Effects of CPPU treatment on fruit and rind development of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus Matsum. et Nakai)

摘要

To investigate the effects of CPPU ((2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenylurea) on fruit and rind development of watermelons, CPPU was applied to the fruits at the anthesis. Fruit growth was accelerated by CPPU treatment at 5 and 40 d after treatment. The white-coloured rinds of the CPPU fruit were much wider than those of the control fruit. At 5 and 40 d, the total number of cells in the fruit was increased by CPPU treatment. The number of smaller cells especially increased, strikingly so in the CPPU fruit. This resulted in the thicker rinds of the CPPU fruit.