F1 Sakata King

Crop Name	Watermelon
Hybrid Name	F1 Sakata King
Segment	Jubilee
Plant Habit	Strong vigorous vines
Maturity Period	60–65 DAS
Characteristics	• Small seeded • Crispy red sweet flesh • Good transportability • Intermediate resistance to GBNV
Average Fruit Weight	8–10 Kg
Climate	The ideal temperature range is 24–27°C
Sowing Window	Winter: November – December
Focused Market	KA, TN, PB

Parameter

Description

Scientific name

Citrullus lanatus

Hybrid

F1 Sakata King

Soil

Sandy loam rich in organic matter with good drainage and pH range for 6.5-7.5.

Land Preparation

Plough the field to a fine tilth.

Spacing

150*45 cm

Climate

The ideal temperature range is 24-27°C

Season

Winter: November – December

Seed Rate

1-1.2 kg/ha

Fertilizers & Manures

Irrigation

Weekly once or twice required to maintain field capacity

Weed Control

Manual weeding 2-3 times during crop cycle to remove the weeds

Any special crop practices

Diseases

Name of the diseases	Symptoms & management
Powdery mildew	Characterized by a white, powdery growth on leaves and stems, potentially leading to yellowing, shriveling, and death of affected areas. Controlled by: Azoxystrobin 23% SC (1ml/L), Sulphur 80% WP (2g/L), Kerahane 48% EC (0.5ml/L)
Alternaria leaf blight	Causes dark, circular lesions with concentric rings on leaves. Control: Carbendizim 12% + Mancozeb 3% WP (2g/L)
Gummy stem blight	Affects stems and can cause gummy or watery lesions, potentially leading to plant decline. Control: Use disease-free seeds, crop rotation, paste stem with COC 50% WP 3g/L, Dimethomorph 50% WP @ 1.5 gm/ltr – spray on stems, Fosetyl-al 80% WP @ 1.5 gm/ltr – Spray on stem.
Bacterial Fruit Blotch	Small water-soaked lesions on the fruits, which enlarge and become necrotic, ultimately leading to rotting. Control: Copper hydroxide 53.8% DF @ 1.5 gm/ltr, K cyclin @ 0.5 gm/ltr
Mosaic	Yellowing and mottling of leaves. Control: Vector control – Aphids and White fly. Diafenthiouron 48% WP + Dinotefuran 8% WG @ 1.25 gm/ltr

Pests

Name of the pests	Symptoms & management
Aphids	Aphids are vectors for a virus affecting most cucurbits. New growth is cupped downward, and leaves are mottled with alternating light and dark green patches. Plants are stunted, and fruits are covered with bumpy protrusions. Severely affected fruit may be almost entirely white. Spray: Acephate 75% SP (1g/L), Diafenthiouron 50% WP (1ml/L)
Fruit Fly	Fruit fly causes devastating yield loss in pumpkins. It enters the fruit, causing gummy ooze exudation, disfiguring the fruit. Manage: Delegate 1ml/L, Pheromone traps 25-30 traps/Ha
Thrips	It sucks sap from the young leaves, leading to leaf distortion. Control: Fipronil 80% WG @ 0.3 gm/ltr, Thiacloprid 250 SC @ 2 ml/ltr
Mites	Sucking the sap and causing distortion and discoloration of the leaves. Control: Propargite 57% EC @ 1 ml/ltr, Fenazaquin 10% EC @ 1 ml/ltr

Harvesting

Maturity: 65-70 DAS

Yield

55-60 t/ha

No descrtiption