Khaberni - A pair of amateur breeders in the state of Virginia, USA, developed a new breed of miniature watermelon the size of a chicken egg, an innovation that may open new horizons in modern agriculture, especially in greenhouses and vertical farming systems.
According to a report published by the agriculture news site HortiDaily, research student Delaney Rabitez, in collaboration with her mother, managed to significantly reduce the size of the watermelon fruits without affecting their sweet taste, texture, or internal colors, which still range from red to orange.
The experiment began in 2021, where the mother and daughter aimed to produce small-sized fruit suitable for limited agricultural spaces.
After several generations of hybridization using non-genetically modified chemical mutation techniques, they succeeded in reducing the fruit's weight from several kilograms to only between 80 and 200 grams, with some fruits approximately the size of a chicken egg.
Rabitez explained that the main goal of the project is to make watermelon cultivation more suitable for high-density agricultural systems, such as vertical farming, where space is a crucial factor in increasing productivity. The small size of the fruits may also contribute to reducing food waste and make them an ideal choice for individual consumption.
Initial observations showed that these small fruits retain a good level of sweetness and a texture suitable for transportation and storage, enhancing their potential for future marketing.
It was also noted that their seeds are much smaller than those of traditional watermelons, while there are still questions about the rind of these fruits, whether it is edible or needs peeling.
Experts believe that this innovation could represent an important step towards developing fruit crops that meet the requirements of modern cities and support food sustainability amid increasing environmental challenges.
