A new watermelon line designated ‘WL0044’ is described. ‘WL0044’ is a watermelon line exhibiting stability and uniformity.

The present invention relates to a mutant Cullin1 gene which when present in a watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) plant leads to a compact growth phenotype that enables efficient cultivation. The invention also relates to watermelon plants comprising the mutant Cullin1 gene. The mutant Cullin1 gene provides watermelon plants with a compact growth phenotype, i.e. comprising shorter internode length and/or a smaller leaf area when compared to watermelon plants not comprising the mutant Cullin1 gene. The invention further relates to the use of the mutant Cullin1 gene for the identification and development of a plant showing a compact growth phenotype.

The present invention relates to methods of breeding with spotted watermelon, Citrullus lanatus, lines and varieties. More specifically, methods of making homozygous-spotted diploid watermelon lines (HSDL) for use in breeding and methods of making homozygous-spotted tetraploid watermelon lines (HSDL) for use in breeding are described. Further, methods of producing 33%, 66%, or 100% spotted triploid hybrid watermelon plants, as well as methods of producing 50% or 100% spotted diploid hybrid watermelon plants, are described. This invention further relates to markers able to determine the percentage of spotted allele present in spotted watermelon lines and varieties. In addition, this invention relates to new and distinctive lines and varieties of watermelon with a spotted phenotype.

New watermelon variety designated ‘Red Amber’ is described. ‘Red Amber’ is a watermelon variety exhibiting stability and uniformity.

The disclosure provides a hybrid watermelon variety NUN 31814 WMW as well as seeds and plants and fruits thereof. NUN 31814 is triploid, round small watermelon variety with small pips and cavity, red and crisp flesh, comprising intermediate resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. s.p niveum Race 1 and Colletotrichum lagenarium Race 1.

The disclosure provides methods for selecting watermelon plants for genetic elements on chromosome 2 and 6 which genetic elements predict the average seed size produced in the fruits of said plants and watermelon plants and plant parts comprising modifications in the tomato-seed size gene (Ts-gene) on chromosome 2, and methods of producing seeds and plants.

The present invention relates to a modified watermelon PPO gene, the wild type of which is identified as SEQ ID NO: 1, encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 5, or the wild type of which encodes a protein that has at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 5, wherein the modified PPO gene comprises one or more nucleotides replaced, inserted and/or deleted relative to the wild type, and wherein said one or more replaced, inserted and/or deleted nucleotides result in an absence of functional PPO protein. The present invention further relates to a watermelon plant which may comprise the modified PPO gene, wherein the homozygous presence of the modified PPO gene confers a pale seed color to the plant. The present invention also relates to methods for selecting, producing or the use of the watermelon plant of the invention.

The disclosure provides a hybrid watermelon variety NUN 31812 WMW as well as seeds and plants and fruits thereof. NUN 31812 is a triploid, round, crimson sweet type watermelon variety, comprising intermediate resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. s.p niveum Race 0, Fusarium oxysporum f. s.p niveum Race 1, and Colletotrichum lagenarium Race 1.

A watermelon plant and seed, namely of Citrullus lanatus, which are resistant to geminiviruses, especially to begomoviruses including Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (Wm CSV), comprising in their genome introgressed sequences from Citrullus colocynthis conferring tolerance to said viruses, when present homozygously. More specifically, the invention also discloses molecular genetic markers, linked to the recessive genetic locus conferring tolerance to geminiviruses comprising A Citrullus lanatus seed having in its genome introgressed sequences from Citrullus colocynthis conferring tolerance to geminiviruses only when present homozygously, wherein said introgressed sequences are located on homologous chromosome 6, within the chromosomal region delimited by nucleotides 1-2,255,000.

The disclosure provides a new and distinct watermelon variety NUN 11602 WMW as well as seeds and plants and fruits thereof. NUN 11602 is a diploid, round mini sugar baby watermelon variety, comprising resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. s.p niveum Race 1.