. The main
factors are type, resistance and/or tolerance to pests,
earliness, and seed cost. It is important to remember
that some varieties may perform differently under dif-
ferent management systems as compared to the trial
results reported here. Producers should test some va-
rieties for themselves by trying two to three varieties
on a small scale before making a large planting of a
single variety. This will be the best test in determining
how well suited a particular variety is for a particular
operation.
TABLE 1. SOIL TYPES AT THE LOCATIONS OF THE ALABAMA TRIALS
Location Water-holding Soil type
capacity (in/in)
Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center (Fairhope) 0.09- 0.19 Malbis fine sandy loam
Brewton Experiment Field (Brewton) 0.12 - 0.14 Benndale fine sandy loam
Wiregrass Research and Extension Center (Headland) 0.14 - 0.15 Dothan sandy loam
Lower Coastal Plain Research Center (Camden) 0.13 - 0.15 Forkland fine sandy loam
Horticultural Unit, EV Smith Research Center (Shorter) 0.15 - 0.17 Norfolk-orangeburg loamy sand
Chilton Area Research and Extension Center (Clanton) 0.13 - 0.15 Luvernue sandy loam
Upper Coastal Plain Research Center (Winfield) 0.13 - 0.20 Savannah loam
North Alabama Horticultural Research Center (Cullman) 0.16 - 0.20 Hartsells-Albertville fine sandy loam
Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center (Crossville) 0.16 - 0.18 Wynnville fine sandy loam
TABLE 2. DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
Rating Weather Fertilizer Irrigation Pests Overall
5 Very Good Very Good Very Good None Excellent
4 Favorable Good Good Light Good
3 Acceptable Acceptable Acceptable Tolerable Acceptable
2 Adverse Low Low Adverse Questionable
1 Destructive Very Low Insufficient Destructive Useless
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 5
Green Bean Trials at Two
Locations
-7
Joe Kemble, Edgar Vinson, Randy Akridge, and Tony Dawkins
Green bean variety trials were conducted at the
Brewton Experiment Field (BEF) in Brewton, Alabama,
and the Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center
(SMREC) in Crossville, Alabama (Tables 1 and 2).
At both locations green beans were direct seeded on
bare ground into 30 foot-long plots at a within row spac-
ing of one foot on April 20 at BEF and June 12 at SMREC.
Soils were fertilized according to the recommendations of
the Auburn University Soil Testing Laboratory. Names
of the chemicals are mentioned only for describing the
production practices used. This represents neither a rec-
ommendation nor an endorsement of these products.
Current recommendations for pest and weed control in
vegetable production in Alabama may be found in IPM
Comercial Vegetable: Insect, Disease, Nematode and
Weed Control Recommendations (Publication 00IPM-2
from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System).
At SMREC Fertilization consisted of a preplant ap-
plication of 13-13-13 (750 pounds per acre) on May 9. No
other fertilizers or soil amendments were applied. Insecti-
cides were applied three times from June 12 to July 6. No
fungicides or herbicides were used.
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 2001 GREEN BEAN
VARIETY TRIAL'
Location BEF SMREC
Weather 5 5
Fertility 5 5
Irrigation 5 5
Pests 5 5
Overall 5 5
'See introduction for a description of rating scales.
Green beans were hand harvested on June 12, June
15 June 19, June 25 and July 3 at BEF and July 31,
August 3, August 6, and August 13 at SMREC. Mar-
ketable yield and weight and length of 50 pods were
determined (Table 3.).
Marketable yields were lower at BEF than at SMREC
and there were few differences among green bean variet-
ies. There was a larger selection of varieties tried at BEF
where Carlo was a top producer; however, 'Carlo' remained
a top producers at SMREC as well.
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, EARLINESS, AND DISEASE CLAIMS OF SELECTED GREEN BEAN VARIETIES
Variety Type' Seed source Days to Growth Pod Pod Disease Years
harvest habit color shape claims
2  
evaluated
Brio OP Rogers 54 Bush White Round - 01
Bronco OP Asgrow 53 Bush Green Round CBMV 97-00
Hialeah OP Ferry-Morse 53 Bush Green Oval NY15MV 97-00
Fandango OP Petoseed 56 Bush Green Round Anth, CBMV,HB 00
Mirada OP Rogers 54 Bush Green Round - 98,99
Unidor OP Petoseed 54 Bush Yellow Round A, CBMV 00
SB4222 OP Rogers 54 Bush Green Round - 99,01
-= not foundin seed catalogues.' Type: F l=hybrid; OP=open pollinated. 
2 
Disease claims: CBMV= Common Bean Mosaic Virus; Halo
Blight = HB; NY15MV = Mosaic Virus race NY 15.
6 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
TABLE 3. YIELD AND POD CHARACTERISTICS 
OF SELECTED GREEN BEAN
VARIETIES
Variety Marketable yield Cull weight 
Pod weight Pod length
lbs/ac lbs/ac lbs/50 pods 
in/pod
Brewton Experiment Field
Unidor 1,924 
0.38 3.51
Fandango 1,670 
0.36 3.48
Carlo 1,216 
0.47 3.72
Mirada 980 * 
0.57 3.69
SB4222 980 * 
0.59 3.75
Brio 817 * 
0.52 4.61
Hialeah 762 * 
0.63 4.05
r
2  
0.80
CV 32
Isd 1,110
Sand Mountain Research and Extension Center
Carlo 3,816 
382 0.30 5.0
Brio 3,760 
291 0.29 5.1
Hialeah 2,373 
232 0.35 5.6
Mirada 1,804 168 
0.92 5.3
SB4222 1,487 88 
0.29 4.7
r 0.80
CV 22
Isd 1, 723
* = not reported.
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT 
STATION
6
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL 
VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 
7
/ M-
l
Four Eastern Melons
to Challenge 'Athena'
Joe Kemble, Edgar Vinson, and Tony Dawkins
A small melon trial was conducted at the Sand Moun-
tain Research and Extension Center in (SMREC) in
Crossville, Alabama.
Melons were direct seeded on bareground on 5 foot by
60 foot plots on May 11, 2001. Drip irrigation was used.
Preplant fertilization consisted of 300 pounds per acre
of calcium nitrate, 326 pounds per acre of superphos-
phate and 333 pounds per acre of potash on May 2, 2001.
Fertilization consisted of 50 pounds per acre of potas-
sium nitrate on June 19 and calcium nitrate on June 25
and July 6, 2001. Preemergence herbicides were applied
on May 2, 2001. One application of an insecticide was
applied on June 8, 2001. Fungicide was applied weekly
between June 8 and July 26.
Small melons were harvested three times weekly over 2
'/2 weeks for a total of seven harvests. Cantaloupe were
harvested at the half slip stage of maturity. Honey dew mel-
ons do not slip naturally but are ready for harvest when they
have lost their pubescence. Soluble solid content was mea-
sured using a hand held refractometer to measure sweet-
ness of eight representative melons of each variety.
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 2001 SMALL MELON
VARIETY TRIAL'
Location SMREC
Weather 5
Fertility 5
Irrigation 5
Pests 5
Overall 5
'See introduction for a description of rating scales.
In the eastern melon category, 'Eclipse', 'Cordele'
and 'RML 6969-v' produced slightly higher yields than
'Athena' although those these differences were not sig-
nificant. 'Athena' had a higher individual fruit weight
than all other eastern melons but fruit number per acre
was lower than all other eastern melons. 'Edisto 47' pro-
duced yields lower but comparable to 'Athena' as well.
There were no significant differences among the western
type melons or honey dew melons.
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED SMALL
MELON VARIETIES
Variety Type' Seed Rind Flesh Days Disease Years
source aspect
2  
color to harvest claims
3  
evaluated
Athena F 1 Novartis E Orange 80 FW,PM 94-99
Cordele Fl Asgrow E Orange 85 FW,PM 94-99
Durango F 1 Petoseed W Orange 83 FW,PM,Su 96-98,00-01
Eclipse F SeedWay/Petoseed E Orange 85 FW,PM 96-99
Edisto47 Fl Asgrow E Orange 95 PM 01
HoneyBre F1 Abbott & Cobb HD Green 105 FW,PM 00,01
HoneySta Fl Sunseeds HD Green 85 FW,PM 01
Laredo Fl Petoseed W Orange 83 PM,Su 96,97,01
Moonshin Fl Asgrow HD Green - FW,Su 01
Passport* Fl Stokes HD Green 75 ANT,GSB 96-99
RML6969v - Novartis E Orange - - 01
SantaFe Fl Petoseed HD - - - 01
* = Honey Dew x Galia cross;- = not found in seed catalogues. ' Type: Fl=hybrid; OP=open pollinated. 2 Rind aspect: E = Eastern;
HD = Honey Dew; W = Western. Disease Claims: FW = Fusarium Wilt; PM = Powdery Mildew; ANT = Anthracnose; Su = Sulfur;
GSB = Gummy Stem Blight.
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 7
8 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
TABLE 3. YIELD OF SELECTED SMALL MELON VARIETIES
Marketable Marketable Individual Soluble
Variety Type yield fruits fruit weight solids
lbs/ac no/ac lbs
Eclipse Eastern 44,008 6,851 7 13.4
Cordele Eastern 36,457 5,909 6 10.6
RML6969-v Eastern 36,174 5,438 7 16.5
Athena Eastern 33,383 3,951 9 11.2
Edisto 47 Eastern 25,110 4,495 6 8.9
Moonshine Honey Dew 41,619 6,561 6 12.3
HoneyBrew Honey Dew 40,745 5,546 7 11.8
Passport Honey Dew 37,997 6,054 6 8.7
HoneyStar Honey Dew 36,294 5,655 7 13.5
Durango Western 42,133 5,728 7 13.8
Santa Fe Western 31,824 6,598 5 11.7
Laredo Western 29,312 7,141 4 7.8
r
2  
0.40 0.34 0.84
CV 23 24 9
lsd 23,696 4,060 0.83
8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 
9
/ I
k.
Vidalia Onion Variety
IIi. Trials
George E. Boyhan, William M. Randle, Albert 
C. Purvis, Reid L. Torrance,
David E. Curry, Greg Hardison, M. Jefferson 
Cook, J. Thad Paulk, and C. Randell Hill
Short-day (Vidalia) onion variety trials were held 
at
the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center (VOVRC)
at Lyons, Georgia, and at an on-farm location in 
Tattnall
County, Georgia. There were 28 varieties in the VOVRC
trial and 23 in the on-farm (Bland Farm) trial. Plantbeds
were prepared and fumigated on August 10, 2000 and
August 15, 2000 at the Bland Farm and VOVRC, respec-
tively. Forty-two percent metam sodium was used as the
fumigant at both locations. Seed were sown on Septem-
ber 14 and September 25 at the Bland Farm and VOVRC,
respectively.
The fertility program for the plantbeds at Bland 
Farm
consisted ofpreplant incorporated 5-10-15 
with 7% sul-
fur at a rate of 1150 pounds per acre. This was followed
by 18-46-0 applied at a rate of 200 pounds per 
acre di-
rectly after seeding. Finally, 200 pounds per acre of CaNO
3
was applied on October 5 and 16. Onion transplants were
pulled from the plantbeds and planted at their final spac-
ing on November 9, 2000.
At the VOVRC the plantbeds were prepared with 800
pounds per acre of 5-10-15 with 9% sulfur preplant 
incor-
porated. Immediately after seeding, 150 pounds per 
acre
of 18-46-0 was applied. Finally, 200 pounds 
per acre of
CaNO
3 
was applied on October 26 and 100 pounds 
per
acre was applied on November 9, 2000. Transplants 
were
pulled and set at their final spacing on November 27, 2000.
The experiment was arranged in a randomized com-
plete block design with four replications. Each plot 
was
50 feet long and consisted of a slightly raised bed with 
a
center-to-center spacing of six feet with four rows 
of on-
ions planted with a between row spacing of approximately
14 inches and an in-row spacing of about five 
inches.
Twenty-feet of this plot was harvested to determine 
yield
while all 50 feet was used to count the number 
of
seedstems and doubles.
At the Bland Farm the fertility program for the onion
crop consisted of 350 pounds per acre of 6-18-18 with 
6%
sulfur applied on November 14; 350 pounds per 
acre of 5-
10-15 with 9% sulfur applied on December 20, 2000 
and
January 22, 2001; and 200 pounds per acre of CaNO
3 
ap-
plied on February 5 and February 26, 2001.
The fertility program at the VOVRC consisted of 400
pounds of 5-10-15 with 9% sulfur applied 
preplant and
incorporated. One hundred fifty pounds of 18-46-0 
was
applied on December 20 and 200 pounds 
of 6-12-18 with
5% sulfur was applied on January 2 and January 16, 
2001.
Finally, 200 pounds of CaNO3 was applied on February 
7
and February 20, 2001.
The herbicide program on the plantbeds at the
VOVRC consisted of two ounces per acre of 
Goal herbi-
cide applied on October 17 and October 19, 2000. 
Immedi-
ately after transplanting 1.5 pints per acre 
of Prowl and
Goal were applied to control weeds.
Onions were harvested when mature for the specific
variety. Onions were pulled and allowed to 
dry in the field
for one to two days before being clipped and weighed 
in
the field. Onions were then transported to dryers 
where
they were dried for two to four days at 950 F. 
Onions were
again weighed to determine cured weight 
before being
graded. Onions were graded into two size classes: 
medi-
ums and jumbos. Mediums had a minimum 
diameter of
two inches and a maximum diameter ofthree 
inches. Jum-
bos had a minimum diameter of three inches.
Field yields for onions ranged from 910 50-pound
bags per acre for 'EX 075 92000' to 449 50-pound 
bags
per acre for 'Sweet Advantage' (Table 1). In general, 
the
earlier harvested onions had lower yields. 
There was an
average loss of 6% from the field yields to the 
cured yields
with some minor changes in ranking. Typically, 
80% of
the harvested onions should be in the jumbo class. 
The
varieties at the VOVRC ranged from over 90% in 
the jumbo
class for 'Savannah Sweet' to 35% in the jumbo 
class for
'Southern Belle'.
Seedstems and doubles are considered undesirable
in onions. Both are highly influenced by 
environmental
factors, but also have a genetic component. Overall 
2000-
2001 was not a bad year for seedstems, but doubles 
were
troublesome in some varieties due to particularly 
cold
weather during December. There were 
nine varieties in
the VOVRC trial that averaged more than two 
seedstems
per plot. These were 'Pegasus', 'Liberty', 
'Hybrid Yellow
Granex 107', 'Sweet Success', 'SBO 133', 
'Cyclops (XP
6995)', 'Sweet Melody', 'PS 7292', and 'Sweet Melissa'. Pungency as measured by the development of pyru-
Seedstems were not as bad at the Bland Farm with an vic acid in macerated onion tissue and soluble solids
average range of 0-4,7. (sugar content) are important criteria for determining the
Doubles, which are the formation of two bulbs from quality of Vidalia onions. Pungency values should be
one, are considered undesirable because the resulting below 5 micromoles per gram fresh weight (um/gfw) for
bulbs are distorted, small, and usually unmarketable. In Vidalia onions and lower values are considered more de-
addition, onion ring processors find these onions to be sirable. Sugar content should be at 6% or above to have
undesirable. At the VOVRC trial there were seven variet- a detectable sweet flavor. At the VOVRC, pungency
ies that averaged more than 20 doubles.per plot. These ranged from2.3-5.3 um/gfw with 'Sweet Melissa' having
included 'SBO 133', 'Southern Belle', 'Sweet Advantage', the mildest mean pungency and ASG 6846 having the
'Liberty', 'Sweet Success', 'Granex 1035', and 'Sweet highest. At the Bland Farm, pungency ranged from 2.4
Melissa'. Doubles at the Bland Farm location averaged um/gfw for WI-609 to 5.5 um/gfw for PS 7092. None of the
from 0.6 for 'Cyclops' to 26.5 for 'Sweet Advantage'. tested varieties had average soluble solids below 6%.
TABLE 1. 2000-2001 ONION VARIETY TRIAL, VIDALIA ONION AND VEGETABLE RESEARCH CENTER,
LYONS, GEORGA
Harvest Field Cured
Variety Company date yield yield Jumbo Medium
50 lb bags/ac
EX 075 92000 Asgrow Seed 5/10/01 910 862 775 42
SBO 133 Sunseeds 4/26/01 893 845 632 120
EX 19013 Asgrow Seed 5/10/01 903 840 711 31
ASG 6846 Asgrow Seed 5/10/01 850 816 704 50
DPS 1033 D. Palmer Seed 5/10/01 848 800 716 45
Savannah Sweet Petoseed 5/03/01 801 771 700 51
Pegasus Asgrow Seed 5/10/01 809 753 649 34
Sweet Success Sunseeds 5/03/01 779 752 648 76
PS 7292 Petoseed 5/10/01 811 749 630 45
Liberty Bejo Seed 5/10/01 790 739 604 45
DPS 1024 D. Palmer Seed 5/10/01 747 703 527 79
Cyclops (XP 6995) AsgrowSeed 5/03/01 791 703 592 61
Sweet Melody Sunseeds 5/03/01 732 698 580 61
Sweet Vidalia Sunseeds 5/03/01 724 697 582 82
Hybrid Yellow Samen
Granex 107 Mauser 5/03/01 720 689 590 64
Sweet Melissa Sunseeds 5/03/01 716 688 539 102
Granex 1035 Seedway 5/03/01 689 664 510 101
WI-3115 Wannamaker 4/19/01 608 630 490 116
Seed
Southern Honey D. Palmer Seed 5/03/01 644 618 495 91
2025 F1 Yellow K&B Develop- 5/03/01 641 613 491 94
Granex ment L.L.C.
Nirvana Sunseeds 4/26/01 646 609 498 88
Granex 33 AsgrowSeed 5/03/01 680 595 497 83
WI-609 Wannamaker 4/19/01 672 593 502 75
Seed
DPS 1032 D.Palmer Seed 4/26/01 600 560 393 128
PS 7092 Petoseed 4/26/01 555 517 362 135
King Midas (1919) Sunseeds 4/26/01 534 508 359 132
Southernm Belle D. Palmer Seed 4/19/01 468 430 150 234
Sweet Advantage D. Palmer Seed 4/19/01 449 418 166 206
r
2  
0.772 0.719
CV 40 43
LSD (p#0.05) 130 150
n Seedstems Doubles Pungency Sugar
-50 ft bed um/g fw %
0.7 3.3 4.7 8.8
9.6 99.3 4.0 8.5
1.7 1.9 4.7 8.9
0.2 1.9 5.3 9.5
0.9 5.3 4.6 8.8
0.4 2.6 3.4 8.1
15.9 0.4 4.9 9.4
9.8 22.7 3.1 8.5
4.4 2.7 5.0 8.6
14.8 24.3 5.0 8.1
0.6 11.0 4.7 9.0
6.7 4.2 2.8 8.6
4.4 3.6 2.7 8.9
0.0 1.3 2.8 8.4
11.3 4.7
2.9 20.3
1.3 20.6
0.0 10.5
1.2
0.2
0.0
0.9
0.9
2.9 8.2
2.3 8.1
3.5 9.3
3.4 8.4
2.6 3.7 8.9
2.4 4.4 8.7
1.4
4.8
3.6
0.6 11.6
1.1 4.9
0.4 3.8
0.9 91.7
0.7 46.3
0.744 0.938
70 74
0.9 1.1
4.3 8.5
3.6 8.9
2.9 7.6
4.4 8.8
4.9 9.1
5.1 9.2
4.1 10.1
4.3 11.3
0.608 0.735
28 9
1.5 0.9
Bonferroni adjustment for five comparisons. (The Bonferroni adjusted LSD divides the probability (0.05) by 5 before calculating to
control the experiment wise error rate. This allows up to five mean comparisons between varieties.)
10 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 1
TABLE 2. 2000-2001 ONION VARIETY TRIAL, 
BLAND FARM, TATTNALL COUNTY, GEORGIA
Harvest Field Cured
Variety Company date 
yield yield Jumbo Medium Seedstems 
Doubles Pungency Sugar
50 lb bags/ac 50 ft bed 
um/g fw %
WI-3115 Wannamaker 4/18/01 621 
603 467 119 0.0 1.8 
3.4 7.9
Seed
Cyclops Asgrow 5/01/01 622 
595 434 81
DPS 1033 D. Palmer Seed 5/01/01 684 
585 472 48
Sweet Melody Sunseeds 5/01/01 
576 573 395 110
DPS 1032 D. Palmer Seed 4/25/01 663 
557 431 68
DPS 1024 D. Palmer Seed 4/25/01 664 
553 353 135
Southern Honey D. Palmer Seed 5/01/01 565 
543 391 89
Savannah Sweet Petoseed 4/25/01 580 
542 423 65
Sweet Success Sunseeds 5/01/01 
681 524 432 42
PS 7092 Petoseed 4/25/01 551 
514 368 108
Granex 107 Samen Mauser 4/25/01 554 
514 349 120
Granex 33 Asgrow 5/01/01 537 
513 344 117
Nirvana Sunseeds 4/25/01 537 
506 346 134
2025 F1 Yellow K&B Develop- 4/25/01 537 
496 287 167
Granex ment L.L.C.
