In order to select out new melon varieties to suit for planting in Fujian Province and southern China,12 melon varieties from Thailand,Japan,Hong Kong and Taiwan etc were introduced and tested since 1999.The results showed that comprehensive characters including growing character,yield,quality,commercial value and resistance of Xianglan,Xianglan Beauty and Cuixiang were the best;F-75-849,Quihua 1,Jade Mushroom and Source of Sweet took the second place;New Century,Ruby,Snow Jade,King of Honey and Honeymoon were the worst.

厚皮甜瓜原产于热带非洲,适于高温干燥气候,极不耐湿,要求充足的光照和较高的昼夜温差,在我国早期仅局限于新疆、甘肃一带等西北干燥地区栽培.

在我国,厚皮甜瓜长期以来仅局限于新疆、甘肃一带栽培.近年来在"东移"研究方面取得了进展,华北、东北已有较大面积栽培,华东、华南的保护地栽培面积也逐年扩大,用种量大增,以种子纯度为主要内容的质量问题日益突出.现据我们多年育种和采种的经验,总结厚皮甜瓜的制种技术,供瓜农参考.

甜瓜在我国栽培历史悠久,因香甜可口,深受人们的喜爱,尤其是高度进化的洋香瓜,其肉厚、香甜质优,风味独特,富含营养,可作水果鲜食,也可榨成鲜果汁,制成果汁罐头和配制各种食品等.但长期以来,我国大陆洋香瓜仅限于新疆、甘肃一带生产,以哈蜜瓜、白兰瓜等品牌闻名于世,而南方热带、亚热带及广大温带地区,因天气高温高湿和昼夜温差小、病虫危害严重而难以栽培.

厚皮甜瓜栽培周期短、品质佳、效益高，是一种具有良好发展前景的新兴水果。龙岩市新罗区在农业结构调整的同时，注重厚皮甜瓜的引种栽培，取得了较好效果，现就试验观察和栽培实践结果介绍如下。