Genetic resources and watermelon breeding at Embrapa Semi-Arido
Manoel Abilio de Queiroz; Rita de Cássia Souza Dias; Maria Aldete Justiniano Fonseca Ferreira; Flávio de França Souza; Semíramis Rabelo Ramalho Ramos; José Geraldo de Aquino Assis; Roberto Lisboa Romão and Rita Mércia Estigarribia Borges
Watermelon genetic resources used to set the watermelon breeding program at the Embrapa’s Semi-Arid Research Center are described as well as breeding objectives, program and methodologies. A germplasm flow chart shows the strategy used in the germplasm management of the Watermelon Germplasm Bank and in the breeding program. Selection for disease resistance and for plant and fruit characteristics of diploid and tetraploid lines are described and some relevant results are presented. Several diploid and triploid hybrid combinations, resistant to powdery mildew were evaluated. Some of these hybrid combinations presented good prospects as experimental hybrids to be tested in the field by farmers. New breeding tools to produce new generations of hybrids well adapted for the internal and external markets are discussed.