The Latest Watermelon Varieties From Sakata Seed
August 8, 2013 
Watermelon has changed over the years and not just with regard to size — from personal to 20-plus pounders — rind color, and seedless varieties. At Sakata Seed America’s watermelon field day in Tifton, GA, Nihat Guner, global R&D head for watermelon and senior watermelon breeder for the company, said the biggest change recently has been in the area of shelf life.
“More and more, the market is looking for watermelon to remain fresh for four to five weeks from harvest,â€� he said. “In the past, it was two to three weeks.â€�Â
That’s why shelf life is such a major focus for Sakata watermelon breeding. Plus, the market is looking for firmer flesh and smaller pips. “A nice addition that comes with firmer flesh is a decreased incidence of hollow heart,� Guner added.
According to Gattis Guffey, watermelon/melon product manager for Sakata, the breeders also added earliness to the list of genetic qualities. “Having earliness and firmness together in watermelon is unusual, but something Sakata has been able to accomplish,� he said. “If a grower can harvest one to two weeks earlier, that means less water, fewer sprays, and reduced exposure to bad weather events. That, together with greater yield potential, is a winning combination for the grower.�
Highlighted at the field day, which was held in mid-June, were several new varieties that soon will be available to growers, as well as many current Sakata varieties.
SWT0082: A new seedless variety offering firm flesh, SWT0082 is a larger watermelon, weighing between 18 and 22 pounds. Boasting a traditional rind pattern, one of its main features is its tiny pips. Seed will be available this fall.
SWT0166: Also in the new genetics vein, SWT0166 is a seedless melon that boasts a darker rind pattern. This 36-count melon is of medium maturity, weighs between 18 and 22 pounds, and offers firm flesh, vigorous vine, and high yields.
SWT8732: Also trialed was a new pollenizer for seedless varieties. This small non-harvestable variety will be available this fall.
At The Races
Sakata also highlighted its recent introductions with the horse race theme. The company’s “Triple Crown� varieties include Citation, Bold Ruler, and Affirmed.
Citation: This variety has been available for two years and is a “true� 60-count for those who prefer a smaller melon, said Guffey. It is a very early variety and has cold-setting capabilities.
Bold Ruler: This watermelon also has good cold-setting capabilities. “It is the earliest maturing 45-count in the market to my knowledge,� said Guffey. The seedless triploid weighs between 16 and 20 pounds and has crisp, sweet flesh.
Affirmed: The last variety in the group is a 45-count, like Bold Ruler, but is not an early variety. A high yielder, with medium maturity, Affirmed has bright red flesh, handles diverse growing conditions, and also weighs between 16 and 20 pounds. “This product is going to do very well in a wide geographic area,� added Guffey.
SWT0079: This new variety similar to Bold Ruler also will be available this fall. An early variety, SWT0079 features tiny pips and firm flesh.
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