Ovule and Seed Growth in Pollinated and Auxin-induced Parthenocarpic Watermelon Fruits

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Abstract
Watermelon ovaries of the varieties Early Yates, Sugar Baby and Candy Red were pollinated, stimulated to develop parthenocarpically with 0.05, 0.5 or 5 per cent 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) in lanolin or treated with lanolin alone (control). Pollination produced the greatest number of mature fruits in all varieties but the control treatments produced none. Some fruits reached maturity in response to all levels of NAA in the varieties Early Yates and Sugar Baby. Candy Red produced fewer parthenocarpic fruits than Early Yates and Sugar Baby and responded to 0.5 and 5 per cent NAA only. Ovule growth was stimulated in all cases except the controls. In Early Yates and Sugar Baby shrinkage and necrosis of ovules was observed at 21 days after treatment with 5 per cent NAA. In Candy Red little ovule growth occurred and all parthenocarpic ovules were shrunken and necrotic at 21 days after treatment. It is suggested that ovule growth may be important for early parthenocarpic fruit development.

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