Seasonal and daily blooming rhythm of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) belonging to Cucurbitaceae family
Abstract
5-6 days after the watermelon seed germinated and formed a seedling, the first leaf appeared, and then every 3-4 days, leaves appeared in the next (second, fifth) short leaf interval. After the appearance of leaves, growth and development slowed down, and the seedlings became small erect bushes with unformed curls. Watermelon blooming begins 40-50 days after planting the seeds. Male flowers bloomed first, followed by female flowers 10-15 days later. Mass blooming of male flowers occurs in 60-65 days, and female flowers in 75-80 days. Male flowers bloomed 35-40 days after seed germination in the early-ripening “Uzbekskiy 452” variety of watermelon we studied and in the late-ripening “Quzibay 30” variety 45-55 days after seed germination. 6-10 days after the blooming of the male flowers, the fruit-bearing flowers bloomed in the axils of the 5-30 leaves of the main branch (stem). In the variety “Uzbekskiy 452”, the first male and fruit-bearing flowers were located throughout the plant. Blooming of fruit-bearing flowers on the main branches of “Uzbekskiy 452”, variety began on 43-47 days after germination, and on 52-60 days on “Quzibay 30” variety.