PRE-IMPROVEMENT OF A WATERMELON POPULATION WITH A MIXED REPRODUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

The watermelon introduced in the Northeast of Brazil during the slavery period, presents great genetic variability. This germplasm is important in pre-breeding programs. This work aimed to perform pre-breeding work in a population synthesized by crossing an accession collected access in the Northeast of Brazil and a commercial variety. Maternal and selfed progenies were obtained from the population. They were evaluated for: yield and number of fruits per plant; fruit weight, format, longitudinal and transversal diameter; flesh thickness, colour and sugar content; number and weight of one hundred seeds per fruit. The genetic potential of the population for watermelon improvement has been evaluated according to the inbreeding depression and the yield of fruits per plant, flesh color and sugar content. The most of progenies was superior to the check for the traits related with fruit yield. In average, the inbreeding depression was not drastic, however in some progenies it had an effect equivalent to that occurs in allogamous population. In 9,4% of maternal progenies the yield of fruits per plant, the sugar content and the flesh color had been superior to the average of the population.

KEY-WORDS: Citrullus lanatus; germplasm; inbreeding depression; colour fruit pulp; sugar content.