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WATERMELON Descriptor Form
(Form adapted by Seeds of Diversity Canada from the International Board of Plant Genetic Research
descriptor forms for The Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security.)
Name: _____________________________
Growing location: ___________________ (e.g. wild, farm, garden etc.)
Region: ___________________
Province: ______________________
Cultivar (if known): ___________________ Heritage (if known): _____________________
Planting date:
______________________ dd,mm,yyyy
Harvest date:
______________________ dd,mm,yyyy
Size of Population:
Picture(s) included:
Yes
/
No
(please circle)
Note: When observing watermelons, if possible, please do not use the same plants for more than two
questions.
Fruit Diameter
1.
What is the maximum diameter of the center portion of the fruit? Please measure ten separate fruits
from ten individual plants scattered throughout the plot.
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
Fruit Length
2.
What is the maximum length of the fruit (excluding the stem portion)? Please measure ten separate
fruits from ten individual plants scattered throughout the plot.
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
Rind Thickness
3.
What is the maximum depth of rind, at harvest maturity, when measured at the center portion of the
watermelon? Please measure ten separate fruits from ten individual plants scattered throughout the
plot.
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
_________ cm
Uniformity of Size
4.
Please observe ten watermelons scattered throughout the field at harvest maturity and make an
estimation for uniformity in the field as whole. Please also include the prevailing size of watermelon
observed by writing either small, medium or large.
a. Uniform
b.
Semi-uniform
c.
Variable
d.
Size ___________
Background Color
5.
What is the primary color composition of the rind, taken at maturity and as an estimation of the plot as
a whole? Please examine ten randomly selected watermelons, scattered throughout the plot.
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a. Light Green
e.
b.
Yellow
Medium Green
f.
c.
Brown
Dark Green
g.
d.
White
Variable
Rind Uniformity
6.
How much uniformity is present in the watermelon’s rind when taken at harvest maturity? Please
observe ten watermelons scattered randomly throughout the field.
a. Uniform
b.
Semi-uniform
c.
Variable
Rind Pattern
7.
What type of pattern is present on the rind surface? Taken at maturity and as an estimation of the plot
as a whole. Please examine ten randomly selected watermelons, scattered throughout the plot.
a. Solid
b.
Stripped
c.
Other
d.
Mixed
e.
Spotted
Uniformity of the Rind Pattern
8.
How much uniformity is present in the watermelons rind pattern, if any, when taken at harvest
maturity? Please observe ten watermelons scattered throughout the field and make an estimation for
the field as a whole.
a. Uniform
b.
Semi-uniform
c.
Variable
d.
No Pattern
Flesh Color
9.
What is the color of the watermelons flesh, taken at harvest maturity and as an estimation of the plot
as a whole? Please examine ten randomly selected watermelons, scattered throughout the plot.
a. Red
e.
Variable
b.
Mixed
Pink
f.
c.
Yellow
Orange
g.
d.
Green
White
f.
Uniformity of Flesh Color
10. How much uniformity is present in the watermelons flesh color, when taken at harvest maturity? Please
observe ten watermelons scattered throughout the field and make an estimation for the field as a
whole.
a. Uniform
b.
Semi-uniform
c.
Variable
Flesh Firmness
11. Please select the amount of compression resistance provided by the watermelons flesh, taken at
harvest maturity and as an estimation of the plot as a whole. Please select 5, healthy watermelons
when conducting this test.
a. Unusually Firm
b.
Average
c.
Unusually Soft
Fruit Shape
12. What is the overall shape of the fruits, taken at harvest maturity and as an estimation of the plot as a
whole? An oblate watermelon appears like a squished sphere having a slightly flattened top and
bottom. Oblong watermelons have a cylindrical appearance with flat ends. Elongate watermelons have
a cylindrical shape with round ends. Please examine ten randomly selected watermelons, scattered
throughout the plot.
a. Round
b.
Oblate
c.
Oblong
d.
Elongate
e.
Variable
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Uniformity of Fruit Shape
13. How much uniformity is displayed in the watermelons shape, when taken at harvest maturity? Please
observe ten watermelons scattered throughout the field and make an estimation for the plot as a whole.
a. Uniform
b.
Semi-uniform
c.
Variable
Presence of Grooves
14. Please examine the watermelons rind for the presence or absence of grooving (ridges and valleys).
Taken at harvest maturity and as an estimation of the plot as a whole. Please examine ten randomly
selected watermelons, scattered throughout the plot.
a. Absent
b.
Present
c.
Depth of Groove ______________
Surface Uniformity
15. How much uniformity is presented by the watermelons grooves and other tactile features on the rind,
when taken at harvest maturity? Please observe ten watermelons scattered throughout the field and
make an estimation for the plot as a whole.
a. Uniform
b.
Semi-uniform
c.
Variable
Stripe Color
16. What color are the rind stripes? Taken at harvest maturity and as an estimation of the plot as a whole.
Please examine ten randomly selected watermelons, scattered throughout the plot.
a. Light Green
e.
Yellow
b.
Medium Green
f.
Brown
c.
Dark Green
g.
Variable
d.
White
h. No Stripes
100 Seed Weight
17. What is the weight of one hundred seeds in grams?
__________________ g
Total Seed Weight
18. What is the total weight of seeds harvested from planted population? __________________ g
Additional Notes: