Summary: In the recent decade, the
seed-using watermelon industry developed very fast in China. However, some
technical bottlenecks appeared and they have brought opportunities and
challenges to China's research work on seed-using watermelon.
*News on China Vegetables, a journal
produced by the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences and translated by CCM.
China has the biggest seed-using watermelon
(Citrullus lanatus sp. vulgaris var. megalaspermus Lin et Caho.) planting area
and output around the world. Main planting areas are in Xinjiang Uygur, Guangxi
Zhuang, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions as well as in Gansu,
Jiangxi and Hunan provinces. In arid areas in North China, seed-using
watermelon is an important industrial crop with an annual planting area of
approximately 320,000 ha and an annual output value of about USD839.20 million
(RMB5.50 billion).
Quantity of scientific research papers at
seed-using watermelon in China, 1985-2014
Source: China Vegetables
Production of seed-using watermelon in
China
- Before 1980, planting area was about
4,000 ha, mainly concentrated in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province; output was
approximately 60 kg per 667 m2;
- In the 1980s, main planting area has been
enlarged from arid areas in the central part of Gansu Province to irrigation
areas in Hexi Corridor, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Region; output has been improved to over 100 kg per 667 m2;
- In the middle of the 1990s, planting area
has been enlarged to about 130,000-15,000 ha with annual output of over 200,000
tonnes (about 50% from Xinjiang and 40% from Gansu Province);
- Around 2000, production of seed-using
watermelon has dropped to the bottom influenced by the prevalence of pests and
diseases and the adjustment of planting structure. Both the total planting area
and output dropped significantly;
- After 2005, production has been
recovering in Xinjiang, especially in Tacheng City and Altay Prefecture where
planting area of seed-using watermelon has been spreading and output has been
improving;
- Since 2010, production of seed-using
watermelon has been developing very fast again in China.
Research of seed-using watermelon in China
China's research of seed-using watermelon
began in the middle of the 1980s. Continuous researches have contributed a lot
to the production of seed-using watermelon in China.
Reviewing the periodical characteristics
and scientific research achievements of seed-using watermelon since the 1980s,
researchers Chen Qingqing, Xu Yong, Zhang Jiannong and Chen Nianlai pointed out
the problems of seed-using watermelon production in China, such as lack of new
varieties, difficult control of pests and diseases and inadequate utilization.
Meanwhile, they also put forward some suggestion such as strengthening
comprehensive utilization of produces, simplifying techniques, diversifying
cultivars, controlling pests and diseases.
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