Pegasus Asgrow 5/01/01 586 
490 350 95
Sweet Advantage D. Palmer Seed 4/18/01. 
501 477 241 211
WI-609 Wannamaker 4/11/01 529 
468 312 135
Seed
Sweet Vidalia Sunseeds 4/25/01 
528 442 330 64
Sweet Melissa Sunseeds 5/01/01 
600 424 320 60
Granex 1035 Seedway 4/25/01 445 
410 191 159
Southemn Belle D. Palmer Seed 4/18/01 
415 397 205 172
King Midas Sunseeds 4/18/01 465 
382 215 149
PS 7292 Petoseed 5/01/01 587 
378 260 64
r
2
0.487 0.231
CV 
32 38
LSD (p#0.05) 141 
222
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.4
4.7
0.2
1.4
0.8
0.0
2.4
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
1.3
0.4
0.5
0.2
0.0
1.2
0.511
55
0.1
0.6
2.6
1.7
22.2
16.6
2.5
1.8
7.2
10.5
2.0
1.5
0.9
1.5
3.8
4.7
3.7
5.2
4.5
4.1
3.1
4.2
5.5
4.8
4.2
4.4
5.1
0.6 3.9
26.5 4.5
1.5 2.4
6.7
3.4
16.9
11.8
0.6
3.7
0.812
61
1.2
4.7
3.9
4.6
4.4
3.8
4.1
0.659
20
1.1
8.5
8.4
8.4
8.9
9.3
8.5
8.0
8.7
10.1
9.2
8.6
8.6
9.1
8.7
10.3
7.1
8.3
8.2
9.3
9.8
9.4
8.8
0.732
9
0.9
Bonferroni adjustment for five comparisons. (The 
Bonferroni adjusted LSD divides the probability (0.05) 
by 5 before calculating to
control tbe experiment wise error rate. This 
allows up to five mean comparisons between varieties.)
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS
11
12 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
\ \ )
l
Bell Pepper Varieties
Sin North Alabama
Joe Kemble, Edgar Vinson, and Arnold Caylor
A bell pepper variety trial was conducted at the North
Alabama Horticulture Research Center (NAHRC) in
Cullman, Alabama (Tables 1 and 2). Five-week-old pep-
pers were transplanted onto 4 foot wide plots with a within
row spacing of 1 foot. Plastic mulch and drip irrigation
were used.
Soils were fertilized according to the recommenda-
tions of the Auburn Unversity Soil Testing Laboratory.
Current recommendations for pest and weed control in
vegetable production in Alabama may be found in IPM
Comercial Vegetable: Insect, Disease, Nematode and
Weed Control Recommendations (Publication 00IPM-2
from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System).
Bell pepers were harvested on July 25 and August
16. Fruits were harvested at the mature green color stage,
weighed, and graded (Table3) using the standards of the
"Sweet Pepper Grader's Guide" (Circular AHR-784 of the
Alabama Cooperative Extension System).
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 2001 BELL PEPPER
VARIETY TRIAL
1
Location NAHS
Weather 5
Fertility 5
Irrigation 5
Pests 5
Overall 5
1
See introduction for a description of rating scales.
There were two harvests this year so yields for this
season were comparatively low. 'X3R Camelot' and 'En-
terprise' are considered two of the market standards. Sev-
eral varieties performed as well as these standards, two
of which were 'Aristotle' and 'X3R Wisdom'. 'Enterprise'
had yields significantly lower than the 'X3R Camelot'.
Varieties that performed as well as 'Enterprise' were 'Lex-
ington' and 'ACX 209'.
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS, AND 
RELATIVE EARLINESS OF SELECTED
BELL PEPPER VARIETIES
Variety Type' Seed source 
Color Days to Disease Years
harvest tolerance/resistance
2  
evaluated
ACamelot X3R F1 Petoseed Green-Red 
74 BLS(1,2,3),TbMV 94-97,99,01
Enterprise F 1 Asgrow Green-Red 
77 BLS(1,2,3),TbMV 95-97,99,01
Colosal - Novartis -
- - 99,01
ACX 209 F1 A & C Green-Red 86 BLS(1,2,3) 
99,01
Aristotle F1 Petoseed Green-Red 
- - 01
Var.#830 F1 A&C Green-Red 
- - 01
Bennington F 1 Asgrow Green-Red 
- - 01
X3RWisdom Fl Petoseed Green-Red 
75 BLS(1,2,3), TbMV 01
Defiance Fl1 Asgrow Green-Red 
- - 01
Enterprise Fl1 Asgrow Green-Red 
- - 01
Lexington Fl1 Asgrow Green-Red 
- - 01
- = not found in seed catalogues.
SType: Fl=hybrid; OP=open pollinated. 
2
Disease resistance/tolerance: BLS=Bacterial Leaf Spot; TbMV=Tobacco 
Mosaic Virus.
12 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS
13
TABLE 3. PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED BELL PEPPER VARIETIES
Total market- Total Total 
Individual Cull
Variety able yield fancy wt fancy no. US#1 
US#1 US#2 US#2 fruit wt. weight
lbs/ac lbs/ac no/ac no/ac lbs/ac 
no/ac lbs/ac lbs lb/ac
Aristotle 13,604 7,259 13,575 16,697 6,345 
9,548 2,593 0.46 2,177
X3R Camelot 12,631 5,787 12,037 18,326 
6,844 9,548 2,970 0.43 3,488
Var.#830 12,602 5,366 11,222 18,430 7,236 
9,695 2,780 0.45 1,964
Colossal 12,139 6,392 13,620 16,788 5,747 10,272 
2,577 0.40 2,120
Bennington 11,088 4,619 9,910 18,462 
6,469 10,181 2,602 0.41 1,937
X3RWisdom 10,879 4,441 9,367 
18,010 6,438 10,815 3,006 0.42 3,160
Defiance 10,728 4,699 9,186 
16,290 6,029 9,684 2,415 0.43 2,820
Enterprise 9,157 3,341 7,150 15,973 
5,816 13,032 3,796 0.41 3,333
Lexington 8,832 3,900 8,145 13,892 
4,932 8,507 2,401 0.41 2,562
ACX 209 7,254 3,027 6,15 12,353 
4,228 7,014 1,759 0.42 2,337
r 0.41 0.47
CV 24 32
lsd 4,340 2,604
14 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
Commercial Pumpkin
Variety Trials Include
New Releases
William Terry Kelley
1 V
- -t
Several new releases were among thirty-two com-
mercially available pumpkin varieties that were compared
in a test at the Georgia Mountain Branch Experiment Sta-
tion (elevation 1900 feet) in Blairsville, Georgia. Weather
conditions were reasonably good for pumpkins during
the growing season. Rainfall was adequate but not ex-
cessive. Disease pressure was light until late in the sea-
son and the crop yielded exceptionally well overall.
Pumpkins were field-seeded on May 30, 2000 into a
Transylvania clay loam soil. Plots consisted of single rows,
which contained an appropriate number of hills for each
variety's plant habit. Vining types were planted with four
hills per plot, semi-bush (or semi-vining) types with six
hills, and bush types with eight hills. Plots were 16 feet in
length with eight feet between rows. The planting was
arranged in a randomized complete block design with three
replications.
Normal cultural practices were used for bare ground
pumpkin culture in Georgia. Base fertilizer consisted of
300 pounds per acre of 10-10-10 incorporated prior to
planting followed by two side dress applications of 10-
10-10 (300 pounds per acre each). Ethafluralin (0.75 pound
active ingredient per acre) was applied pre-emergence for
weed control. Fungicide and insecticide applications were
made according to current recommendations. Irrigation
was applied as needed.
Pumpkins were harvested at maturity on October 3
and October 4, 2000. Data were collected on yield, fruit
number and weight, rind color, rind texture, rind thick-
ness, fruit shape, and internal flesh color. A summary of
the results can be found in the table.
Individual pumpkin weights were generally within
those expected according to commercial variety descrip-
tions. 'First Prize' produced the greatest yield and largest
fruit size among all varieties, although not significantly
greater than 'Magic Lantern'. Among miniature varieties
'Munchkin', 'Little October' and 'Lil' Goblin' all produced
similar fruit numbers with weights in the 1.5- to 0.5-pound
range.
Marketability was generally high for all varieties, al-
though 'Wee-B-Little', '01' Zeb's' and 'Casper' were sig-
nificantly lower than the most marketable varieties.
There was some variance among varieties for rind color
and rind texture. Rind color ranged from deep orange to
light orange. 'Lumina' and 'Casper' were the only pump-
kins in the trial with a white rind. Fruit shape was gener-
ally in accordance with the type of pumpkin, with smaller
pumpkins having a flatter shape.
Most varieties produced exceptional yields and fruit
numbers and many were well within the range for accept-
ability in north Georgia. Lower performers included 'Early
Autumn', 'Pro Gold #100', 'Wee-Be-Little', 'Peek-A-Boo',
'01' Zeb's', 'Casper' and 'Howdy Doody' which did not
produce yields and fruit number per acre that were com-
petitive with other similarly-sized pumpkins.
'Autumn King', 'Gold Bullion', 'Gold Rush', 'Har-
vest Jack', 'HMX 4694', 'Jumpin' Jack', 'Magic Lantern',
'Merlin', and 'Pro Gold #500' were all superior performers
among the 15- to 30-pound pumpkins.
