Crop: Citrullus lanatus Thumb. (Watermelon )
The Sándorfalvi watermelon has a light green, ribbed skin and yellow flesh. The weight of the fruit varies between 5-8 kg. The brown coloured seeds are large. The flesh is extremely sweet, crunchy and less acidic.
The landrace was collected in 1987 by the Centre for Plant Diversity (Hungarian Gene Bank) from local producers in Sándorfalva near Szeged. The seeds used nowadays are coming from the accessions kept by Centre for plant diversity (www.nodik.hu). The farmer participating in this case study is growing it on his own organic farm (20 km far from the original place of collection) for more than 8 years.
Cultivation System: low-input, organic conditions.
Geographical Information
Country: Hungary
The landrace was a favourite melon in the XXth century in several parts of Southern Hungary. It was cultivated both in backyard gardens and on open fields around Szeged. The region is characterized predominantly by fast-warming sandy soils, with 2100 hours of sunshine per year and a total annual rainfall of 450-500mm/year and with an elevation of 80-90m.
Farmer(s) description:
The landrace was a favourite melon in the XXth century in several parts of Southern Hungary. It was cultivated both in backyard gardens and on open fields around Szeged. The region is characterized predominantly by fast-warming sandy soils, with 2100 hours of sunshine per year and a total annual rainfall of 450-500mm/year and with an elevation of 80-90m.
Propagation system: Seed, cross-pollination
Multiplication procedures and consequences on landrace diversity:The landrace was a favourite melon in the XXth century in several parts of Southern Hungary. It was cultivated both in backyard gardens and on open fields around Szeged. The region is characterized predominantly by fast-warming sandy soils, with 2100 hours of sunshine per year and a total annual rainfall of 450-500mm/year and with an elevation of 80-90m.
Management plan existence:The landrace management relies completely on farming activities in the area. Currently, no technical or scientific support is given by local authorities.
Added Values
The family plans to market the crop in the near future. Consumers are still emotional about the landrace, remembering the sweet yellow melon, consumed back in their childhood at their grandparents, thus they would probably be happy to buy the landrace in case it’s available on the market.
Others (e.g. commercial/geographical brands or special traits):ND.
Seeds are available via Magház network (www.maghaz.hu)
Case study prepared by The Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi), Hungary.
ND.