1.

The economy of the Malaysian watermelon industry

2. Watermelon botany
3. Watermelon harvesting
4. Measurement parameters for watermelon quality (brix, ph, moisture content)
5.

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, over 120,000 acres of watermelons were
grown in the US in 2014, producing 3.2 billion pounds. This is down slightly from the previous two years.
While watermelon are grown across the U.S., the most production occurs in the top four states (Texas,
Florida, Georgia and California), producing approximately 44 percent of all grown in the U.S. the average
watermelon yield per acre in the U.S in 2014 was 31,800 pounds. In term of production, watermelon is
one the three tops crops produced in the US, along with onions and head lettuce. All but about 24
percent of domestic consumption of watermelon comes from U.S. the average watermelon yield per
acre in the U.S in 2014 was 31,800 pounds. In term of production, watermelon is one of the three top
crops produced in the U.S, along with onions and head lettuce. All but about 24 percent of domestic
consumption of watermelons comes from U.S. growrs; the rest comes primarily from Mexico or Central
American.

approximately 44 percent of all grown in the U.S. The average watermelon yield per acre
in the U.S in 2014 was 31,800 pounds. In terms of production, watermelon is one of the three
top crops produced in the US, along with onions and head lettuce. All but about 24 percent of
domestic consumption of watermelons comes from U.S. growers; the rest comes primarily from
Mexico or Central American
Distribution and Cultivars:

Crop History:
Watermelons originated in the deserts and semi-tropical regions of Africa. Egyptians have been cultivating
the melons for more than 4,000 years. The fruit served as an important source of water in the desert.
African slaves and Christian missionaries introduced the watermelon to the rest of the world. Evidence of
watermelon cultivation in Ancient Egypt was recorded in hieroglyphics painted on building walls dated back
to 2500 BC. However, its first cultivation in the Nile Valley began at least as early as the second millennium
BC. The fruit was held in such regard that it was placed in the tombs of many Egyptian kings. Numerous
watermelon seeds were recovered from the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf,
2000). It is not surprising that watermelon played such an important role in this country, and subsequently
in countries in the Mediterranean region, since water was often in short supply in these areas, and people
could depend upon watermelon for its thirst-quenching properties.

David Livingston found wild watermelons in the Kalahari Desert in 1850s. Watermelon was brought to the
New World by the African slaves and European colonialists. It was brought to Brazil and then to the West
Indies, north eastern America, the islands of the Pacific, and to New Zealand and Australia. The watermelon
arrived in the Americas in the early 1600s with traders and was first cultivated in Massachusetts in
1629. Museums Online South Africa lists watermelons as having been introduced to North American Indians
in the 1500s. Early French explorers found Native Americans cultivating the fruit in the Mississippi Valley.
Many sources list the watermelon as being introduced in Massachusetts as early as 1629. Parsons also
mentions the crop being farmed by Native Americans in Florida (by 1664) and the Colorado River area (by
1799). Other early watermelon sightings include the Midwestern states (1673), Connecticut (1747), and the
Illiana region (1822).

By the middle of the 17th century, watermelon had made its way down to Florida.
By the 10th century AD, watermelons were being cultivated in China, which is today the world’s single
largest watermelon producer. By the 13th century, Moorish invaders had introduced the fruit to Europe. In
Vietnam, legend holds that watermelon was discovered in Vietnam long before it reached China, in the era
of the Hùng Kings. According to legend, watermelon was discovered by Prince Mai An Tiêm, an adopted son
of the 11th Hùng King. When he was exiled unjustly to an island, he was told that if he could survive for six
months, he would be allowed to return. When he prayed for guidance, a bird flew past and dropped a seed.
He cultivated the seed and called its fruit “dưa tây” or western melon, because the birds ate it while flying
from the west. When the Chinese took over Vietnam in about 110 BC, they called the melons “dưa hảo”
(good melon) or “dưa hấu”, “dưa Tây”, “dưa hảo”, “dưa hấu”—all words for “watermelon”. Tiêm’s island is
now a peninsula in the suburban district of Nga Sơn. Watermelon is probably introduced into Peninsular
Malaysia by the early Indian and Chinese merchants in the 14th century (Salleh 1986).

Importance and Value

Watermelon is grown in over 96 countries worldwide and there are 1.3 million hectares. In Russia, where
much of the commercial supply of watermelons is grown, there is a popular wine made from this fruit. In
addition to Russia, the leading commercial growers of watermelon include China, Turkey, Iran and the
United States. China ranks first in worldwide watermelon production (57.531 million tonnes in 2002) and the
United States currently ranks fourth (1.778 million tonnes in 2002). In China and Japan watermelon is a
popular gift to bring a host. Watermelon is 92% water. Watermelon is avaialble in the traditional red variety,
as well as the lesser known yellow variety.

Crop Usage
Most of the U.S. watermelon production is consumed fresh. US per capita watermelon consumption in 2003
was 6.2 kg and watermelon is about 1/3 more popular in the Western states then in the Midwest and East.
About 85% of watermelons are purchased at the retail level for home consumption. Other processed
products include roasted seeds, pickled rind and watermelon juice.

