Seedless Watermelon Having Small Fruit

Abstract

The present invention is a novel method which results in the production of small seedless watermelon fruit having an average fruit weight of less than 12.0 pounds. The novel method involves using small tetraploid parental lines to produce small triploid hybrid seed.

Claims

1-24. (canceled)

25. A fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or a part thereof, wherein said tetraploid watermelon plant is capable of producing a watermelon fruit when grown under standard cultural practices with a weight of less than 12.0 pounds, and does not have one or more negative traits selected from the group consisting of explosive rind, hollow heart, gray rind, and producing a triploid hybrid seed with a hard seed coat, and wherein the rind color of said watermelon fruit is light green or medium green.

26. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 25, wherein said watermelon fruit has a length of between 6 to 11 inches.

27. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 25, wherein said watermelon fruit has a width of between 5 to 9 inches.

28. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 25, wherein said watermelon fruit has a length to width ratio (L/W ratio) of between 1.0 to 2.0.

29. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 25, wherein said tetraploid watermelon plant includes a single gene conversion selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, bacterial resistance, fungal resistance, viral resistance, insect resistance, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement.

30. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 25, wherein said part is selected from the group consisting of a cell, a plant protoplast, a tissue culture of cells, plant calli, a pollen, a flower, a seed, a leaf, a stem, a rind, and watermelon flesh.

31. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 25, wherein said tetraploid watermelon plant is a progeny of tetraploid watermelon plant line 1671, wherein a representative sample of seed of said line 1671 has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4858.

32. A progeny watermelon plant, or a part thereof, of tetraploid watermelon plant line 1671, wherein a representative sample of seed of said line 1671 has been deposited with the ATCC under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4858, and said progeny watermelon plant is capable of producing a watermelon fruit with a weight of less than 12.0 pounds, and does not have one or more negative traits selected from the group consisting of explosive rind, hollow heart, gray rind, and producing a triploid hybrid seed with a hard seed coat, and wherein the rind color of said watermelon fruit is selected from the group consisting of striped, mottle stripe, dark mottle stripe, tiger stripe, gray, light green, and medium green.

33. The progeny watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 32, wherein said progeny watermelon plant is tetraploid.

34. The progeny watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 32, wherein said progeny watermelon plant is triploid.

35. The progeny watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 32, wherein said progeny watermelon plant is a hybrid.

36. The progeny watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 32, wherein said progeny tetraploid watermelon plant includes a single gene conversion selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, bacterial resistance, fungal resistance, viral resistance, insect resistance, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement and said line 1671 is a recurrent parent.

37. The progeny watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 32, wherein said part is selected from the group consisting of a cell, a plant protoplast, a tissue culture of cells, plant calli, a pollen, a flower, a seed, a leaf, a stem, a rind, and watermelon flesh.

38. A fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or a part thereof, obtainable by crossing a first tetraploid watermelon plant of line 1671 with a second tetraploid watermelon plant, wherein a representative sample of seed of said line 1671 has been deposited with the ATCC under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4858, and said fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant is capable of producing a watermelon fruit with a weight of less than 12.0 pounds, and does not have one or more negative traits selected from the group consisting of explosive rind, hollow heart, gray rind, and producing a triploid hybrid seed with a hard seed coat, and wherein the rind color of said watermelon fruit is selected from the group consisting of striped, mottle stripe, dark mottle stripe, tiger stripe, gray, light green, and medium green.

39. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 38, wherein said tetraploid watermelon plant is an F.sub.1 progeny of said line 1671.

40. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 38, wherein said second tetraploid watermelon plant comprises a single gene trait.

41. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 38, wherein said progeny tetraploid watermelon plant includes a single gene conversion selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, bacterial resistance, fungal resistance, viral resistance, insect resistance, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement and said first tetraploid watermelon plant is a recurrent parent.

42. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 41, wherein said single gene conversion is male sterility and said male sterility is cytoplasmic male sterility.

43. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 38, wherein said part is selected from the group consisting of a cell, a plant protoplast, a tissue culture of cells, plant calli, a pollen, a flower, a seed, a leaf, a stem, a rind, and watermelon flesh.

44. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 38, wherein said watermelon fruit has a length of between 6 to 11 inches.

45. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 38, wherein said watermelon fruit has a width of between 5 to 9 inches.

46. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 38, wherein said watermelon fruit has a length to width ratio (L/W ratio) of between 1.0 to 2.0.

47. A method of producing a triploid watermelon seed comprising: a) crossing a fertile tetraploid watermelon plant that produces watermelon fruit with an average fruit weight of less than 12.0 pounds, with a small fruited diploid watermelon plant, wherein said tetraploid watermelon plant does not have one or more negative traits selected from the group consisting of explosive rind, hollow heart, gray rind, and producing a triploid hybrid seed with a hard seed coat, and wherein the rind color of said watermelon fruit is selected from the group consisting of gray, light green, and medium green; and b) harvesting the resultant triploid watermelon seed that, when grown into a plant, produces a seedless watermelon fruit.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said triploid watermelon seed does not have a hard seed coat.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein a plant grown from said triploid watermelon seed is capable of producing a seedless watermelon fruit with a weight of less than 12.0 pounds.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein a plant grown from said triploid watermelon seed does not have one or more negative traits selected from the group consisting of being highly female sterile, hollow heart, thick rind and explosive rind.

51. A fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or a part thereof, wherein said tetraploid watermelon plant is capable of producing a watermelon fruit with a weight of less than 12.0 pounds, and does not have one or more negative traits selected from the group consisting of explosive rind, hollow heart, gray rind, and producing a triploid hybrid seed with a hard seed coat, the rind color of said watermelon fruit is selected from the group consisting of gray, light green, and medium green, said tetraploid watermelon plant shares a genetic constitution with watermelon plant line 1671, said line 1671 having a representative sample of seed deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4858, said genetic constitution provides for the production of a watermelon fruit with a weight of less than 12.0 pounds, and lack of one or more negative traits selected from the group consisting of explosive rind, hollow heart, gray rind, and producing a triploid hybrid seed with a hard seed coat.

52. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 51, wherein said watermelon fruit has a length to width ratio (L/W ratio) of between 1.0 to 2.0.

53. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 51, wherein said tetraploid watermelon plant includes a single gene conversion selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, bacterial resistance, fungal resistance, viral resistance, insect resistance, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement.

54. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 51, wherein said part is selected from the group consisting of a cell, a plant protoplast, a tissue culture of cells, plant calli, a pollen, a flower, a seed, a leaf, a stem, a rind, and watermelon flesh.

55. The fertile tetraploid watermelon plant, or the part thereof, of claim 25, wherein said rind is striped, mottle striped, dark mottle striped, or tiger striped.

56. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or a part thereof, of claim 38, wherein said rind is striped, mottle striped, dark mottle striped, or tiger striped.

57. The fertile progeny tetraploid watermelon plant, or a part thereof, of claim 51, wherein said rind is striped, mottle striped, dark mottle striped, or tiger striped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] The present invention relates to a novel method of producing small triploid watermelon fruit which involves the use of both small fruited tetraploid and small fruited diploid parental lines. The present invention also relates to a watermelon plant, a watermelon inbred and a watermelon hybrid which can be used to produce fruits having an average fruit weight of less than 12.0 pounds.

[0049] In the present invention, small seedless triploid seeds and plants are produced by crossing a small tetraploid (2n=4x=44 chromosomes) inbred line as the female parent with a small diploid (2n=2x=22) inbred line as the male parent of the hybrid. The reciprocal cross (diploid female parent) does not produce seeds. The resulting hybrid is a triploid (2n=3x=33). Triploid plants have three sets of chromosomes, and three sets cannot be divided evenly during meiosis. This results in nonfunctional female and male gametes although the flowers appear normal. Since the triploid hybrid is female sterile, the fruit induced by pollination tend to be seedless. Unfortunately, the triploid has no viable pollen, so it is necessary to plant a diploid variety in the production field to provide the pollen that stimulates fruit to form. Usually, one third of the plants in the field are diploid and two thirds are triploid, although production has been observed with as little as 20% diploids. Varieties should be chosen that could be distinguished easily so the seeded diploid fruit can be separated from the seedless triploid fruit for harvesting and marketing.