14 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 1
NUMBER, YIELD, MARKETABILITY, AND HORTICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED PUMPKIN
VARIETIES GROWN AT BLAIRSVILLE, GEORGIA
1
Variety Seed Fruit Yield Fruit wt. Marketable
2  
Rind Fruit Rind
source no/ac lbs/ac lbs 00 color
3
shape
4
texture
5
Autumn King
Casper
Early Autumn
First Prize
Gold Bullion
Gold Fever
Gold Standard
Gold Strike
Gold Rush
Harvest Jack
Howden Biggie
Howdy Doody
HMX 4694
Jack-B-Quick
Jumpin' Jack
Lil' Goblin
Little October
Lumina
Magic Lantern
Merlin
Munchkin
01' Zeb's
Oz
Peek-A-Boo
Pick-a-pie
Pro Gold #100
Pro Gold #200
Pro Gold #300
Pro Gold #500
Pro Gold #510
Touch of Autumn
Wee-B-Little
Mean of test
Isd (0.05)
CV(%)
Rupp
Rupp
Seeds by Design
Rupp
Rupp
Rupp
Rupp
Rupp
Rupp
Seeds by Design
Harris Moran
Seeds by Design
Harris Moran
Seeds by Design
Seeds by Design
Harris Moran
Willhite
Stokes
Harris Moran
Harris Moran
Harris Moran
Rupp
Harris Moran
Seeds by Design
Rupp
A&C
A&C
A&C
A&C
A&C
Rupp
Seeds by Design
4084
3403
4651
2609
5785
5672
5105
4084
3063
3743
3063
3516
6125
14293
4254
20418
21099
3176
6806
5218
19851
3516
10663
6919
7373
5218
4310
4084
4991
4197
11570
2496
6834
4129
36.9
97337
34251
65167
139058
88132
65871
69858
80521
86992
101636
81258
57970
87973
38798
102388
30179
17361
27661
105504
84043
10368
70357
35885
26135
38652
10288
65338
80101
94859
85551
30922
20452
62802
36379
35.4
23.90
10.24
14.19
53.0
15.23
11.60
13.70
19.88
28.16
27.42
26.05
16.19
14.43
6.36
24.04
1.48
0.82
7.02
15.52
16.24
0.52
20.65
3.37
3.80
5.23
2.01
15.87
19.75
18.69
20.39
2.69
6.12
14.33
59.1
25.2
100.0
93.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
98.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
99.3
87.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
91.3
98.9
5.1
3.17
1.67
4.67
1.67
2.67
2.00
2.33
1.67
1.33
1.67
2.00
1.67
2.00
1.33
2.25
2.00
2.33
2.67
5.00
1.33
1.67
2.33
2.00
2.67
2.33
1.33
2.67
2.00
2.00
2.00
1.67
2.00
2.00
2.16
0.87
24.5
3.00
3.00
2.67
3.00
2.67
2.67
2.00
3.00
3.00
3.33
3.83
2.33
2.67
1.75
4.00
2.67
2.00
1.33
2.67
3.00
1.00
3.17
2.33
2.33
2.00
3.00
3.17
2.67
3.00
3.00
2.33
2.33
2.63
0.97
22.5
1.33
3.00
2.00
2.00
2.33
2.00
2.00
1.33
1.00
2.00
1.33
2.00
2.00
1.25
2.00
2.67
3.00
3.00
1.67
1.67
1.33
1.67
2.67
2.33
2.00
3.00
2.00
2.00
1.67
1.33
2.00
2.67
2.0
0.63
19.4
Planting date: May 30, 2000. Harvest dates: October 3-4, 2000. Randomized complete block design, three replications, one-row plot,
16 ft. long x 8 ft. wide. Hills/plot: Vine-4, Semi-bush-6, Bush-8. 
2
Marketable yield. i color based on scale: 1=deep orange;
2=medium orange; 3=light orange; 4=yellow; 5=white. 'Fruit shape based on scale: 1=flat; 2=round; 3=oval; 4=oblong. 'Rind texture
based on scale: 1 =coarse; 2=medium; 3=smooth.
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 15
16 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
Watermelon and
Cantaloupe Variety Trials
4-
-l ; ,
Sin Georgia
George E. Boyhan, Darbie M. Granberry, W. 
Terry Kelley, and C. Randell Hill
Watermelon and cantaloupe variety trials were held
at the Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center in
Lyons, Georgia. The watermelon trial consisted of 29 va-
rieties and the cantaloupe trial consisted of nine variet-
ies. Seed were started in the greenhouse at the Bamboo
Farm and Coastal Garden in Savannah, Georgia, in March
and April. The watermelon transplants were set on April
19, 2001 and the cantaloupe transplants were set on April
25, 2001.
The experiment was arranged in a randomized com-
plete block design with four replications. Each experi-
mental unit consisted of ten hills with.an in-row spacing
of five feet for the watermelon and an in-row spacing of
three feet for the cantaloupe. The between row spacing
was six feet for the cantaloupe and 12 feet for the water-
melon. Although there was a 12 foot between-row spac-
ing for the watermelon, the yield per acre was calculated
based on a six-foot between-row spacing.
The fertility program consisted of 750 pounds per
acre of 10-10-10 applied preplant and incorporated. This
was followed by 750 pounds per acre of 15-0-14 applied
on May 11, 2001. This level of fertility is considered a
little too high for watermelon and cantaloupe in Georgia
and was the result of a miscommunication with the 
farm
superintendent.
Weed control consisted of two quarts per acre of
Cucurbit herbicide applied on April 27, 2001 over the top
of the transplants. In addition, Poast Plus was applied at
one quart per acre on May 7, 2001 for control of post
emergent grasses. Finally, Permit herbicide was spot
sprayed on May 7-8,2001 to control nutsedge. Hand weed-
ing was also used as needed. Neither the use of Curbit
over the top of transplants or the use of Permit on 
cucur-
bits is labeled. Neither fungicides nor insecticides were
applied so that the varieties' performances under natural
disease and insect pressure could be determined.
Cantaloupe harvest began on June 29 and continued
on July 5, July 6, and July 9, 2001. The watermelon har-
vest began on July 2, 2001 and continued on July 5, July
6, and July 9, 2001.
The Bonferroni adjusted LSD divides the probability
(0.05) by 5 before calculating to control the experiment
wise error rate. This allows up to five mean comparisons
between varieties.
'Royal Star' watermelon from Petoseed was the high-
est yielding variety followed by 'Big Stripe', 'WX8', and
'WX22' from Willhite (Table 1). 'Montreal' from Sunseeds
rounds out the top five performers. Surprisingly 'Moon
& Stars' also had good yields. This is an old heirloom
variety with an unusual rind pattern (dark green with yel-
low spots of varying sizes from pencil point to 2-3 inches
across). The quality of this old variety was very poor,
however, with white streaking in the flesh.
Seedless watermelons continue to be tested and grow
in popularity. Nine of the varieties or almost a third were
triploid varieties. We are beginning to see triploid 
variet-
ies outside the Crimson Sweet type. This year 'WX55'
from Willhite and 'Revolution' from Sunseeds 
were
Allsweet types and 'Freedom' was a jubilee type 
from
Sunseeds.
We had nine cantaloupe varieties in the trial with
'Odyssey' from Sunseeds having the highest yields
(Table 2). Both Eastern and Western types were in the
trial with the Eastern types yielding higher overall.
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION16
TABLE 1. WATERMELON VARIETY TRIAL, VIDALIA ONION AND VEGETABLE RESEARCH CENTER, LYONS,
GEORGIA
Fruit Soluble Flesh
Variety Company Yield weight length width Rind solids color Melon type
lbs/ac lbs in in in %
Royal Star Petoseed 27,240
Big Stripe Willhite 25,406
WX8 (large seed) Willhite 23,766
WX22 (small seed) Willhite 21,312
Montreal (5023) Sunseeds 21,225
Moon & Stars G. Hunter 20,045
WX55 Triploid Willhite 19,889
Festival (large seed) Willhite 19,548
Revolution (4034) Sunseeds 19,471
Triploid
Pifiata (large seed) Willhite 19,185
XP 4525247 Asgrow 18,999
Tribute (PX59696) Petoseed 18,999
Triploid
Stars n Stripes Asgrow 18,891
Falcon (PS 56395) Petoseed 17,874
Sweet Eat'n Triploid D. Palmer 17,598
Sentinel (PS 36694) Petoseed 17,544
Sweetheart (large seed) Willhite 17,105
Legacy (OP) Willhite 16,212
Vista F1 Hollar Seed 15,043
AU Golden Producer Hollar Seed 14,810
Freedom (3022) Sunseeds 13,957
Triploid
AU Producer ZYMV Auburn U. 13,605
Afternoon Delight D. Palmer 13,511
Triploid
Stargazer Asgrow 12,977
WX24 (large seed) Willhite 12,814
Cooperstown Asgrow 11,576
Triton Petoseed 11,558
AU Allsweet Auburn U. 11,489
Sapphire Fl Hollar Seed 2,222
CV
Adjusted isd (p#O.05)
16.0
14.9
12.6
14.0
13.3
16.7
12.7
12.0
10.9
12.5
12.7
13.6
12.4
12.7
11.6
13.7
14.4
12.8
8.9
8.6
8.1
8.3
8.2
9.6
7.3
7.3
7.9
13.9 12.4 8.4
13.1 13.4 8.0
11.9 10.7 8.7
12.7 13.8 7.5
14.5 14.7 8.0
10.3 9.6 7.7
11.8
12.7
10.6
14.3
13.2
12.0
12.0
11.6
12.3
12.0
9.9
12.3
7.9
8.8
7.6
8.4
8.8
8.2
0.75
0.83
0.78
0.66
0.53
0.78
0.70
0.63
0.81
10.2 Red Crimson Sweet'
10.4 Red Jubilee Blocky
10.8 Red Allsweet
10.2 Red Jubilee
10.0 Red Allsweet
8.6 Red Moon & Stars
2
9.0 Red Allsweet Seedless
9.5 Pink/Red Allsweet
11.7 Red Allsweet Seedless
3
0.83 9.4 Red Allsweet
4
0.58 9.2 Red Allsweet
0.70 11.0 Red Crimson Sweet
Seedless
0.72 10.2 Red Jubilee
0.69 11.1 Red Allsweet
0.67 11.4 Red Crimson Sweet
Seedless
5
0.72
0.95
0.72
0.69
0.67
0.72
11.3 Red Allsweet
10.3 Red Jubilee
6
8.3 Red Allsweet Blocky
11.6 Red Jubilee
10.0 Yellow Crimson Sweet
11.8 Red Jubilee Seedless
13.4 10.1 9.1 0.72 9.6 Red Crimson Sweet
8.9 9.2 8.4 0.77 11.5 Red Crimson Sweet
Seedless
11.2 12.7 7.4 0.64 8.5 Red Allsweet
13.1 13.5 7.4 0.81 93 Red Blocky Crimson
Sweet'
10.6 9.6 8.2 0.58 10.9 Red Crimson Sweet
Seedless
10.0 8.9 8.4 0.75 11.3 Yellow Crimson Sweet
13.8 12.0 7.4
10.2 8.8 7.5
0.353
50
14,199
Seedless
0.61 9.1 Red Allsweet
0.66 10.9 Red Crimson Sweet
Seedless
0.563
14
1.8
'Some Blocky and Jubilee fruit; 2 Old variety, white streaked fruit; 
3 
Variable, some Jubilee fruit; 4 Some Jubilee and Blocky types;
5
Variable fruit, some icebox size; 6 Some variability with Crimson Sweet type; ' Some Jubilee type.
