controlled inoculation experiments.
In 1981 we obtained Citrullus spe-
cies accessions P.I. 189225 and P.I.
271778, both of which have been
reported to have resistance to gummy
stem blight. Crosses between these
2 lines and some of our better lines
were made this season.

CURRENT PROGRAM
 AND FUTURE
 OUTLOOK
 Our current program is concen-
trated in four major areas. It is in
these areas that we might anticipate
releases of new cultivars in the rea-
sonably near future: (1) small fruit
size types, (2) large round striped


fruit types; these include selections
for earlier maturity and higher yield
from lines similar to 'Dixielee' in
appearance and fruit quality, (3)
backcross 'Jubilee' types; similar in
appearance to 'Jubilee', but with a
higher level of resistance to Fusar-
ium wilt, improved fruit quality, and
higher yields, (4) backcross
'Charleston Gray' types; similar in
appearance to 'Charleston Gray', but
with a higher level of resistance to
Fusarium wilt, improved fruit qual-
ity, and higher yields.
 Further in the future we might
look for cultivars of dwarf types, with
more compact vegetative growth and
the potential for higher yields of
melons per given area of land. We


might anticipate, also, develop-
ment of cultivars with resistance to
mosaic (at least that one caused by
watermelon mosaic virus 2) and re-
sistance to gummy stem blight. Re-
sistance to mosaic would remove
one of the major threats of severe
losses of yield and profits to individ-
ual growers in Florida from a disease
for which we presently have no
control. Resistance to gummy stem
blight would not only lessen the
losses suffered each year from this
.disease, but it would also greatly
lower production costs by reducing
the number of fungicidal sprays
needed, with concomitant environ-
mental benefits.


I