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Post by castanea on Aug 22, 2010 12:01:33 GMT -5
I've always thought that Australia would be a great place for growing watermelons but when I search for information there seems to be very little Australian research or breeding. It looks like many Australian growers are growing varierties bred in the US. I did find this one link to Austrlaian production that contains names of some Australian cultivars but no details: www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/horticulture/4857.htmlRed Tiger Bengal Tiger Phantom Pharoah Red Dragon Genghis Hercules Does anyone know what's going on with watermelons in Australia?
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Post by jonnyyuma on Aug 22, 2010 19:45:11 GMT -5
Hello, I have been to Australia a couple of times for work and Australia/New Zealand used to be part of my "territory" for work. Australia basically uses commercial lines from the U.S., but changes the names because they get a much better price for the seed over there than we get in the U.S. The names are changed so that people don't buy seed in the U.S. and ship it to Australia to sell at a much higher price. There is a local seed company there called Jarit. They are the only company I know of that does actual breeding of vegetables in Australia. There was a lettuce company, but I can't remember the name right now. Their breeder was an interesting man. The Australian market is relatively small, dollar wise, and most companies don't want to make a big investment there. The biggest market for Australian farmers is the S. E. Asian export market. I see some of the names above like Bengal Tiger and Red Dragon. Those are probably for the export market. That website must not have been updated in some time. The list of varieties on there has old varieties that have basically been replaced already. Thanks Jonny
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Post by castanea on Aug 22, 2010 20:15:36 GMT -5
Interesting. Thanks very much
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Post by raymondo on Aug 23, 2010 1:10:28 GMT -5
It's been many years, more than 50 now, since various Australian state departments of agriculture did vegetable breeding. Most 'traditional' breeding work now is in cereals, in particular wheat. There does appear to be some work going on here and there in legumes but most of that seems to be GM oriented. I don't think Cucurbitaceae ever featured in breeding work here. There must be other amateurs out there I guess but there aren't many other Australians on this forum for example. Actually, I do know of one pea breeder, but that's about it.
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Post by castanea on Aug 23, 2010 9:26:34 GMT -5
It's been many years, more than 50 now, since various Australian state departments of agriculture did vegetable breeding. Most 'traditional' breeding work now is in cereals, in particular wheat. There does appear to be some work going on here and there in legumes but most of that seems to be GM oriented. I don't think Cucurbitaceae ever featured in breeding work here. There must be other amateurs out there I guess but there aren't many other Australians on this forum for example. Actually, I do know of one pea breeder, but that's about it. Thanks
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Post by blueadzuki on Aug 23, 2010 9:27:01 GMT -5
I don't think Cucurbitaceae ever featured in breeding work here. Well, if you count the down and dirty old "pioneer days" and thier selections they may have, I seem to recall being told that most of the "spherical" cukes (Lemon,crystal apple, richmond green apple) had thier variety origins in the Australia/Oceanana area (Richmond I believe was New Zealand)
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Post by raymondo on Aug 23, 2010 16:16:49 GMT -5
Well, if you count the down and dirty old "pioneer days" and their selections they may have, I seem to recall being told that most of the "spherical" cukes (Lemon,crystal apple, richmond green apple) had their variety origins in the Australia/Oceania area (Richmond I believe was New Zealand) Yes, the original versions of winter squashes like Queensland Blue, Jarrahdale (aka West Australian Grey), Triamble and Ironbark were probably developed this way, rather than by any particular breeding program. I guess later selection by market gardeners happened too. I didn't know about the Richmond River Green Apple / New Zealand link. I'd always assumed it came from the Richmond River area in Australia. It's not surprising to hear that it doesn't. There are a number of old vegetable and fruit cultivars that people think are of Australian origin which are in fact from elsewhere.
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Post by blueadzuki on Aug 23, 2010 16:40:25 GMT -5
Well, if you count the down and dirty old "pioneer days" and their selections they may have, I seem to recall being told that most of the "spherical" cukes (Lemon,crystal apple, richmond green apple) had their variety origins in the Australia/Oceania area (Richmond I believe was New Zealand) Yes, the original versions of winter squashes like Queensland Blue, Jarrahdale (aka West Australian Grey), Triamble and Ironbark were probably developed this way, rather than by any particular breeding program. I guess later selection by market gardeners happened too. I didn't know about the Richmond River Green Apple / New Zealand link. I'd always assumed it came from the Richmond River area in Australia. It's not surprising to hear that it doesn't. There are a number of old vegetable and fruit cultivars that people think are of Australian origin which are in fact from elsewhere. To be fully accurate I remeber that ONE of the three is from New Zealand orginally, I may have gotten which one a bit mixed up. For all I know its Crystal apple that's New Zealandish, and Richmond that is Australian. Now that I think of it, watermelon breeders in Australia may face an addional problem not faced my most melon breeders in the world. If I recall correctly paddy melon ( Cucumis myriocarpus) is a pretty common weed in many parts of Australia and I seem to recall that it and watermelon can cross. I would imagine the resultant offspring taste terrible.
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Post by raymondo on Aug 27, 2010 4:50:37 GMT -5
Now that I think of it, watermelon breeders in Australia may face an addional problem not faced my most melon breeders in the world. If I recall correctly paddy melon ( Cucumis myriocarpus) is a pretty common weed in many parts of Australia and I seem to recall that it and watermelon can cross. I would imagine the resultant offspring taste terrible. Yes, paddy melon is a bit weedy here. I hadn't heard that it might cross with watermelon. Apparently, out west, watermelons grow wild along the rail lines in various places.
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Post by blueadzuki on Aug 27, 2010 6:13:42 GMT -5
Now that I think of it, watermelon breeders in Australia may face an addional problem not faced my most melon breeders in the world. If I recall correctly paddy melon ( Cucumis myriocarpus) is a pretty common weed in many parts of Australia and I seem to recall that it and watermelon can cross. I would imagine the resultant offspring taste terrible. Yes, paddy melon is a bit weedy here. I hadn't heard that it might cross with watermelon. Apparently, out west, watermelons grow wild along the rail lines in various places. Doesn't suprise me in the slightest. If you think about it watermelon's COD is thought to be southern africa, and wild watermelons are often found growing in desert/savannah/dry scrub conditions; I would imagine that parts of Western Australia are all but ideal for them.
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Post by cortona on Aug 28, 2010 13:48:55 GMT -5
is australian golden an australian variety as the name suggest? i have recivedsome seeds from another member of this forum and i 'vegrow it , is realy a good watermelon with good taste.
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Post by castanea on Aug 28, 2010 15:49:55 GMT -5
is australian golden an australian variety as the name suggest? i have recivedsome seeds from another member of this forum and i 'vegrow it , is realy a good watermelon with good taste. AU Golden Producer is from Auburn University in the US. It's not Australian. Glad to know you liked it. Please save the seeds because it's not commercially available in the US anymore and very hard to find anywhere.
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Post by cortona on Aug 29, 2010 17:26:54 GMT -5
i have saved the seeds of a fruit so enough for me and for some more person, i like it a lot! (ps i have another fruit that is stil ripening so more seeds)
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Post by castanea on Sept 1, 2010 23:25:27 GMT -5
i have saved the seeds of a fruit so enough for me and for some more person, i like it a lot! (ps i have another fruit that is stil ripening so more seeds) It's supposed to be one of the best yellow fleshed watermelons in the US. I know others on the list are growing it out here in the US this year also.
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Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Aug 8, 2011 14:52:39 GMT -5
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