The science behind the slice
Faria Noshin, left, and Patrick Ewing examine a Dark Belle watermelon during Mississippi State University’s Watermelon Field Day at the North Farm. The sliced melon was placed beside its growing vines to. . .
Faria Noshin, left, and Patrick Ewing examine a Dark Belle watermelon during Mississippi State University’s Watermelon Field Day at the North Farm. The sliced melon was placed beside its growing vines to allow attendees to compare the fruit’s interior, appearance and characteristics as researchers evaluated different watermelon varieties. Ashlynd King/Dispatch StaffLast Wednesday, farmers and hobby gardeners stood together in a dusty, dry field in Starkville. At their feet were watermelon vines, planted by the dozens across a few acres. Some vines ended in withered stems, with no fruit in sight. Some had managed to grow melons that were small and unsuitable for sale – labeled as “unmarketable” by the brochure everyone was holding. Other vines had green, vigorous growth with large melons waiting to be picked and more fruit clearly forming. As the group gazed at the field and their brochures, a scientist with Mississippi State University explained that they were looking at a “Watermelon Variety Trial. ”All of the melons were grown with the exact same fertilizer, but zero pesticides or herbicides – left to fend off the many diseases and numerous pests of Mississippi using their own genetic defenses. According to Taylor Blaise, a graduate student at MSU, this was by design. Blaise pointed at a group of vines clearly struggling. The fruit was tiny, misshapen and already rotting. The vine had fizzled out at the end, seemingly having given up on making any more melons. Taylor Blaise“As you can see, these Sugar Babies did not fare well, and though they’re a popular variety, we wouldn’t recommend them,” Blaise said to the group. “If you look at your booklet, you can see what varieties fare best in our climate. Feel free to browse the field until our next presentation, and I’m here if you have any questions. ”The group was partaking in MSU’s first Watermelon Field Day, held at the R. R. Foil Plant Science Research Center, commonly known as North Farm. The science-based workshop brought together growers, gardeners and plant science enthusiasts as graduate students and faculty presented their latest watermelon research. Blaise had just finished discussing the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences’ watermelon variety trial, a study examining how different watermelon varieties perform in Mississippi with “minimal management” – meaning no fungicide or insecticide applications. “This is the study we got the most follow-up questions about and had the most interest in, it seems,” said Pawel Orlinski, event organizer and vegetable extension specialist. “Which is fair considering this is the information people want when they’re comparing seeds at the beginning of the season. ”Pawel OrlinskiOrlinski said the number of watermelon varieties available can make choosing seeds overwhelming for growers and gardeners. His team hopes the study will help answer a simple question: Which melon should I plant?“Hundreds of different watermelon seeds are available on the market, with flesh color ranging from white through yellow and orange to dark red,” Orlinski said to the group as they walked across the field together. “They differ in rind color, thickness and pattern, as well as fruit shape and size … More importantly, these cultivars also possess less visible traits, such as disease and insect tolerance or resistance. ”So what melons did they recommend to attendees? That depends on your goals, Orlinski said. “Some growers want large fruits, some want personal size. Others love a sweet melon, while some like a more mild melon,” he said. “This data is a guide to help determine what traits each cultivar has on average and which will likely be the most successful. ”The data offered answers for growers with different goals. Blaise, who worked on the variety trial with Orlinski and associate professor Guihong Bi, said that of all tested varieties, the largest fruits were produced by Black Diamond, Jubilee, Orangeglo (PL) and Tendersweet. The smallest fruits were produced by Kaho and Lemon Drop, followed closely by Ocelot and Onza. Kaho and Lemon Drop also produced the largest number of fruits, approximately five to six per plant; however, most of the fruits were “unmarketable” due to rotting (Kaho) and cracking (Lemon Drop). Blaise said this was likely caused by their very thin rind, which was the thinnest among all tested cultivars. Pawel Orlinski, vegetable extension specialist and Watermelon Field Day organizer, checks soil temperatures during a demonstration of a solarization research project at Mississippi State University’s North Farm. The study examines how modified plastic mulches can help manage soilborne fungal pathogens and improve vegetable production. Ashlynd King/Dispatch StaffAs far as sweetness, Blaise said the fruit’s sugars are measured using total soluble solids, also known as Brix, which, in melons, is the best indicator of how sweet the fruit is. The melons with the highest total soluble solids (Brix) were Century Star, Cracker Jack, Dark Belle, Juice Box, New Orchid, Onza and Starlight. Attendees also learned which watermelons statistically produce the most marketable, high-quality fruit per plant – valuable information for farmers looking to get the most bang for their buck (and their efforts). Data indicated that Tropical Sunshine, Black Diamond and Ocelot consistently produced fruits that were easy to sell. Despite all these available varieties and the range of results, Orlinski said he does, in fact, have a personal favorite. “I like best the Ocelot,” he said. “So it’s small personal size, crunchy, seedless. I think Century Star would be a second for me. It’s also seedless. It has a really nice rind because you can see basically stars or like yellow dots on it. And it’s very sweet. ”The watermelon variety trial was just one of several research projects showcased during the daylong event. After being shown the physical results of other studies at the North Farm, including “Effects of Fertilizer Type and Biostimulation Application” and “Modifications and Evaluation of Solarization Methods,” attendees were bused back to the A. B. McKay lab. Upon arrival, they were surprised with MAFES ice cream – made special by the cows at the university. As they broke into their box lunches, a presentation on transitioning to organic farming was given by Jenny Ryals, a research associate who specializes in horticulture. From there, the workshop ended with Rebecca Melanson, associate extension professor and plant disease specialist, giving a talk on disease management, while Jermaine Perier, assistant professor and entomologist, discussed pest management. Attendees at Mississippi State University’s Watermelon Field Day examine watermelon varieties during a tour of the Watermelon Variety Trial at the North Farm. The event allowed growers, gardeners and plant science enthusiasts to learn how different watermelon varieties perform in Mississippi’s climate. Ashlynd King/Dispatch StaffOrlinski said overall, he felt the workshop was well-attended and well-received. He said he hopes to make Watermelon Field Day an annual tradition, and future workshops are already being planned – including one on sweet corn. “I’ve wanted to host a workshop since I joined staff in 2024,” he said. “Other areas of the state have them. This is our first one in Starkville … I hope it’s gonna be an annual event. Maybe we’ll get to add a few more because we can grow vegetables in spring, summer, fall. ”Whether they grow watermelons by the acre or just hope to harvest a few from the backyard, attendees left with a better understanding of what makes a watermelon thrive in Mississippi. And, of course, a few more reasons to look forward to next summer’s harvest. Watermelon Field Day was funded by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. To learn more about the studies presented, visit MSU Extension’s website atextension. msstate. edu. Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch. com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2. 30 per week to help support local journalism and our community. Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch. com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2. 30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.