[0050] The present invention is a novel method which crosses a small-fruited tetraploid as the seed parent and a small-fruited diploid as the male parent to produce triploid seed and plants of a small fruited seedless watermelon having an average fruit weight of less than 12.0 pounds. In the present invention, the tetraploid and diploid parental lines used to create small fruited triploids have been selected and bred to have small fruit and small seeds which produce small seed traces or pips in the triploid hybrid. The fruits produced by growing the triploid hybrid that results from this pollination and method are genetically small and are seedless. This novel method allows the triploid hybrid to produce smaller than conventional fruit sizes that can be grown using standard cultural practices and have the advantage to the consumer of being a one-serving product. The use of this novel small fruited seedless watermelon also allows easier harvesting of the triploid fruits produced, since the weight is less than the fruits of currently used seedless hybrids.

[0051] In another embodiment of the present invention, the small seedless watermelon fruits have a length of between about 6 to about 11 inches.

[0052] In another embodiment of the present invention the small seedless watermelon fruits have a width of between about 5 inches to about 9 inches.

[0053] In another embodiment of the present invention, the small seedless watermelon fruits have a length to width ratio (L/W ratio) of between about 1. to about 1.9.

[0054] The established plants in a field of the present invention can be developed from the following methods: 1) planting seeds or any portions of seed; 2) primed or coated seed, or any portions of the seed; 3) plants, or portions thereof, derived from tissue culture or cell culture; 4) cuttings; and 5) planting transplants into the field.

[0055] The triploid and diploid seeds of the present invention can be mixed prior to planting and then sowed or the triploid seed can first be planted, followed by planting the diploid seed or vice versa, depending on expected pollination dates.

[0056] Previously, researchers have developed and released three diploid varieties with small fruit: New Hampshire Midget (NUM), Minilee (MN), and Mickylee (MK). The varieties New Hampshire Midget, Minilee and Mickylee all are diploid watermelons with seeds and have a diploid chromosome number (2n=2x=22). To make a triploid (seedless) watermelon hybrid one of the lines' (that will become the seed parent or female parent) will need to have the chromosome number doubled (2n=4x=44 chromosomes) to produce tetraploids.

[0057] When these three diploid lines (NHM, MN, MK) are doubled this results in a number of problems which prevent the production of triploid seedless watermelon. One problem is the presence of hard seed coats in the triploid hybrids resulting from these tetraploids. The lines MN and MK when doubled to become tetraploid are highly sterile (particularly female sterile) and produce from zero to only a few seeds per fruit. This results in a problem for seed increase of the line and also is a big problem at the time of making the triploid hybrid since often no seeds are produced in the tetraploid. Besides the problem of high sterility when in the tetraploid phase and the problems with hard seed coat in the triploids, additional problems include: hollow heart, placental detachment from the rest of the flesh, thick rind, and in the case of NHM the problem of explosive rind. Explosive rind is a trait that causes the fruit to split open before (or at the time) the fruit reaches maturity. This ruins the production of the commercial watermelon fruit. Another disadvantage with the MN, MK and NHM diploid lines is that they have a light green color rind pattern (so called gray rind). People prefer to consume watermelons with different rind patterns than gray rind (i.e., dark green, mottle striped, etc.).

[0058] Hard seed coats, thick rind, explosive rind and hollow heart characteristics in the fruit make the product unsatisfactory for commercial marketing purposes. The diploid versions of MN, MK and NHM are also unattractive to the consumer because they are full of seeds.

[0059] The present invention resulted in seedless watermelon hybrids, and eliminated the negative traits associated with these previous lines. Unexpectedly the lines of the present invention listed in Tables 1-3 do not have the problems of: 1) being highly female sterile; 2) producing hard seed coats in the triploid (seedless) fruit; 3) hollow heart, 4) thick rind, and 5) explosive rind.

[0060] Also, unexpectedly small seedless watermelon fruit of less than 12 pounds were produced where the seed parents (tetraploid) do not have high sterility. It was also unexpected that a seedless watermelon fruit of less than 12 pounds can be produced without the negative traits of 1) explosive rind, 2) hollow heart, and 3) a gray rind pattern.

EXAMPLES

[0061] The present invention is further detailed in the following Examples, which are offered by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention in any manner. Standard techniques well known in the art or the techniques specifically described are utilized.