Today, farmers in the U.S. grow watermelon commercially, and almost all these varieties have
some Charleston Gray (the fruit is oblong shape and hard rind made it easy to stack and ship). Its
adaptability meant it could be grown over a wide geographical area. It produced high yields and was
resistant to the most serious watermelon diseases: anthracnose and fusarium wilt in their lineage. This now-
common watermelon is often large enough that groceries often sell half or quarter melons. There are also
some smaller, spherical varieties of watermelon, both red- and yellow-fleshed, sometimes called “icebox
melons.”

In Japan, farmers of the Zentsuji region found a way to grow cubic watermelons, by growing the fruits in
glass boxes and letting them naturally assume the shape of the receptacle. The square shape is designed to
make the melons easier to stack and store, but the square watermelons are often more than double the
price of normal ones. Pyramid shaped watermelons have also been developed.

For commercial plantings, one beehive per 9,000 m² is the minimum recommendation by the USDA for
pollination of conventional, seeded varieties. Because seedless hybrids have sterile pollen, pollinator rows of
varieties with viable pollen must also be planted. Since the supply of viable pollen is reduced and pollination
is much more critical in producing the seedless variety, the recommended number of hives per hectare, or
pollinator density is one hive per 1,300 m².

Although so-called “seedless” watermelons have far fewer seeds than the seeded varieties, they generally
contain at least a few soft, pale seeds. They are the product of crossing a female tetraploid plant (itself the
product of genetic manipulation, using colchicines) with diploid pollen. The resulting triploid plant is sterile,
but will produce the seedless fruit if pollinated by a diploid plant. For this reason, commercially available
seedless watermelon seeds actually contain two varieties of seeds; that of the triploid seedless plant itself
(recognizable because the seed is larger), and the diploid plant which is needed to pollinate the triploid.
Unless both plant types are grown in the same vicinity, no seedless fruit will result.

Watermelons (Citrullus lunatus) are in the family Cucurbitaceae and there is a large range of varieties
available for planting. They vary in shape, size and internal and external color. There are over 1,200
varieties of watermelon worldwide available for planting. Watermelons are grouped according to fruit size,
flesh color, and with or without seeds.

The most sought after standard types are those with dark striped skin with rich red flesh and very black
seeds. Mini melons are popular on the market and are sold in cartons. Seedless melons have become an
important crop. They vary in shape, size and internal and external color. The most sought after standard
types are those with dark striped skin with rich red flesh and very black seeds. Mini melons are popular on
the market and are sold in cartons. Seedless melons have become an important crop.

Watermelons were considered a seasonal fruit, but today imports combined with local production ensure a
year-round supply. Meanwhile, “Icebox” watermelons are gaining in popularity as they are ideal for small
families and fit easily into a refrigerator.

Several notable Western and Australian varieties are included here:

 Large Australian watermelons – Red Tiger, Bengal Tiger, Phantom, Pharoah, Red Dragon, Genghis,
Hercules and many more)
 Mini Australian melons – Gemini, Minilee (O.P.), Baby lee, Baby Tiger, Sugar Baby
 Popular seedless (triploid) Australian varieties – Honeyheart (yellow), Raven (red), Dragon Heart (red),
Triple Heart (red), Banquet (red), Golden acre (yellow) and Seedless 1600) .
Hybrid Blackita F1 – maturity (84 days), fruit weight (7 kg), brix (11.5°), flesh color (deep red), seed size
& color (medium, mottled brown), resistance to transport, disease resistance/tolerance

 (Fusarium). Terrific internal color, firm flesh, and very attractive external green color make this hybrid a
qualifier for the markets that accept this type.
 Hybrid Marita F1- maturity (83 days), fruit weight (6-7 kg), brix (12°), flesh color (deep red), seed
size & color (medium, mottled brown), resistance to transport, disease resistance/tolerance (Fusarium).
A round, medium green, dark striped watermelon, with terrific internal color and firmness suitable for
fresh market and for processing.
 Hybrid Early Mara F1 - maturity (82 days), fruit weight (10-11 kg), brix (12°), flesh color extra
(deep red), seed size & color (small, black), resistance to transport, disease resistance/tolerance
(Fusarium) & Anthracnose comments. Early Mara has the same external look, large dark stripes, and
the best internal color and firmeness.
 Hybrid Florida Sweet F1 – maturity (85 days), fruit weight (9-10 kg), brix (12°), flesh color (deep
red), seed size & color (small, black), resistance to transport, disease resistance/tolerance (Fusarium &
Anthracnose). A medium size diploid, with very high internal quality, as a pollinator as well as a Calsweet
type hybrid, for diploid production.
 Hybrid Royal Peacock F1 – maturity (86 days), fruit weight (11-12 kg), brix (11°), flesh color (deep
red), seed size & color (small, black), resistance to transport, disease resistance/tolerance (Fusarium &
Anthracnose). It has a very long shelf life and a fantastic internal color, with a very durable flesh that
supports rough transportation.
 Hybrid Samanta F1 – maturity (85 days), fruit weight (10-12 kg), brix (12°), flesh color (deep
red), seed size & color (small, black), resistance to transport, disease resistance/tolerance (Fusarium &
Anthracnose). Elongated shape, exceptional interior quality, combined with a very attractive, dark
striped external look. Super productive!
countries.
Seedless varieties are in increasing demand, and the share of seedless watermelon in total
watermelon shipments in the United States increased from 51 percent in 2003 to nearly 85
percent in 2014. Seedless varieties, typically started as transplants rather than from direct
seeding, require more intensive management, with the cost differences generally visible at the
retail level.