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 17
TABLE 2. CANTALOUPE VARIETY TRIAL, VIDALIA ONION 
AND VEGETABLE RESEARCH CENTER, LYONS,
GEORGIA
Fruit Soluble Flesh
Variety Company Yield weight length 
width Rind solids color Melon type
lbs/ac lbs in in in %
Odyssey (7119) Sunseeds 16,970 5.6 
7.5 6.8 1.9 7.8 Orange Eastern
Athena Syngenta 13,891 4.0 
6.9 6.2 1.8 9.8 Orange 
Eastern
Vienna Asgrow 10,557 5.5 
6.8 6.8 2.0 8.1 Orange Eastern
Eclipse Petoseed 10,037 4.9 
6.6 6.6 2.0 9.0 Orange 
Eastern
EX 04204099 Asgrow 9,378 
4.1 6.8 6.3 2.0 8.2 Orange 
Eastern
AC-75-IA Auburn University 7,575 
2.2 5.0 5.1 1.5 7.1 Orange 
Western'
Super 45 Willhite 6,044 2.9 
6.2 5.2 1.5 7.5 Orange 
Western'
AC-89-55MI Auburn University 6,032 
2.6 5.2 5.0 1.4 7.2 
Orange Western'
AC-82-37RNL Auburn University 2,311 
2.4 5.8 4.9 1.6 4.9 
Orange Western
r 0.574 
0.597
CV 60 
21
Adjusted lsd (p#O.05) 7,015 
2.4
'Some Eastern type.
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT 
STATION
18
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL 
VEGETABLE VARIETY 
TRIALS 
19
r--F
-zJ
* Hybrid 
Triploid
Watermelon Cultivar
Trials
John D. Mueller, Joe Varn, and Gilbert Miller
The South Carolina Watermelon Association chose
12 seedless watermelon varieties to be included in a vari-
ety trial at the Edisto Research and Education Center in
Blackville, South Carolina. The 12 seedless varieties are
either planted in the watermelon-producing areas of South
Carolina or the growers had an interest in seeing how
some potential varieties would perform. The variety trial
was planted later than normal, May 4, so growers would
be finished with the bulk of their watermelon harvest and
could attend a field day to view the seedless variety tri-
als.
On April 5, prior to fumigation, fertilizer was banded
in the row and mixed thoroughly with a rotovator. Soil
samples indicated that phosphorous was very high and
potassium was in the medium level. The pre-plant fertil-
izer applied included 45 pounds nitrogen, 0 phospho-
rous, and 45 pounds of potassium per acre. Following
fertilizer application, the plots were fumigated with me-
thyl bromide at the broadcast rate of 400 pounds per acre
and covered with black plastic mulch. Row spacing was
eight foot on center. Fifty-four inch plastic mulch was
used, giving a three-inch bed top and a low flow drip tape
rated at 0.24 galloons per minute was buried two inches
beneath the bed surface. Plots were 60 feet long with an
in-row spacing of three feet. A total of 20 plants were
planted per plot while each variety was replicated four
times.
The seedless watermelon transplants and pollinator
were planted in the field May 4. Because of its distinctly
different rind color, shape, and size, 'Charleston Elite'
was used as the pollinator. After one week only two plants
were missing in the plots and these were replaced.
Because the soil in which the trials were being grown
was so droughty, (0.04 available water-holding capacity),
water management was monitored closely. An automated
irrigation system was employed. Four water cycles at 45
minutes per cycle were initiated prior to planting. Periodic
rainfall allowed the maintenance of this program through
the season. Four tensiometer stations with tensiometers
at 6 inches and 12 inches were monitored daily. Tensiom-
eter readings were maintained in the 10 to 14 centibar
range.
A fertigation program was initiated 10 days after
planting. Nutrients were injected during the third and
fourth irrigation cycles. The fertigation schedule and .
amounts are included in Table 1. Total fertilizer applied
for the entire season was 150-0-150. Tissue samples were
taken weekly to monitor the nutrient status of the water-
melon plants.
The row middles were cultivated twice and a layby
application of Curbit 3 EC (three pints per acre), was ap-
plied following the last cultivation. Fungicide applica-
tions were made based on the MELCAST program devel-
oped by Dr. Richard Latin at Purdue University. Daily
Environmental Favorability Index (EFI) values were re-
corded. When the EFI values reached threshold, a fungi-
cide was applied. Following an initial application of Bravo,
alternate applications of the fungicides Quadris and
Dithane plus Benlate were made. Aphids colonized a few
plants but infestation was not enough to warrant control
measures.
The first of the two variety trial harvests was July
10, 2001, 68 days after planting. The second harvest
was July 19, 76 days after planting. Each fruit harvested
was weighed, categorized and a representative sample
of each variety was checked for soluble solids as re-
ported in Table 2.
TABLE 1. FERTIGATION SCHEDULE AND AMOUNTS
Stage Amount (lbs/ac/day)
Pre-plant 30% N - 100% P -30% K
Planting - Flowering 1.0 lb N & K
Flowering - Fruit set 1.5 lbs N & K
Fruit set - Ripe start 2.0 lbs N & K
Ripe start - Harvest 1.5 lbs N & K
Maintenance 1.0 lb N & K
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 19
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
TABLE 2. YIELD, FRUIT SIZE, AND QUALITY OF TRIPLOID WATERMELON VARIETIES
Cultivar Fruit Small' Medium
2  
Large
3  
First harvest Second harvest Sugar Yield
4
no/ac % % % % % brix lbs/ac
Carousel 3,995 43 56 1 81 19 11.5 66,475
AC 7187 3,995 31 67 2 59 41 12.1 70,552
AC 5244 3,904 41 58 1 71 29 12.4 66,693
Fandango 3,859 61 39 0 92 8 10.1 58,775
Genesis 3,314 85 15 0 89 11 12.0 44,233
Crimsonita 3,269 72 27 1 76 24 10.4 45,082
Afternoon Delight 3,133 46 35 19 59 41 10.7 48,569
Sweet Sixteen 3,042 78 21 1 79 21 10.7 44,274
Tri-X 313 3,042 45 54 1 70 30 9.3 50,712
No. 1032 2,769 28 64 8 56 44 11.3 49,395
Revolution 2,679 29 58 13 68 32 12.6 48,941
Freedom 2,588 30 65 5 81 19 12.8 46,916
' Small = < 16 pounds; 
2 
Medium = 16 to 24 pounds;' Large= > 24 pounds. 4 Yield per acre based on liner row feet per acre @ 5445
feet (eight-foot-on-center row spacing).
20
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL 
VEGETABLE VARIETY 
TRIALS 
21
Hybrid Triploid and
Diploid Watermelon
Cultivar Trials, 2000
~,' =
1 1
_ t .
Jonathan Schultheis, Dennis Adams, George Clark, and Kirby Jones
New hybrid watermelon cultivars are being intro-
duced by commercial seed companies on an annual ba-
sis, and it is important that watermelon growers know the
specific characteristics of a particular cultivar when con-
sideration is given to growing and marketing a new culti-
var. This publication provides up-to-date information on
fruit quality and yield potential of diploid and triploid
red-flesh watermelon cultivars/lines under North Caro-
lina growing conditions.
Sixty-five lines/cultivars (cultigens; 33 triploids and
32 diploids) were examined for yield potential, fruit size,
and interior and exterior quality evaluations (rind thick-
ness, length-diameter ratio, hollow heart, flesh color, and
sweetness). The watermelons were grown on the Central
Crops Research Station at Clayton, North Carolina, with
the cooperation of the station staff. The soil type there is
a Norfolk loamy sand.The cultigens included in the test
are listed along with the seed company and rind descrip-
tions (Tables 1A and 1B).
Nitrogen, phosphate (P
2
0
5
), and potash (K
2
0) were
broadcast and disk incorporated (30-0-80, pounds per
acre) prior to fumigation. On April 11 the plots were fumi-
gated with Telone C-17 (9.9 gallons per acre) and immedi-
ately covered with 1.25 mil black plastic (NC Plastic Prod-
ucts, Morganton, North Carolina); trickle tube was placed
just beneath the soil surface. Plots were 20 feet long, and
the beds were on 10-foot centers. In-row plants were
spaced two feet apart. A total of 10 plants were planted
per plot while each cultigen/treatment was replicated four
times. The cultigen/treatments were planted in an alter-
nate pattern of triploid, diploid, within and across rows,
to allow for sufficient pollination.
Seed were sown in LE 1803 transplant trays (Land-
mark Plastics Corp.; Akron, Ohio) on April 3, using a
commercial soil-less growing media (Fafard 4P; Conrad
Fafard, Inc.; Agawam, Maine). The trays were moistened
to capacity 24 hours prior to seeding, then allowed to
drain over night. The seeded trays were placed in a ger-
mination chamber at 850 F, until a small percentage (less
than 10 percent) of seedlings started to emerge. Seedling
emergence data were collected on the triploids at seven
and 14 days. The watermelons were transplanted in the
field on May 3. A starter solution was applied using 20-
20-20 (one pound per 50 gallons water) and Diazinon (three
ounces per 50 gallons water) for soil insect control. Plots
with missing plants were replanted seven days after plant-
ing. Only a few plots had three or more missing plants.
Trickle irrigation was applied (8 mil., 12-inch spacing, 24
gallons per hour) using Ro-Drip (Roberts Irrigation Prod-
ucts, Inc.; San Marcos, California), over the growing sea-
son.
Fertigation was initiated one week after transplant-
ing and applied weekly thereafter. Total fertilizer applied
for the entire season was 122-0-235. Pesticides were ap-
plied according to the NC Agricultural Chemicals
Manual recommendations. Alanap L (six quarts per acre),
Curbit 3 EC (four pints per acre), and Gramoxone (three
pints per acre) were applied preplant between the plastic
for weed control. A shielded application of Roundup (two
quarts per acre) was applied between the plastic prior to
ground cover by vines. The purpose of this application
was to control or suppress yellow nutsedge. Alternate
application of fungicides (Quadris, Bravo, and Maneb
75DF) were made on a weekly basis according to the NC
Agricultural Chemicals Manual to reduce the chance of
disease resistance.
There were two harvests; the first was July 10 [68
days after field planting (DAP)] and the second was July
25 (83 DAP). Each ripe fruit was harvested and catego-
rized according to the weight classes reported in Table 2.
The percentage fruit by number and weight were de-
termined for each category for both harvests. In addition,
earliness was determined by making two harvests and
determining the percentage fruit picked for each harvest.
Total marketable weight and number were based on fruit
that were eight pounds or greater for both diploid and
triploid watermelons.
