Crossbreeding method for watermelons and towel gourds

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of crop breeding, and particularly discloses a water melon and towel gourd crossbreeding method which comprises the following steps: S1, parent selection and cultivation: taking a high-yield tender variety of water melons and a variety of towel gourds with strong disease resistance and obvious furrows as parents, and performing parent cultivation on the parents; s2, parent hybridization: performing hybrid pollination by taking the water melon as a female parent and the towel gourd as a male parent; or performing cross pollination by taking the towel gourd as a female parent and the water melon as a male parent; or carrying out selfing pollination on the watermelons or the towel gourds; s3, seed cultivation: S3-1, management after pollination; (S3-2) reserving hybrid fruits; and S3-3, collecting the hybridized and self-propagated seeds. According to the method, the feasibility of interspecific hybridization of luffa cylindrica (common luffa) and luffa cylindrica (luffa with ridges) is broken through, the limitation of reproductive isolation is broken through, two different hybrid F1-generation seeds are obtained, the excellent hereditary characteristics, such as high yield, disease resistance, stress resistance and high quality, of the luffa cylindrica and the luffa cylindrica are integrated, and a new variety with comprehensive advantages is cultivated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of crop breeding, in particular to a hybrid breeding method of water melon and loofah. Background Art

[0002] In southern China, people usually call the angular loofah "loofah", while the smooth loofah is called "water melon". However, this name is not absolute and may vary from region to region.

[0003] The fruit of water melon (common loofah) is usually short cylindrical or long stick-shaped, up to 20-100 cm or more in length, 3-10 cm in diameter, without ridges, rough surface with several dark green longitudinal grooves, mostly green in color, sometimes with yellow spots on the surface, and relatively smooth skin. The flesh of water melon is relatively delicate, with a refreshing taste, moderate sweetness, a soft and tender taste, and more water, which is why it is called water melon. It is easy to oxidize and turn black after peeling, and becomes very soft after being cooked; loofah (ribbed loofah) has a stick-shaped, green fruit with wrinkles on the surface, 7-9 ridges, up to 20-100 cm in length, 3-8 cm in diameter, and a relatively thick and hard skin. It has a sweet and mellow taste, and tastes sweeter than the loofah without ridges. It has less water and is more chewy. It will not change color after peeling and will not deform after being cooked.

[0004] Hybridization can produce new genotypes and phenotypes, thereby increasing the diversity of loofah varieties. This plays an important role in meeting diverse market demands, improving farmers' profitability, and promoting the sustainable development of the loofah industry. Currently, loofah cultivation typically relies on locally saved seeds. Due to isolation and selection techniques, the varieties degenerate, resulting in poor quality, weak resistance, and low yields for commercial loofahs.

[0005] The hybrid breeding of water melon and loofah can combine the excellent genetic characteristics of both, such as high yield, disease resistance, stress resistance, and high quality, to cultivate new varieties with comprehensive advantages. To this end, the present application provides a hybrid breeding method of water melon and loofah to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the technical problems raised in the above background technology and provide a hybrid breeding method for water melon and loofah.

[0007] The above-mentioned purpose of the present invention is achieved like this:

[0008] The solution of the present invention provides a method for hybrid breeding of water melon and loofah, which comprises the following steps:

[0009] S1. Parent selection and cultivation: High-yield, tender water melon varieties and disease-resistant, prominently grooved loofah varieties are selected as parents and parent cultivation is performed on them;

[0010] S2. Parental hybridization: using water melon as the female parent and loofah as the male parent for cross-pollination; or using loofah as the female parent and water melon as the male parent for cross-pollination; or self-pollinating water melon or loofah;

[0011] S3. Seed cultivation:

[0012] S3-1. Post-pollination management: 5-8 days after pollination, check the melon strips on the mother plant. Re-mark any hybrid melons that are not clearly marked. Remove any hybrid melons that are unclearly marked and cannot be identified as non-hybrid melons.

[0013] S3-2. Hybrid Fruit Collection: Record the development of the fruit and observe whether the hybrid fruit has hybrid characteristics; keep some uniform-sized and well-developed melons to continue growing, and harvest them for seed production when the skin turns yellow-brown;

[0014] S3-3. Collection of hybrid and self-propagated seeds: When the color of the melon turns yellow or becomes dry and yellow-brown, and the melon strips make a sound of seeds when shaken, they can be harvested. After harvesting, the melon strips are exposed to sunlight until the skin becomes crisp and the seeds are basically fallen off. Then cut the melon strips and knock them hard to take out all the seeds for classification. Then, use cardboard to expose the seeds to the sun for 5 to 7 days until all the moisture in the seeds evaporates. After drying, remove the poorly developed seeds and leave the high-quality seeds of uniform size. Pack them at room temperature, put a label paper in the bag with the name of the variety, collection date and other information, seal it and store it in a freezer.

