Seedless watermelon having small fruit

Abstract

The present invention is a novel method which results in the production of small seedless watermelon fruit having an average fruit weight of less than 12.0 pounds. The novel method involves using small tetraploid parental lines to produce small triploid hybrid seed.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A tetraploid watermelon plant comprising a progeny watermelon plant obtained from a tetraploid watermelon line designated “1671”.  
   
   
       26 . The progeny of  claim 25 , wherein said progeny is a single plant selection obtained from said tetraploid watermelon line designated ‘1671.’ 
   
   
       27 . The progeny of  claim 25 , wherein said progeny watermelon plant produces a watermelon fruit, wherein the average fruit weight of said fruit is between about 10.0 and about 12.0 pounds.  
   
   
       28 . The progeny of  claim 25 , wherein said progeny watermelon plant includes a single gene conversion.  
   
   
       29 . The progeny of  claim 28 , wherein said single gene conversion is cytoplasmic male sterility.  
   
   
       30 . A seed of the progeny of the tetraploid watermelon line of  claim 25 .  
   
   
       31 . A watermelon plant or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of  claim 28 .  
   
   
       32 . A method for producing a watermelon plant, said method comprising, 
 crossing a tetraploid watermelon plant of watermelon line designated “1671” with a second watermelon plant; and    obtaining progeny.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said progeny is a single plant selection obtained from said tetraploid watermelon line designated ‘1671.’ 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said second watermelon plant is a second watermelon plant of line designated “1671.” 
   
   
       35 . A progeny watermelon plant obtained by the method of  claim 32.