Advances in Watermelon Breeding

Summary The continuous discovery of best possible combiners and their outcome has replaced the superior varieties by hybrids in watermelon. Nowadays several types of watermelons are being marketed-some are having red flesh, some with yellow, some with white flesh. Even with the differences in its shape and size, some are round, some are oval, some are square. Some are with seeds some are seedless. This all happened because of the efforts of crazy mind and fast changing market needs. The introduction of new watermelon genes and marker genes have equipped us to deal with pest and pathogens. Beyond that, using the genes of a rootstock of a related cucurbit, we can combat soil pests as well as adverse environmental conditions. Use of male sterility can reduce the cost of hybrid seed. Seed production requires good cultural practices and timely harvest. Triploid hybrid seed production varies considerably.