Finally, several quality evaluations were made. The
tendency to produce hollow heart for each watermelon
entry was determined by cutting open five melons from
each plot and counting and measuring those melons that
had the defect. Hollow heart information was collected
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 21
TABLE 1A. TRIPLOID CULTIVARS INCLUDED IN STUDY
Name Seed company Rind pattern
ACX 257
Elation
Enchantment
EX 4510759
EX 4590249
(Wrigley)
EX 4590339
(Cooperstown)
Freedom
Gem-Dandy
HMX 8913
HMX 8914
Millenium
Millionaire
Premiere
Revolution
RWM 8073-VP
RWM 8089-VP
SeedWay 4502
Slice n' Serve
830
Summer Sweet
Var. 5524
Summer Sweet
Var. 5544
SWT 6703
SWT 8705
SWT 9708
XWT 8706
XWT 8707
Til
Triple Prize
Tri-X-313
Tri-X-Palomar
Tri-X-Shadow
W 5051
W 5052
WX 55
Abbott & Cobb, Inc.
D. Palmer Seed Co., Inc
D. Palmer Seed Co., Inc.
Asgrow
Asgrow
Asgrow
Sunseeds
Willhite Seed Inc.
Harris-Moran Seed Co.
Harris-Moran Seed Co.
Harris-Moran Seed Co.
Harris-Moran Seed Co.
Southwestern Seed Co.
Sunseeds
Novartis(Rogers)
Novartis(Rogers)
SeedWay
Southwestern Seed Co.
Abbott & Cobb, Inc.
Abbott & Cobb, Inc.
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
D. Palmer Seed Co., Inc.
SeedWay
Novartis(Rogers)
Novartis(Rogers)
med-green
Novartis(Rogers)
Sunseeds
Sunseeds
Willhite Seed Inc.
i
TABLE 2. WEIGHT CLASSES FOR WATERMELON
VARIETIES
1 < 8.0 lbs 1 <8.0 lbs
2 8.0 to 14.0 lbs 2 8.0 to 16.0 lbs
3 14.0 to 18.0 lbs 3 16.0 to 24.0 lbs
4 18.0 to 22.0 lbs 4 24.0+ lbs
5 22.0+ lbs
._ --.
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION22
Indistinct, dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, medium dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, wide dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, med wide, dark green stripes on It-med green background
Triploid Indistinct, dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, med wide, dark green stripes on light green background
Distinct, dk green stripes light green background
Indistinct, wide to med, dk green stripes on dk green background
Distinct, med wide, dark green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, dk green stripes on light green background
Narrow very dk green stripes on dark-green backgrd, appears solid dk-
green
Distinct, dark green stripes on light green background
Distinct, wide, dark green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, dark green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, solid, dark green
Distinct, med wide, dark green stripes on light green background
Distinct, narrow, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, dk green stripes on med green background
Indistinct, dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, narrow, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, wide med green stripes on light green background
Distinct, narrow, dark green stripes on light green background
Distinct, med wide, dark green stripes on light green background
Distinct, very narrow, dark green stripes with light green background
Distinct, med wide, dark green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, wide med/green, stripes on light green background
Indistinct, narrow, dk green stripes on med green background, solid
Distinct, dk gm stripes on med gm background, solid med gm appearance
Indistinct, med to wide, dark green stripes on light green background
Distinct, wide, dark green stripes on light green background
Distinct, med to wide, dark green stripes on light green background
TABLE lB. DIPLOID CULTIVARS INCLUDED IN STUDY
Name Seed company Rind pattern
ACX 5411
ACX 5451
Athens (W 5025)
Celebration
Corporal
Crimson Sweet
Delta (PS36594)
Dumara
Falcon
Festival
Fiesta
Lady
Mardi Gras
Pinata
(Large Seed)
Pinata
(Small Seed)
Regency
RWM 8036
Sentinel
(PS36694)
Starbrite
Stargazer
Stars 'N Stripes
Summer Flavor
Var. 800
Summer Flavor
Var. 900
Summer Flavor
Var. 910
SWD 8307
W 5023
W 5036
WX 8
WX 22
WX 24
WX 30
XP 4525247
Abbott & Cobb, Inc.
Abbott & Cobb, Inc.
Sunseeds
Novartis(Rogers)
Petoseed
Willhite Seed Inc.
Petoseed
Sunseeds
Petoseed
Willhite Seed Inc.
Novartis(Rogers)
Sunseeds
Novartis(Rogers)
Willhite Seed Inc.
Willhite Seed Inc.
Petoseed
Novartis(Rogers)
Petoseed
Asgrow
Asgrow
Asgrow
Abbott & Cobb, Inc.
Abbott & Cobb, Inc.
Abbott & Cobb, Inc.
Sakata Seed America, Inc.
Sunseeds
Sunseeds
Willhite Seed Inc.
Southwestern Seed Co.
Southwestern Seed Co.
Southwestern Seed Co.
Asgrow
Indistinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Distinct, very wide, med-dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, wide, med- dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Distinct, wide, dk-med green stripes on light green background
Distinct, med/wide, dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, wide, med-dk green stripes on medium green background
Indistinct, wide, med green stripes on light green background
Distinct, very wide, dk-med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, wide, med-dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, narrow, dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, wide, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, wide, med green stripes on light green background
Distinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, wide, med-dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, med, dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, narrow, dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, very wide, dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, medium, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, very wide, med-dk grn stripes on lgt-med grn backgrd
Indistinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, very wide, med green stripes on med green background
Indistinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Distinct, very wide, med-dk green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, dk green stripes on light green background
Distinct, very wide, med green stripes on light green background
Distinct, med-wide, med green stripes on light green background
Indistinct, very wide, very-dk grn stripes on light grn background
ULCU V1ICI~ ~oF;I v v* UI~LIIIVL~ IILU 1V II~ U1~ hL YVII VL I
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 23
24 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
over both harvests, with most information coming from
the first harvest if enough fruit for sampling were avail-
able. In addition, the severity of hollow heart was deter-
mined by measuring the length and width of the cavity at
its greatest distances. Fruit shape was determined by
measuring the length and width of five melons from each
plot. Similarly, the same five melons were used to measure
the rind thickness. Sweetness was determined by taking
soluble solid measurements with a refractometer by sam-
pling the center of the fruit on the first five melons that
were ripe, which were representative of the watermelon
entry. Flesh was rated from 1 = white to 5 = blood red on
five melons per replication (20 total).
Triploid
Foliage damage by ozone was significant in this
study. This may have reduced yield. Based on total mar-
ketable yields, the cutivars which yielded more than 55,000
pounds included 'Elation', 'EX 4510759', 'EX 4590249'
(Wrigley), 'HMX 8913', 'HMX 8914', 'Revolution', 'Triple
Prize', and 'W 5052'. Large fruit were produced with the
cultivars 'Elation', 'Freedom', 'Revolution', 'SeedWay
4502', 'W 5051', and 'W 5052'. The number of fruit pro-
duced per acre, regardless of cultivar, was considerably
greater than the 700 per acre average for North Carolina.
Almost all cultivars produced more than 3,000 fruit per
acre. ' HMX 8913' produced the highest number per acre,
4,737, followed by 'EX 4590249' (Wrigley) with 4,628 fruit
produced per acre.
Hollow heart is a fruit defect that was present in most
cultivars evaluated. The cultivars 'Elation', 'Freedom',
'Revolution', 'RWM 8073-VP', 'Slice n' Serve 830', 'Triple
Prize', and 'Summer Sweet Var. 5244' developed the most
hollow heart with 50 percent or greater of their fruits ex-
hibiting the symptoms; whereas, 'ACX 257', 'SeedWay
4502', and 'Tri-X-Palomar' had only 15 percent hollow
heart. Soluble solids (sugars) in all cultivars were 11 or
more, with cultivars above 12.5 being 'EX 4510759', 'Revo-
lution', and 'SWT 8705'. Cultivars 'ACX 257', 'Million-
aire', and 'XWT 8706' had the thickest rind, while the
cultivars with the thinnest rind were 'Millenium' and 'Til'.
The cultivars with the best flesh color (reddest) were 'EX
4590249' (Wrigley), 'EX 4590339' (Cooperstown), 'Revo-
lution', and 'Til'. However, all interior flesh color had an
acceptable red hue.
Some cultivars had a greater percentage of fruit picked
in the initial harvest. Those cultivars with at least 60 per-
cent of their fruit harvested the first or initial harvest were
'Freedom', 'Millenium', 'SWT 9708', 'Tri-X-Shadow', and
'WX-55'. A few cultivars produced more than 60 percent of
their fruit at the second harvest; these were 'ACX 257', 'EX
4590249' (Wrigley), 'HMX 8913', 'W 5051', and 'W 5052'.
All cultivars produced the most fruit (by weight and
number) in the eight to 14.0 or 14.0 to 18.0 pound catego-
ries. Only a small percentage of harvested watermelons
were in the less than eight-pound category. By weight,
the largest percentage (more than 60 percent) of eight to
14 pound fruit was produced by the cultivars 'Millenium',
'RWM 8089-VP', 'SWT 6703', 'Til', 'Tri-X-Shadow', and
'XWT 8707'; and very few large fruit were produced that
weighed more than 22 pounds.
There are several new lines or cultivars that one might
consider producing, depending on the market. When con-
sidering high yields and quality in this study, 'EX 4590249'
(Wrigley), 'Elation', and 'SeedWay 4502' show promise.
A grower may want to try these cultivars to determine
how they perform in a commercial operation. Currently
the following red flesh triploid cultivars are recommended
for commercial production in North Carolina: 'Gem Dandy',
'Freedom', 'Millenium', 'Millionaire', 'Revolution', 'Sum-
mer Sweet Var. 5244', 'Tri-X-Palomar', 'Tri-X-Shadow',
and 'Tri-X-313'.
Diploid
Foliage damage by ozone was significant in this
study. This may have reduced yield. Based on total mar-
ketable yields, the cutivars which yielded more than 55,000
pounds included 'Fiesta', 'Starbrite', 'Stars-N-Stripes',
and 'Summer Flavor Var. 800'. The largest fruit were pro-
duced with cultivars 'Corporal', 'Pinata' (Small Seed),
'RWM 8036', 'Starbrite', 'WX-8', and 'WX-24'. Almost
all cultivars produced more than 2,000 fruit per acre. The
cultivar 'Fiesta' produced the highest number of fruit per
acre, 3,267, followed by 'Stars-N-Stripes' with 3,104.
