Postharvest Quality of Red-fleshed Watermelon Affected by Fruit Position in Vine

Effect of different fruit position on postharvest quality of f1 hybrid redfleshedwatermelon hi-u 16 was examined. in this study only one main vinewas trained and maintained. the plants were allowed to set three fruits naturallyat the first (8th – 11th nodes), second (13th – 16th nodes) and third (18th – 21thnodes) position. fruits were harvested at 35 days after anthesis. fruit weight,diameter, skin glossiness, skin and flesh colour, soluble solids concentration,firmness, ph, titratable acidity and vitamin c were determined. fruit fromsecond position was heavier and larger than fruit at first position followed bythird position. fruit position affected watermelon flesh lightness where flesh offirst fruit position was darker than second and third position. soluble solidsconcentration and firmness of fruits decreased as fruit position increased. fruitph decreased with increasing fruit position order while titratable acidity showedcontrary trend. in addition, fruit position had no significant (p ? 0.05) effect onskin color and glossiness and vitamin c of the fruit. in conclusion, the resultsindicated that different fruit positions affected postharvest quality of watermelonand the greatest effect was on soluble solids concentration and fruit weightwhich was the important characteristic for high quality of watermelon.