Abstract:

‘Nongkeda 13’is a new mid-maturation watermelon cultivar which was selected from the cross-combination of M08 × F10. The whole growth period is 100 d，and the period for fruit development is around 35 d. It has a vigorous growth potential with an average single fruit weight of 6.5 kg and a yield of 49.785 t ? hm-2. Its fruit shape is oval and the shape index is 1.4. The fruit skin is dark green covered with clear blackish green fine stripes，and the pericarp thickness is about 1.2 cm. The fruit flesh is red fine sandy and juicy but with less fiber. The center sugar content is 11.5%，value of that is close to the edge sugar content. The cultivar has a high disease-resistance as well as a strong adverse-resistance. It is suitable to cultivate in the open field of Northern China covered with film mulch in the early spring.

Key words: watermelon, maturing, cultivar