Example 1

Tetraploid and Diploid Parental Lines

[0062] Numerous tetraploid parental lines of the present invention have been developed and are listed in Table 1. Also listed in Table 1 are numerous diploid parental lines of the present invention with small fruits and small seed size which can be used in the method of the present invention. There are approximately 31-35 diploid lines that have been crossed with other small tetraploid plants of the present invention to produce triploid hybrids which then can be grown to produce small seedless fruit.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Diploid and Tetraploid Parental Lines Number/ID Rind Pattern Flesh Color Fruit Shape Ploidy 1671 Gray Red Round/Oval Tetraploid 1674 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 1696 Gray Red Oval Tetraploid 1670 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 1675 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 1672 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 1885 Dark green Red Round Tetraploid 2526 Gray Red Oval/Blocky Diploid 2321 Mottle stripe Red Blocky Diploid 2201 Tiger Stripe Red Round Diploid 2142-1 Dark Green Red Round/Oval Diploid 2552-1 Mottle stripe Red Oval Diploid 2841 Tiger stripe Red Round/Oval Diploid 3128 Dark green Red Round Diploid 02-6003 Dark Mottle Stripe Red/orange Blocky Tetraploid 02-6107 Dark Mottle Stripe Red Blocky Tetraploid 02-6154 Mottle Stripe Red Round Tetraploid 02-6210 Mottle Stripe Red Round Tetraploid 02-6278 Dark Mottle Stripe Red Round Tetraploid 02-6279 Dark Mottle Stripe Red Round Tetraploid 02-6339 Mottle Stripe Red Round Tetraploid 02-6495 Dark Green/Black Red/orange Round Tetraploid 02-6605 Gray Red Oval/Blocky Tetraploid 02-6614 Gray Red Blocky Tetraploid 02-6696 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 02-6711 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 02-6712 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 02-6713 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 02-6716 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 02-6757 Gray Red Round Tetraploid 110-4700 Gray Red Round/oval Tetraploid 02F1862-1 Tiger Stripe Yellow Round Tetraploid 02F1862-2 Tiger Stripe Yellow Round Tetraploid 02F1862-3 Gray Yellow Round Tetraploid 02F1811-1 Dark Green Red Round Tetraploid 02F2427-1 Dark Mottle Stripe Red Round Tetraploid 02F2434-1 Dark Green Red Round Tetraploid 02F1616-1 Tiger Stripe Yellow Round Diploid 02F1632-1 Gray Yellow Round Diploid 02F1633-1 Gray Yellow Round Diploid 02-5607 Gray Red Blocky Diploid 02-5612 Gray Red Round/oval Diploid 02-5618 Dark Green Red Round/oval Diploid 02-5624 Dark Green Red Round/oval Diploid 02-5625 Tiger Stripe Red Round/oval Diploid 02-5626 Tiger Stripe Red Round Diploid 02-5628 Dark Green Red Round Diploid 02-5629 Dark Green Red Round/oval Diploid 02-5631 Mottle Stripe Red Round/oval Diploid 02-5632 Mottle Stripe Red Round/oval Diploid 02-5640 Mottle Stripe Red Round Diploid 02-5661 Mottle Stripe Red Elongated Diploid 02-5668 Mottle Stripe Red Elongated Diploid 02-5693 Gray Red Elongated Diploid 02-5695 Gray Red Blocky Diploid 02-5758 Dark Green Red Blocky Diploid 02-5813 Mottle Stripe Red Round Diploid 02-5827 Mottle Stripe Red Round Diploid 02-5853 Mottle Stripe Red Round/oval Diploid 02-5861 Mottle Stripe Red Round/oval Diploid 110-3128 Dark Green Red Round/oval Diploid

Example 2

Seedless Watermelon with Small Fruit 01-1703

[0063] The triploid hybrid plant 01-1703 produces a small fruited seedless watermelon with an average fruit weight of between 8.0 and 9.0 pounds. This triploid of the present invention results from crossing the small tetraploid line 1671 with the small diploid line 2201. This smaller size of seedless watermelon fruit has not been commercially available from current commercial seedless production. The small fruited watermelons currently commercially available to the grower all have a diploid genetic background and therefore produce only seeded fruit. Another unique characteristic of hybrid 01-1703 is the firmer than normal flesh and a very reduced size of seed traces or pips.