The flower is monocoius with yellow color. The shape of water melon is oval, roundish, or long
oval shape with dark green color and weighed between 7-15 kg / fruit depending on variety (M Anem,
2010).
Watermelons can be grown in any well-drained soil, which mostly grown on the east coast of Malaysia
namely Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu (Harizammry, 2007). In Malaysia, Kelantan is the first place
where watermelon was planted. However, the fruit became popular and widely grown from the 1970s
onwards after a much sweeter hybrid was introduced in Malaysia from Taiwan and Japan (National
Library Board Singapore, 2005). There are many type varieties of water melon which are New Dragon,
 Empire No.2, New Sweet Baby, Jambo, China Dragon, Farmer Gain and several other varieties which has
no seeds (Jabatan Pertanian Manjung, Perak, 2010).

1. Fruit juices are popular beverages with an important role in human nutrition (L.R. Beuchat
2. Pathogenic microorganisms associated with fresh produce
3. J Food Prot, 59 (1996), pp. 204–216

 Health scientists are becoming more and more interested in the citrulline
content of watermelon. Citrulline is an amino acid that is commonly
converted by our kidneys and other organ systems into arginine (another
amino acid). The flesh of a watermelon contains about 250 millligrams of
citrulline per cup. When our body absorbs this citrulline, one of the steps it
can take is conversion of citrulline into arginine. Particularly if a person's
body is not making enough arginine, higher levels of arginine can help
improve blood flow and other aspects of our cardiovascular health. There's
also some preliminary evidence from animal studies that greater
conversion of citrulline into arginine may help prevent excess accumulation
of fat in fat cells due to blocked activity of an enzyme called tissue-
nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, or TNAP.
 If you've gotten used to thinking about the juicy red flesh at the center of a
watermelon as its only nutrient-rich area—and far more nutrient-rich than
the more lightly-colored flesh that is farther out near the watermelon rind—
it is time to change your thinking. In a recent study, food scientists
compared the nutrient content of flesh from different parts of a watermelon:
flesh from the center, the stem end, the blossom end (opposite from the
stem), and the periphery (the part nearest to the rind). What they've
discovered were impressive concentrations of phenolic antioxidants,
flavonoids, lycopene, and vitamin C in all of these different areas. The
exact distribution of nutrients was also highly dependent on the variety of
watermelon. But there was no area in any of the watermelon varieties that
came out badly in terms of nutrients, and in many of the watermelon
varieties, the flesh's outer periphery contained impressive concentrations
of most nutrients.

4. Health scientists are becoming more and more interested in the citrulline
content of watermelon. Citrulline is an amino acid that is commonly
converted by our kidneys and other organ systems into arginine (another
amino acid). The flesh of a watermelon contains about 250 millligrams of
citrulline per cup. When our body absorbs this citrulline, one of the steps it
can take is conversion of citrulline into arginine. Particularly if a person's
body is not making enough arginine, higher levels of arginine can help
improve blood flow and other aspects of our cardiovascular health. There's
 also some preliminary evidence from animal studies that greater
conversion of citrulline into arginine may help prevent excess accumulation
of fat in fat cells due to blocked activity of an enzyme called tissue-
nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, or TNAP.
5. If you've gotten used to thinking about the juicy red flesh at the center of a
watermelon as its only nutrient-rich area—and far more nutrient-rich than
the more lightly-colored flesh that is farther out near the watermelon rind—
it is time to change your thinking. In a recent study, food scientists
compared the nutrient content of flesh from different parts of a watermelon:
flesh from the center, the stem end, the blossom end (opposite from the
stem), and the periphery (the part nearest to the rind). What they've
discovered were impressive concentrations of phenolic antioxidants,
flavonoids, lycopene, and vitamin C in all of these different areas. The
exact distribution of nutrients was also highly dependent on the variety of
watermelon. But there was no area in any of the watermelon varieties that
came out badly in terms of nutrients, and in many of the watermelon
varieties, the flesh's outer periphery contained impressive concentrations
of most nutrients.

Among the country which imports the watermelon are Singapore, Hong Kong, Middle East and Europe.
In 2010, Malaysia exported 629 000 ton of watermelon which worth RM 1.07 Million (Utusan Malaysia,
2010). Because of that watermelon is one of rank top in Malaysia fruit export. Normally, at the market
watermelon price around RM 1 up to RM 2 per kilogram based on the variety.