'VRW-3': A YELLOW RINDED WATERMELON WITH HIGH TOTAL SOLUBLE SOLIDS

'VRW-3' is a new line of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mansf.] with yellow colored rind right from the ovary stage. This line was developed through selection from a local landrace. Plants bear round and yellow rinded fruits with red purple flesh. The fruits are small in size (3.0 kg), very attractive and become ready for first harvest in 82 days from sowing. The fruits have a distinct flavor, delicious taste, and high total soluble solids (15%) and high carotenoids (5 mg/100 g) as compared with other cultivars recommended for cultivation in India. This precious material could be used as a source to develop yellow rinded cultivars and hybrids of watermelon.