Vine type: Vine
Total vine length: 400 cm
Internode length: 11 cm
Maturity: Mid-season 85 days

Similar to: Petite Sweet

[0064] Leaf type: Lobed
Distance crown to fruit: 216 cm
Fruit weight: 8-9 lbs
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit size (cm): 1818
Rind thickness (cm): 2.5 at stem end; 2.0 mid fruit; 1.0 at blossom end
Flesh color: Red
Texture: Firm and crisp
Seed traces size: 6 mm4 mm
Blossom scar diameter (cm): 1.2

Brix: 11.20%

Stripe: Like Crimson Sweet

[0065] Number of main runners: 4

Example 3

Seedless Watermelon with Small Fruit 01-1714

[0066] The triploid hybrid 01-1714 of the present invention produces small fruited seedless watermelon having an average fruit weight of less than 10 pounds. Seed of this hybrid is produced by crossing the tetraploid line 1671 with the diploid line 2142. This hybrid possesses a medium to medium-dark green rind which is the result of crossing a gray tetraploid to a dark green diploid. Currently, there are no commercially sold seedless hybrids which have smaller fruit size, with small seed traces, and a very firm flesh.

Vine type: Vine
Total vine length: 490 cm
Internode length: 11 cm
Maturity: Mid-season 85 days
Similar to: Minilee with shadow rind pattern
Leaf type: Lobed
Distance crown to fruit: 190 cm
Fruit weight: 8-9 lbs
Fruit shape: Round/Oval
Fruit size (cm): 2117.5
Rind thickness (cm): 2.0 at stem end; 1.7 mid fruit; 1.0 at blossom end
Flesh color: Red to red/orange
Texture: Firm and crisp
Seed traces size: 5 mm3 mm
Blossom scar diameter (cm): 1.1

Brix: 12.80%

[0067] Stripe: Shadow type (DMS on DG background)
Number of main runners: 3

Example 4

Seedless Watermelon with Small Fruit 02-8518

[0068] This hybrid of the present invention produces a small seedless fruit size with an average fruit weight of about 9.0 pounds. Hybrid 02-8518 seed is produced by crossing the small tetraploid line 1885 with the small diploid line 3128. The seeded hybrids of the Sugar Baby type are known for their softer than desired flesh. The fruit produced from seedless hybrid 02-8518 of the present invention have a very firm flesh in addition to very small seed traces and a higher fruit count. The small fruited diploid parental line used in this cross is very productive and contributes to the higher fruit count per plant.

Vine type: Vine
Total vine length: 320 cm
Internode length: 8 cm
Maturity: Early mid-season 80 days

Similar to: Sugar Baby

[0069] Leaf type: Lobed
Distance crown to fruit: 162 cm
Fruit weight: 9 lbs
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit size (cm): 2018.5
Rind thickness (cm): 2.0 at stem end; 1.2 mid fruit; 1.3 at blossom end
Flesh color: Red to red/orange
Texture: Medium firm
Seed traces size: 7 mm3 mm
Blossom scar diameter (cm): 1

Brix: 13.40%

[0070] Stripe: Black/dark green, no stripe
Number of main runners: 4

Example 5

PS1100-1714, Harvested Boxes of Watermelon Fruits

[0071] The data in Table 2 shows the number of packed fruits. Fruits that were considered of good marketable quality and of the targeted size. Planting date of the data is June 3 to Jun. 9, 2002. Total number of plants is approximately 1,800. Row distance is 60 inches and plant distance in rows is 24 inches.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Seedless Small Miniwatermelon PS1100-1714 Harvested Boxes per Period Fruit Size Category # Pick 5 6 8 Boxes Date 1.sup.st 36 31 1 68 Aug. 1, 2002 2.sup.nd 41 49 6 96 Aug. 5, 2002 3.sup.rd 4 4 4 12 Aug. 7, 2002 4.sup.th 27 29 7 63 Aug. 9, 2002 5.sup.th 27 71 9 107 Aug. 13, 2002 6.sup.th 1 4 4 9 Aug. 16, 2002 7.sup.th 24 43 3 70 Aug. 19, 2002 8.sup.th 4 14 9 27 Aug. 21, 2002 Total # Boxes 164 245 43 452 Total # Fruits 820 1470 344 2634

Example 6

Small Seedless Triploid Hybrids Produced

[0072] Table 3 shows additional small seedless triploid hybrids that were produced in Summer 2002 in Gilroy, Calif. and were grown in Colina, Mexico in Fall 2002.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Additional Examples of Seedless (triploid) Hybrids with small fruit Number/ID Female Parent Male Parent Ploidy 5331 110-1005 02-5612 Triploid 5332 CB662-1 02-5618 Triploid 5333 CB663-1 110-3128 Triploid 5334 CB663-1 02-5695 Triploid 5335 110-1005 01-3683 Triploid 5336 110-1005 02-5640 Triploid 5337 110-1005 02-5853 Triploid 5338 110-4700 02-5625 Triploid 5339 110-4700 02-5626 Triploid 5340 110-4700 02-5631 Triploid 5341 110-4700 02-5632 Triploid 5342 110-4700 02-5668 Triploid 5343 110-4700 02-5827 Triploid 5344 110-4700 02-5861 Triploid 5345 02-6003 02-5607 Triploid 5346 02-6003 02-5861 Triploid 5347 02-6107 02-5640 Triploid 5348 02-6154 02-5640 Triploid 5349 02-6210 02-5640 Triploid 5350 02-6278 02-5625 Triploid 5351 02-6278 02-5668 Triploid 5352 02-6278 02-5758 Triploid 5353 02-6278 02-5827 Triploid 5354 02-6279 02-5626 Triploid 5355 02-6279 02-5640 Triploid 5356 02-6279 02-5861 Triploid 5357 02-6339 02-5640 Triploid 5358 02-6495 110-3128 Triploid 5359 02-6495 01-3689 Triploid 5360 02-6495 02-5607 Triploid 5361 02-6495 02-5618 Triploid 5362 02-6495 02-5626 Triploid 5363 02-6495 02-5629 Triploid 5364 02-6495 02-5668 Triploid 5365 02-6495 02-5693 Triploid 5366 02-6495 02-5758 Triploid 5367 02-6495 02-5861 Triploid 5368 02-6605 110-3128 Triploid 5369 02-6614 110-3128 Triploid 5370 02-6696 110-3128 Triploid 5371 02-6711 02-5624 Triploid 5372 02-6711 02-5661 Triploid 5373 02-6711 02-5668 Triploid 5374 02-6711 02-5813 Triploid 5375 02-6712 02-5628 Triploid 5376 02-6713 02-5607 Triploid 5377 02-6713 02-5612 Triploid 5378 02-6713 02-5632 Triploid 5379 02-6716 02-5632 Triploid 5380 02-6716 02-5853 Triploid 5381 02-6757 110-3128 Triploid 5382 02-6711 02-5625 Triploid

[0073] When the term inbred watermelon plant is used in the context of the present invention, this also includes any transgenes and single gene conversions of that inbred. The term single gene converted plant as used herein refers to those watermelon plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of an inbred are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred into the inbred via the backcrossing technique. Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the inbred. The term backcrossing as used herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybrid progeny back to one of the parental watermelon plants for that inbred. The parental watermelon plant which contributes the gene for the desired characteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. In a typical backcross protocol, the original inbred of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second inbred (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a watermelon plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred gene from the nonrecurrent parent.

[0074] The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the original inbred. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent inbred is modified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological, constitution of the original inbred. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross, one of the major purposes is to add some commercially desirable, agronomically important trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine an appropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

[0075] Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not be transgenic, examples of these traits include but are not limited to, male sterility, herbicide resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through the nucleus. Some known exceptions to this are the genes for male sterility, some of which are inherited cytoplasmically, but still act as single gene traits. Several of these single gene traits are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,777,196; 5,948,957 and 5,969,212, the disclosures of which are specifically hereby incorporated by reference.

[0076] A further aspect of the invention relates to tissue culture of watermelon plants designated 1671. As used herein, the term tissue culture indicates a composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, leaves, roots, root tips, anthers, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, tissue culture is embryos, protoplast, meristematic cells, pollen, leaves or anthers. Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in the art. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs such as tassels or anthers, has been used to produce regenerated plants. (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,445,961; 5,322,789; 5,948,957 and 5,969,212, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference).

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

[0077] Watermelon seeds of 1671 have been placed on deposit with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110, under Deposit Accession Number PTA-4858 on Dec. 13, 2002.

[0078] Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.