Hollow heart is a fruit quality defect that was found
in all but four of the cultivars evaluated. The cultivars
'Festival' and 'WX-24' developed the most hollow heart
with 50 percent or greater of their fruits exhibiting the
symptoms; whereas, 'ACX 5451', 'Athens', 'Delta', and
'Sentinel' had no hollow heart. The LD ratio is the length-
to-diameter ratio. Some of the cultivars with very elon-
gated fruit included 'Corporal', 'Falcon', 'Festival', 'Stars-
N-Stripes', 'Summer Flavor Var. 900', 'Summer Flavor Var.
910', 'WX-24', and 'XP 4525247'. Round or oblong in-
cluded the cultivars 'Crimson Sweet' and 'Pinata' (Small
Seeded). Soluble solids (sugars) in all cultivars were
above 10.5. The cultivars with the high sugars were 'Delta'
and 'Sentinel'. 'WX-24' had the thickest rind while the
thinnest rind cultivar was 'XP 4525247'. The cultivars
with the best flesh color (reddest) were 'Falcon', 'SWD
8307', and 'XP 4525247'. However, all interior flesh color
had an acceptable red hue. A substantial number of the
fruit from the cultivar 'Corporal' had a bottle-neck shape.
24 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL 
VEGETABLE VARIETY 
TRIALS 
25
Those cultivars which were ready for harvest early
(at least 70 percent of their fruit were removed during the
first harvest) were 'Delta', 'Falcon', 'Festival', 'Fiesta',
'Lady', 'Mardi Gras'. 'Pinata' (Large Seed), 'Pinata' (Small
Seed), 'Regency', 'Starbrite', 'WX-22' 'WX-24', and 'XP
4525247' (Table 3). A few cultivars produced more than
40 percent of their fruit at the second harvest; these were
'ACX 5411', 'ACX 5451', 'Athens', 'Crimson Sweet', 'Star-
gazer', 'Stars-N-Stripes', 'Summer Flavor Var. 900', 'SXW
5023', and 'SXW 5036'.
All cultivars produced most fruit (by weight and num-
ber) in the 16.0 to 24.0 pound category. Only a small
percentage of harvested watermelons were in the less-
than-eight-pound category. By weight, the largest per-
centage (more than 50 percent) of 16- to 24-pound fruit
was produced by most all cultivars; and those that pro-
duced the largest percentage (more than 35 percent) of
large fruit (24+) pounds were 'Corporal', 'Starbrite', and
'WX-24'.
Some of the best-yielding cultivars with excellent qual-
ity based on these test results are currently recommended
for commercial production. They include the cultivars
'Fiesta', 'Mardi Gras', 'Starbrite', and 'Stars-N-Stripes'.
Two of the promising cultivars in this test included 'Ath-
ens' and 'Summer Flavor Var. 800'. They had high yields,
minimal or no hollow heart, and high sugar content. Other
commercially recommended red-flesh seeded cultivars
include 'Carnival', 'Early Jubilee', 'Regency', 'Royal Ju-
bilee', 'Royal Majesty', 'Royal Star', 'Royal Sweet',
'Sangria', and 'Stargazer'.
TABLE 3. PERCENTAGE DIPLOID RED-FLESH
WATERMELON HARVEST BY DATE OF HARVEST
Variety
ACX 5411
ACX 5451
Athens
Celebration
Corporal
Crimson Sweet
Delta (PS36594)
Dumara
Falcon
Festival
Fiesta
Lady
Mardi Gras
Pinata (Large Seed)
Pinata (Small Seed)
Regency
RWM 8036
Sentinel (PS36694)
Starbrite
Stargazer
Stars 'N Stripes
Summer Flavor Var. 800
Summer Flavor Var. 900
Summer Flavor Var. 910
SWD 8307
SXW 5023
SXW5036
WX 8
WX 22
WX 24
WX 30
XP 4525247
Average
Harvest date-
July 10 July 25
59 41
53 47
58 42
64 36
69 31
55 45
77 23
69 31
81 19
82 18
79 21
83 17
74 26
80 20
77 23
75 25
66 34
69 31
71 29
54 46
60 40
68 32
53 47
65 35
61 39
57 43
55 45
65 35
73 27
77 23
65 35
73 27
68 32
_11 L1_ 11
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS
25
26 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
Watermelon trials were conducted at the Gulf Coast
Research and Extension Center (GCREC) in Fairhope, Ala-
bama, the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center
(WREC) in Headland, Alabama, and the Lower Coastal
Plain Research Center (LCPRC) in Camden, Alabama
(Tables 1 and 2). Plants were grown on bare ground with a
within row spacing of 10 feet. Overhead irrigation was used.
At GCREC, 500 pounds per acre of 4-12-12 was ap-
plied preplant on March 27. Fertilization consisted of 35
pounds per acre of ammonium nitrate on May 8 and May
30. Preemergence herbicides used were Curbit ( at a rate
of three pints per acre) on March 27. Bravo Weatherstick
fungicide was applied weekly between April 26 and June
20 at a rate of two piints per acre.
At WREC, preplant fertilization consisted of an ap-
plication of broiler litter (at a rate of one ton per acre) and
300 pounds per acre of 15-0-15 on March 23. Fertilization
consisted of a single application of ammonium nitrate.
Fifty pounds per acre of nitrogen, phosphorus and po-
tassium were applied preplant on April 17 to meet soil
test recommendations. Fertilization consisted of one ap-
plication of ammonium nitrate at a rate of 200 pounds per
,j f
/"e~
f-l
I
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 2001 WATERMELON
VARIETY TRIALS'
Location GCREC WREC LCPRC
Weather 5 5 5
Fertility 5 5 5
Irrigation 5 5 5
Pests 5 5 5
Overall 5 5 5
'See introduction for a description of rating scales.
acre on May 26. Fungicides used were Bravo 720 (at a
rate of three pints per acre) on June 2; and Bravo Ultrex
(at a rate of 2.8 pounds per acre) on June 16 and June 26.
At LCPRC, lime at the rate of one ton per acre and 13-
13-13 fertilizer at the rate of 300 pounds per acre were
applied preplant. Amonnium nitrate was side dressed at a
rate of 40 pounds of nitrogen (N) per acre. Weeds were
controlled by both chemical and mechanical means.
Watermelons were harvested on July 2 at GCREC,
July 17 and July 26 at WREC, and September 6 at LCPRC.
Watermelon fruits were graded as described in the Water-
Variety Type' Seed Fruit Flesh Days to Disease Years
source shape color harvest claims
2  
evaluated
ACX 5411 AS Sunseeds Blocky Red - - 01
Athens AS Sunseeds Blocky Red - - 00,01
Carnival AS Novartis Blocky Red 86 ANT,FW 97-01
Legacy AS Willhite Elonageted Red - - 01
Montreal AS Sunseeds Elongated Red - FW* 01
Pinata AS Willlhite Oblong Red 85 FW* 00,01
Starbrite AS Asgrow Oblong Red 85 FW* 97-01
Stargazer AS Asgrow Elongated Red 85 ANT*,FW* 98-01
SXW 5038 AS Sunseeds Oblong Red - FW 01
SXW 5040 AS Sunseeds Blocky Red - FW 
01
Var#500 AS A&C Blocky Red 88 -
97,01
Var#510 AS A&C Blocky Red 84 
- 96,97,01
WX8 AS Willhite Blocky Red - -
00,01
*Race 1 only. -= not available in seed catalogues. 'Type: AS = Allsweet; 
2
Disease claims: ANT = Anthracnose; FW = Fusarium Wilt.
'Pinata' and 'Stargazer'
Are Top Allsweet
Watermelons
Joe Kemble, Edgar Vinson, Ron McDaniel, Malcomb Pegues,
Larry Wells, Brian Gamble, and Joe Little
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION26
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL 
VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 
27
TABLE 3. 2001 DIPLoID WATERMELON VARIETY TRIAL
Marketable Marketable Soluble Individual Hollow
Variety yield fruits solids fruit wt. heart
lbs/ac no/ac Brix lbsi
Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center
Starbrite 43,697 10.8 4
Pinata 27,195 10.5 8
Stargazer 27,195 10.4*2
Legacy 26,104 10.3 1
Athens 25,475 11.6 0
WX8 25,179 11.3*3
Montreal 23,125 10.8 
2
Var#5l0 18,704 9.8 
5
ACX 5411 18,278 10.7 1
Var#500 13,783 9.7 4
SXW 5038 11,939 10.5*0
SXW 5040 9,352 9.6 0
r
2  
60 40
CV 36 80
lsd 15,826 1.65
Wiregrass Research and Extension Center
Pinata 34,794 1,271 27
Athens 32,358 1,525 21
Stargazer 30,448 1,162 26
ACX5411 27,457 1,379 20
5XW5038 20,343 823 " 22
Legacy 19,769 1,162 * 19
Starbrite 19486 1,234 
14
WX8 14,977 871 17
Montreal 13,625 726 18
VAR510 11,030 726 * 15
SXW5040 9,017 726 12
VAR500 6,156 436 14"
rz0.46 0.42
CV 26 43
Isd 13,826 463
Lower Coastal Plain Research Center
Montreal 51,583 1,845 10 28 
0
Starbrite 51,465 2,080 11 25 
2
Pinata 51,030 1,915 11 26 
0
Legacy 49,738 1,739 12 29 
0
Stargazer 41,760 1,645 11 
25 2
Var5lO 41,466 1,868 10 22 
0
Athens 37,295 1,434 11 26 
0
melon Grader's Guide (Cir-
cular ANR-6 81 from the
Alabama Cooperative Ex-
tension System) and mar-
ketable yield was deter-
mined. Other important fac-
tors measured were sweet-
ness and hollow heart. Two
representative watermelon
samples from each plot
were taken to measure
soluble solids (sweetness)
and hollow heart. Water-
melons with soluble solids
readings less than 100 Brix
do not taste sweet. Hollow
heart is the measure (in
inches) of the fissure or
space in the center of the
watermelon upon length-
wise cuffing. It is desirable
to have no incidence of
hollow heart.
Overall there were few
differences among varieties
(Table 3). 'Pinata' was
among the top performers
at all locations. At GCREC,
'Pinata' was similar to all
but 'Starbrite', which had
yields significantly higher
than all other varieties. At
'WGREC', 'Pinata' had the
highest yields but these
yields were not signifi-
cantly different from 'Ath-
ens', 'Stargazer' or 'ACX
5411'. At 'LCPRC', 'Pinata'
was in the top three but
there were few differences.
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 27
28 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
'Prelude II' and 'Destiny
III' Outperformed by
'Zephyr'
Joe Kemble, Edgar Vinson, Randy Akridge, and Jason Burkett
/
A summer squash variety trial was conducted at the
Brewton Experiment Field (BEF) in Brewton and the E.V.
