Watermelon VNIIOB 2

Watermelon VNIIOB 2 is an early-maturing hybrid developed by the All-Russian Research Institute of Irrigated Vegetable and Melon Growing. The plants are of medium vigor with 3–4 lateral vines and a medium length of the main vine. Leaves are grey-green, medium-dissected, five-lobed with lobes touching at the base. The fruits have an oval or obtuse-elliptic shape, weighing from 2.1 to 6 kg, with a green background and sparse venation adorned with dark green, sparsely prickly stripes. Rind is of medium thickness, leathery, and light green in cross-section. Flesh is pink or bright pink, granular, medium density, tender and juicy, with a high content of dry soluble substances (about 9.7%) and sugar (7.5%). Seeds are dark brown with mottling, rough, medium-sized, with a 1000 seed mass of 127 g.

The hybrid is characterized by its rapid maturity: the period from germination to the first harvest of fruits is 84–94 days, with fruits ripening uniformly, and up to 90% of the yield ripening in the first week of fruiting. Yield is high and stable, reaching 4.5–5.6 kg/m² (or 445–558 c/ha) under irrigation, which significantly exceeds standards. Fruits have good transportability and storability, maintaining high commercial and taste qualities for 45 days after harvest.

Watermelon VNIIOB 2 is resistant to low-virulence races of anthracnose and bacterial leaf spot, and is affected by powdery mildew and anthracnose to a weak and medium degree. These characteristics make the hybrid particularly valuable for growing in the North Caucasian region and other areas with a similar climate. High taste qualities, uniform fruits, and uniform formation of the early harvest ensure the hybrid's popularity among producers and consumers.