[0015] Furthermore, in step S2, the method for cross-pollination with water melon as the female parent and loofah as the male parent is as follows:

[0016] 1) Pollen preparation: In the evening between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, select fresh and healthy male flowers of the male parent loofah and collect pollen with a brush;

[0017] 2) Female flower preparation: Select the female flowers of the female water melon plant that are about to bloom, remove the petals, and expose the stigma;

[0018] 3) Pollination: Apply the pollen stuck on the brush evenly to the stigma, bag the flowers after pollination, and record them with a label, i.e. number the parents and mark the pollination date.

[0019] Furthermore, in step S2, the method for performing hybrid pollination using loofah as the female parent and water melon as the male parent is as follows:

[0020] A. Pollen preparation: Select fresh and healthy male flowers of the male parent water melon from 7:00-8:00 in the morning and collect pollen with a brush;

[0021] B. Preparation of female flowers: Select the female flowers of the female water melon plant that are about to bloom, remove the petals, and expose the stigma;

[0022] C. Pollination: Apply the pollen stuck on the brush evenly to the stigma, bag the flowers after pollination, and record them with a label, that is, number the parents and mark the pollination date.

[0023] Furthermore, the method for self-pollinating the water melon or loofah in step S2 is:

[0024] a. When the water melon or loofah is in bloom, use a brush to dip the pollen from the fresh male flowers of the same plant or a different plant, and apply it evenly to the fresh stigma of the female flowers.

[0025] b. After pollination, bag the plants and record the numbers of the parents and the pollination date.

[0026] The difficulty and significance of the technical problem solved by the present invention are:

[0027] The hybridization breeding method of water melon and loofah provided by the present invention can combine the excellent genetic characteristics of both, such as high yield, disease resistance, stress resistance, and high quality, to cultivate new varieties with comprehensive advantages. The hybridization method of the present invention can produce new genotypes and phenotypes, thereby increasing the diversity of loofah varieties. This is important for meeting market diversification needs, improving planting efficiency for farmers, and promoting the sustainable development of the loofah industry.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] The method of the present invention uses water melon as the female parent and loofah as the male parent, and loofah as the female parent and water melon as the male parent, respectively, to perform cross-hybridization, and confirms the feasibility of interspecific hybridization between water melon (common loofah) and loofah (ribbed loofah), breaking through the reproductive isolation restriction, obtaining two different hybrid F1 generation seeds, combining the excellent genetic characteristics of the two, such as high yield, disease resistance, stress resistance, high quality, etc., to cultivate new varieties with comprehensive advantages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is a flow chart of a method in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a comparison of the average transverse diameter of fruits treated with hybridization and selfing in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 The comparison of the average longitudinal diameter of the fruits treated by hybridization and selfing in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 4 This is a comparison of the average sugar content of fruits treated with hybridization and selfing in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a comparison of the average firmness of fruits treated with hybridization and selfing in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 6 This is a diagram of vitamin content in hybridization and selfing treatments in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0037] The implementation of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0038] As shown in the drawings, there is provided a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Embodiment 1: The scheme of the embodiment of the present invention provides a hybrid breeding method of water melon and loofah, which comprises the following steps:

[0040] S1. Parent Selection and Cultivation: High-yield, tender water melon varieties (such as "Kemei No. 3") and disease-resistant, prominently grooved loofah varieties (such as "Fengyou No. 15") are selected as parents and bred (prepare at least 10 healthy plants for each bred, ensuring they are free of pests and diseases and have similar flowering periods).

[0041] S2. Parent hybridization: Use water melon as the female parent and loofah as the male parent for hybridization pollination; the specific method is:

[0042] 1) Pollen preparation: In the evening between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, select fresh and healthy male flowers of the male parent loofah and collect pollen with a brush;

[0043] 2) Female flower preparation: Select the female flowers of the female water melon plant that are about to bloom, remove the petals, and expose the stigma;

[0044] 3) Pollination: Apply the pollen stuck on the brush evenly to the stigma, bag the flowers after pollination, and record them with a label, i.e. number the parents and mark the pollination date.

