The quality of ‘egusi’ melon [(Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) Matsum and Nakai] seeds derived from fruits harvested at different growth stages and at different positions on the mother plant

A study of two cultivars of ‘egusi’ melon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsun and Nakai] known as bara and serewe, was undertaken at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Makurdi in 2010. The aim was to study the effects of variable developmental stages and position of fruits on the mother plant on seed quality. Bulk crop was raised and fruits that developed from date tagged flowers were harvested at three days interval from 20 DAA to 47 DAA to monitor seed development and maturation. In another experiment, basal, middle and apex flowers were date tagged as they developed along the growing twine and fruits that developed were harvested at full maturity to monitor seed quality as influenced by fruit position. Mass maturity was attained between 35 and 38 DAA in the two cultivars and highest germination percentages of 85 and 87 were obtained at the last harvest (47 DAA) for both cultivars. Germination of fruits positioned at the base and middle, which showed no significant differences in themselves were significantly superior to apex fruits. It was therefore concluded that seed crop of the two cultivars should be delayed for up to 47 DAA or beyound and preference should always be given to seeds from base and middle positioned fruits against apex fruits.