Watermelon Breeding

North Carolina State University has had a breeding program on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) for decades.

Warren Barham was the first watermelon breeder, starting around 1953. He worked with pathologist Nash Winstead, went into administration in 1961. One of Dr. Barham's graduate students was Tom Konsler, who later became a faculty member in the department. In 1959, Dr. Barham left to work at Dessert Seed Co., (then Texas A&M Univ., then Barham Seeds). Warren Henderson took over the program in 1959. He worked with pathologist Sam Jenkins (1961-1986). Dr. Henderson retired in 1992, and Todd Wehner took over in 1993. The other U.S. public watermelon breeding program is located at Texas A&M University.

The objectives of the program are to expand our knowledge of watermelon genetics and breeding, educate graduate students interested in vegetable breeding, do research on problems affecting the watermelon industry, and develop improved cultivars and breeding lines for use in North Carolina and the U.S.

• All About Watermelon
• Cultivar and Germplasm Releases
  • To obtain germplasm releases, fill out the germplasm release form, return to copies to:
    • Mr. Billy Houghteling
    • Office of Technology Transfer
    • 920 Main Campus Drive, Venture II Building, Suite 400
    • North Carolina State University
    • Raleigh, NC 27695-8210
  • For faster response, mail the 2 copies as above, and also fax a set to Mr. Billy Houghteling at 919-515-3773
• Watermelon Breeding
  • Seed Companies
  • Watermelon Breeding Companies
  • U.S. Watermelon Breeders
• Watermelon Publications
  • Watermelon Disease Handbook
• Watermelon Cultivar List
  • A - L, M - Z
• Watermelon Cultivar Photographs
  • A-B, Ca-Cz, D-G, H-J
  • K-M, N-R, Sa-Sz, T-Z
• Images from Research Program
• Extension Publications
  • NC Agricultural Chemicals Manual
  • Suggested Commercial Varieties
  • Vegetable Crop Irrigation
• News Releases
  • August 21 2002
• Research areas
  • Breeding Program Overview
  • Germplasm Exploration, Evaluation
    • Egusi watermelon
  • Gene Linkage and Gene Stock Collection
    • Genes of watermelon
  • Cultivar development
    • Red, orange, yellow flesh types
    • Elite cultivars for NC
  • Seedless watermelons
    • Breeding methods
    • Tetraploid inbreds
    • Pollenizers; parthenocarpy
  • Selection Methods
    • Yield improvement
    • Optimum trialing methods
    • Quantitative genetics
  • Genetic Resistance
    • Anthracnose 1, 2
    • Chilling / Cold tolerance
    • Fusarium wilt 0, 1, 2
    • Gummy stem blight screening
      • Gummy stem blight rating
    • Virus (PRSV-W, WMV, ZYMV)