[0045] The flowering habits of the parent plants are: loofah blooms around 18:00-19:00 in the evening, and water melon blooms around 7:00-8:00 in the morning. The female flower selection for crossbreeding is: the female flowers on the selected mother plant should be at least 1 meter above the ground.

[0046] S3. Seed cultivation:

[0047] S3-1. Post-pollination management: 5-8 days after pollination, check the melon strips on the mother plant. Re-mark any hybrid melons that are not clearly marked. Remove any hybrid melons that are unclearly marked and cannot be identified as non-hybrid melons.

[0048] S3-2. Hybrid Fruit Collection: Record the development of the fruit and observe whether the hybrid fruit has hybrid characteristics; keep some uniform-sized and well-developed melons to continue growing, and harvest them for seed production when the skin turns yellow-brown;

[0049] S3-3. Collection of hybrid and self-propagated seeds: When the color of the melon turns yellow or becomes dry and yellow-brown, and the melon strips make a sound of seeds when shaken, they can be harvested. After harvesting, the melon strips are exposed to sunlight until the skin becomes crisp and the seeds are basically fallen off. Then cut the melon strips and knock them hard to take out all the seeds for classification. Then, use cardboard to expose the seeds to the sun for 5 to 7 days until all the moisture in the seeds evaporates. After drying, remove the poorly developed seeds and leave the high-quality seeds of uniform size. Pack them at room temperature, put a label paper in the bag with the name of the variety, collection date and other information, seal it and store it in a freezer.

[0050] Example 2: The difference from Example 1 is that: in the parental hybridization, loofah is used as the female parent and water melon is used as the male parent for hybridization pollination. The specific method is:

[0051] A. Pollen preparation: Select fresh and healthy male flowers of the male parent water melon from 7:00-8:00 in the morning and collect pollen with a brush;

[0052] B. Preparation of female flowers: Select the female flowers of the female water melon plant that are about to bloom, remove the petals, and expose the stigma;

[0053] C. Pollination: Apply the pollen stuck on the brush evenly to the stigma, bag the flowers after pollination, and record them with a label, that is, number the parents and mark the pollination date.

[0054] Example 3: The difference from Example 1 is that the parent hybrid is self-pollinated with water melon or loofah (parent self-propagation), and the specific method is:

[0055] a. When the water melon or loofah is in bloom, use a brush to dip the pollen from the fresh male flowers of the same plant or a different plant, and apply it evenly to the fresh stigma of the female flowers.

[0056] b. After pollination, bag the plants and record the numbers of the parents and the pollination date.

[0057] The above embodiments of the present invention respectively use water melon as the female parent and loofah as the male parent, and loofah as the female parent and water melon as the male parent, to perform cross-hybridization, confirming the feasibility of interspecific hybridization between water melon (common loofah) and loofah (ribbed loofah), breaking through the reproductive isolation limitation, and obtaining two different hybrid F1 generation seeds.

[0058] The experiment of hybrid breeding of water melon and loofah in the above embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[0059] 1. Comparison of fruit weight between cross-pollination and self-pollination

[0060] As shown in Table 1, the average fruit weight for CK1 (water melon self-cross) was 494g; the average fruit weight for treatment A (water melon × loofah) was 425.5g; the average fruit weight for CK2 (loofah self-cross) was 457.5g; and the average fruit weight for treatment B (loofah × water melon) was 314.3g. The data show that the average and heaviest fruit weights for CK1 were better than those for treatment A; the average and heaviest fruit weights for CK2 were also better than those for treatment B. The average weights of the hybridized water melons and loofahs were superior to those of the self-crossed water melons and loofahs. The hybridized water melons were relatively uniform in size and displayed excellent genetic traits.

[0061] Table 1 Fruit weight record of hybridization and selfing treatment

[0062]

[0063] As can be seen from the data in Table 1, the average melon weight of the self-pollinated water melon (CK1) was 494g, while the average melon weight of the hybrid water melon (treatment A, water melon × loofah) was 425.5g. Although the self-pollinated water melon had a slight advantage in average melon weight, the hybrid water melon showed advantages in fruit size uniformity and genetic traits. Similarly, the average melon weight of the self-pollinated loofah (CK2) was 457.5g, which was also higher than the 314.3g of the hybrid loofah (treatment B, loofah × water melon). However, the hybrid loofah also showed better characteristics in fruit size and genetic traits.

