Fruit set of triploid watermelons as a function of distance from a diploidpollinizer

During 1998 and 1999,'Genesis' triploid watermelons [Citrullus lanatus (Thu nb,) Matsum, & Nak,] were grown in large blocks with a single row of the di ploid 'Ferarri' planted as a pollinizer in the middle. A once-over harvest each year was made in harvest Lanes 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0 m p erpendicular distances from the pollinizer row, Individual fruit were weigh ed and counted. Data from both years indicated a similar distribution of tr iploid fruit with respect to distance from the pollinizer row. The greatest number of triploid fruit per unit land area was in the harvest row 3.0 m f rom the pollinizer row, When distance from the pollinizer row was 6.0 m or greater, triploid fruit numbers diminished substantially. Yield estimates m ade each year using the fruit density data suggested that a 1 pollinizer : 4 triploid ratio gave the maximum total triploid fruit yield per hectare fo r 1.5-m row spacings, These results should prove useful in designing field planting strategies to optimize triploid watermelon production.