The influence of weather conditions on the yield and biochemical composition of watermelon

Relevance. A priority in the selection of watermelon is the creation of new competitive varieties that combine resistance to adverse stressors, high yield and excellent fruit quality. The purpose of this study is to show the influence of weather conditions on the growing season, yield and quality of watermelon fruits and the influence of growing conditions on the growth and development of watermelon plants. Materials and methods. The study used 5 varieties of watermelon included in the State Register and 2 new varieties, ready for transfer to the State Variety Test. During the research, all observations and counts were carried out in accordance with the State Variety Testing Methodology and the Field Experience Methodology. Results. In the process of research, it was found that the length of the growing season largely depends on the amount of precipitation and the sum of active temperatures, as well as on their distribution in interphase periods. It was noted that in the year with the highest rainfall, the growing season was the longest. Productivity for the analyzed period varies from 14.2 t / ha to 20.7 t / ha in the early group, from 19.4 t / ha to 24.9 t / ha in the average. The highest yields were recorded in 2017 with the least rainfall. Growing conditions had a significant impact on the quality of watermelon fruit: the solids content ranged from 9.4% to 12.8%, total sugar - from 7.70% to 11.35%.