Smith Research Center (EVSRC) in Shorter (Tables 1 and 2).
Squash were direct seeded on bare ground into 30
foot-long plots at a within row spacing of one foot on
April 30 at EVSRC and April 20 at BEF. Soils were fertil-
ized according to the recommendations of the Auburn
University Soil Testing Laboratory. Names of the chemi-
cals are mentioned only for describing the production
practices used. This represents neither a recommenda-
tion nor an endorsement of these products. Current rec-
ommendations for pest and weed control in vegetable
production in Alabama may be found in IPM Comercial
Vegetable.: Insect, Disease, Nematode and Weed Control
Recommendations (Publication 00IPM-2 from the Ala-
bama Cooperative Extension System).
At BEF, preplant fertilization consisted of 800 pounds
per acreof 8-10-15 on April 9; fertilization consisted of
weekly injections of calcium nitrate for a total of 60 pounds
of N per acre. Fungicides were applied from May 22
through June 1.
At E.V. Smith, fertilization consisted of an applica-
tion of calcium nitrate (15.5-0-0) and muriate potash (0-0-
60) at rates of 400 pounds per acre and 200 pounds per
acre respectively on April 13. Alternate injections of cal-
cium nitrate and 20-20-20
were made twice weekly
from May 14 through June
21. Insecticides and fungi-
cides were applied on May
21 through June 7.
Squash were har-
vested five times between
June 13 and June 22.
Squash were graded as
marketable and nonmar-
ketable according to the
United Stated Standards
for Grades of Summer
Squash (U.S. Dept. Agr.
G.P.O 1987-180-916:40730
AMS) (Table 3).
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF 2001 SUMMER SQUASH
VARIETY TRIAL'
Location BEF EVSRC
Weather 5 5
Fertility 5 5
Irrigation 5 5
Pests 5 5
Overall 5 5
'See introduction for a description of rating scales.
The top performing variety was 'Zephyr' (Tables 3
and 4). 'Zephyr' is known for its nutty taste, and peculiar
appearance (it has a green blossom end). In early yield
'Zephyr' was significantly higher than all other squash
varieties at EVSRC, but its early yields were similar to
'Crescent', 'Prelude II', and 'Destiny III' at BEF. In total
yield 'Zephyr' had significantly higher yields than the
industry standards 'Prelude II' and 'Destiny III'. Indi-
vidual fruit weight of 'Zephyr' was also significantly
higher than all other varieties. 'Prelude II' and 'Destiny
III' performed as well as the other varieties and had indi-
vidual fruit weights similar to all other varieties with the
exception of 'Crescent', which had an individual fruit
weight significantly lower than other varieties.
TABLE 2. SEED SOURCE, FRUIT TYPE, AND RELATIVE EARLINESS
OF SELECTED SQUASH VARIETIES
Variety Type' Seed Days to Disease Years
source harvest claims
2  
evaluated
Crescent F1 Rogers 45 - 94,98,99,01
Destiny III* Fl Asgrow - CMV,WMV,ZYMV 97-01
Midas Fl Willhite 53 PM 99-01
Pic-N-Pic - Seedway 50 - 99-01
Prelude II Fl1 Asgrow 40 PM,WMV,ZYMV 97-01
Sunbrite FI Rogers 43 - 95,98,99,01
Suwannee F1 SunSeeds 41 - 00,01
Zephyr* F1 Johnny's Select 54 - 99,01
* Precocious Variety; - = none in seed catalogues. 'Type: Fl=hybrid; OP=open pollinated.
2 Disease claims: PM = Powdery Mildew; CMV= Cucumber Mosaic Virus; ZYMV = Zucchini
Yellow Mosaic Virus; WMV = Watermelon Mosaic Virus.
28 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS29
Variety
Early market-
able yield
lbs/ac
US# 1
lbs/ac
US#2
lbs/ac
E.V. Smith Research Center
Zephyr 3,281 628 2,653
Crescent 2,427 6.66 1,762
Preludell 2,413 1,510 903
Suwanne 2,174 866 1,308
Destiny III
Pic-N-Pic
Midas
Sunbrite
cv
lsd
2,022
1,999
1,855
1,842
0.60
17
551
1,206
776
842
787
0.60
54
423
816
1,223
1,013
1,055
0.84
21
408
Variety
Early market-
able yield
lbs/ac
US#l1
lbs/ac
US#2
lbs/ac
Brewton Experiment Field
Crescent 2,889 2,153 736
Zephyr 2,635 1,700 935
Destiny III 2,599 1,747 852
Prelude II 2,229 1,639 591
Sunbrite
Suwannee
Pic-N-Pic
Midas
r2d
6~Isd
2,041
1,972
1,602
1,548
0.50
26
838
1,570
1,432
1,515
1,251
0.30
28
661
471
540
87
297
0.60
46
377
TABLE 4. TOTAL PRODUCTION AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED
SUMMER SQUASH VARIETIES GROWN AT BREWTON RESEARCH FIELD
Total market- Individual
Variety able yield US#1 US#2 fruit wt. Cull
lbs/ac lbs/ac lbs/ac lbs/ac lbs/ac
E.V. Smoith Research Center
Zephyr 8,817 1,892 6,925 0.16
Preludell 7,796 4,204 3,592 0.12"
Destinylll 6,595 3,575 3,019 0.11"
Crescent 6,433 1,581 4,852 0.08
Suwannee 6,112 2,272 3,840 0.09"
Midas 6,040 2,168 3,872 0.13"
Pic-N-Pic 6,011 1,895 4,116 0.09"
Sunbrite 5,983 2,039 3,944 0.09"
r
2  
0.42 0.61 0.66 0.60
CV 19 32 21 23
lsd 861 522 606 0.04
Brewton Experiment Field
Preludell 6,666 4,832 1,834 0.24 1,929
Zephyr 6,300 4,528 1,773 0.33 2,962
Crescent 6,275 4,836 1,439 0.21 1,548
Destinylll 6,126 4,531 1,595 0.23 1,718
Suwannee 5,825 3,959 1,867 0.23 1,156
Pic-N-Pic 5,456 4,520 935 0.20 1,446
Midas 5,198 3,803 1,396 0.25 1,084
Sunbnite 5,071 3,926 1,146 0.23 2,146
r
2  
0.41 0.34 0.31 0.90
CV 13 14 36 8
lsd 1,073 896 780 0.02
9- culls not reported.
"TPII/I II LLI ~ 1 1II YI ~ L
SPRING 2001 COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE VARIETY TRIALS 29
30 
ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL 
EXPERIMENT STATION
Seed Sources
Abbott and Cobb, Inc.
To order: (800)-345-SEED
In TX: (800) 227-8177
Tech Rep: Russ Becham
4517 TillmanBluffRd.
Valdosta, GA 31602
Fax: (912)249-8135
Asgrow Seed Co.
To order: (800) 234-1056
Tech. Rep: Duaine E. Kief
412 Holly Hill Ct.
Tallahassee, FL 32312
Ph: (805) 570-1791
E-mail: duaine.kief@svseed.com
Tech Rep: Rusty Autry
2221 North Park Ave.
Tifton, GA 31796
Ph: (912) 392-0255
Tifton Seed Distribution
Center
Tech. Rep: Van Lindsey
Ph: (912) 382-1815
Ferry-Morse Seed Co.
To order: (608) 837-6574
P.O. Box392
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Ph: (608) 837-6574
Johnny's Select Seeds
To order: (207) 437-4395
Tech. Rep: Steve Woodward
1 Foss Hill Road
RR1 Box2580
Albion, ME 04910-9731
Fax: (800)437-4290
Petoseed
To order: (850) 894-8026
Tech. Rep: Cameron Sutherland
6604 Tomy Lee
Tallahassee, FL 32308-1643
Ph: (850) 894-8036
Sandoz Rogers/Novartis
To order: (912) 560-1863
Seedway
To order: (800) 952-7333
Tech. Rep: James J. Pullins
1225 Zeager Rd.
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Ph: (717) 367-1075
Fax: (717) 367-0387
E-mail: info@seedway.com
Sunseeds
Bob Miller
3261 S. Horizon Place
Chandler, AZ 85248
Fax(480) 814-0982
Willhite
To order: (800) 828-1840
Tech Rep: Don Dobbs
P.O. Box23
Poolville, TX 76487
Fax: (817) 599-5843
30 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
Guidelines for Contributions to
the Vegetable Variety Regional Bulletin
Vegetable variety evaluation and selection is an essential part of production
horticulture. The vegetable variety regional bulletin is intended to report results
of variety trials conducted by research institutions in the Southeast in a timely
manner. Its intended audience includes 
growers, research/extension personnel,
and members of the seed industry.
Timeliness and rapid turnaround are essential to better serve our audience.
Hence, two bulletins are printed each year: one in November with results from
spring crops, and another one in April with results from summer and fall crops. It
is essential that trial results are available before variety decisions for the next
growing season are made.
Here are a few useful guidelines to speed up the publication process for the
next regional bulletin (fall 2001).
When: March 29, 2002
Deadline for fall 2001 variety trial report submissions.
What: Results pertaining to variety evaluation in a broad sense. This includes
field performance, quality evaluation, and disease resistance. Here are a few tips:
* Follow the format used in the first five regional bulletins.
* Include author's complete mailing address, e-mail address, and phone num-
ber.
* Follow your own unit's internal review process. Contributions will be ed-
ited, but not formally reviewed.
How: Send a disk and hard copy to:
Edgar Vinson or Joe Kemble
Department of Horticulture
101 Funchess Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849-5408
Or send e-mail to:
evinson@acesag.auburn.edu, or
jkemble@acesag.auburn.edu
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
1 Central Crops Research Station, Clayton, NC
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
2 Edisto Research and Education Center, Blackville, 
SC
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
3 Vidalia Onion and Vegetable 
Research Center, Lyons, 
GA
4 On-farm location in Tattnall County, 
GA
5 Georgia Mountain Branch 
Experiment Station, Blairsville, 
GA
AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND ALABAMA 
A&M UNIVERSITY
6 Sand Mountain Research 
and Extension Center, Crossville, 
AL
7 North Alabama Horticulture 
Research Center, Cullman, AL
8 E.V. Smith Research Center, Shorter, 
AL
9 Lower Coastal Plain Research Center, Camden, 
AL
10 Wiregrass Research and Extension Center, 
Headland, AL
11 Brewton Experiment Field, Brewton, 
AL
12 Gulf Coast Research and Extension 
Center, Fairhope, AL