[0064] 2. Comparison of fruit diameter between hybridization and self-pollination

[0065] Depend on Figure 2 As shown in Table 2, the average transverse diameter of CK1 (water melon self-pollination) is 64.17mm, and the average transverse diameter of treatment A (water melon × loofah) is 64.5mm. It can be concluded that the average transverse diameter of CK1 (water melon self-pollination) and treatment A (water melon × water melon) is not much different, but as shown in the table, the difference between the largest and smallest melons of CK1 (water melon self-pollination) and treatment A (water melon × loofah) is relatively large; the average transverse diameter of loofah self-pollination CK2 is 57.67mm, and the average transverse diameter of treatment B (loofah × water melon) is 46.95mm. Figure 3The results showed significant differences in fruit diameter between CK2 (self-pollinated loofah) and Treatment B (loofah × water melon). The average diameter difference between CK2 (self-pollinated loofah) and Treatment B (loofah × water melon) was over 10 mm. Hybrid-pollinated melons were smaller, but overall diameters were relatively uniform, ranging from 42 to 53 mm. The size of water melons and loofahs influences market consumption. Larger melons are more attractive to suppliers and consumers, but a small number of consumers prefer smaller, more symmetrical melons. The data showed that the average diameters of CK1 (self-pollinated loofah) and Treatment A (water melon × loofah) were similar, while the average diameters of CK2 (self-pollinated loofah) and Treatment B (loofah × water melon) differed significantly.

[0066] Table 2 Record table of fruit transverse diameter (mm) of hybridization and self-pollination treatments

[0067]

[0068] To further verify the effects of hybridization and selfing on fruit diameter, we conducted an analysis of variance analysis on the fruit diameter data. The results showed that the fruit diameters of treatments A (water melon × loofah) and B (loofah × water melon) were significantly different from those of treatments CK1 (water melon self-pollination) and CK2 (loofah self-pollination). This suggests that hybridization has a certain impact on fruit diameter, although this effect varies among different combinations. Specifically, the fruit diameter of treatment A is similar to that of treatment CK1, but the fruit diameter of treatment B is significantly smaller than that of treatment CK2, which may be related to genetic differences between different hybrid combinations. In addition, we also observed that the fruit diameter of hybrid-pollinated fruits is more uniform overall, which may be related to hybridization improving fruit uniformity. In summary, the effects of hybridization and selfing on fruit diameter are significant, and this effect varies among different hybrid combinations.

[0069] 3. Comparison of longitudinal diameter of fruits between hybridization and self-pollination

[0070] Depend on Figure 3 As can be seen from Table 3, there is little difference in the average longitudinal diameter between the control and the treatments. The average longitudinal diameter of CK1 (water melon self-pollination) is 24.42 cm, the average longitudinal diameter of treatment A (water melon × loofah) is 26.67 cm, the longitudinal diameter of CK2 (loofah self-pollination) is 35.58 cm, and the average longitudinal diameter of treatment B (loofah × water melon) is 34.08. Since CK1 (water melon self-pollination) and treatment A (water melon × loofah) belong to water melon varieties, CK2 (loofah self-pollination) and treatment B (loofah × water melon) are loofah varieties, and their appearance conditions are still very obvious different from those of loofah varieties. Water melon has no ridges on the surface, and its longitudinal diameter is shorter than that of loofah, while loofah has ridges on the surface and is longer, reaching a maximum of 37.5 cm.

[0071] Table 3 Record table of fruit longitudinal diameter (cm) of hybridization and selfing treatment

[0072]

[0073] Depend on Figure 3 It can be seen intuitively that although the average longitudinal diameters of CK1 (water melon self-pollination) and Treatment A (water melon × loofah) are not much different, the longitudinal diameter data of Treatment A are more concentrated, indicating that the longitudinal diameters of its fruits are more consistent and uniform. However, the longitudinal diameters of individual fruits in CK1 deviate significantly from the average, indicating that there is a certain degree of variation in the longitudinal diameters of fruits under the self-pollination treatment. For loofah varieties, the average longitudinal diameters of CK2 (loofah self-pollination) and Treatment B (loofah × water melon) are both higher and do not differ much, but the longitudinal diameter data of Treatment B also show good uniformity. This further confirms that cross-pollination helps improve the uniformity of fruit longitudinal diameter.

[0074] To further understand the effects of hybridization and selfing on fruit longitudinal diameter, an analysis of variance was also conducted. The results showed that although the differences in mean longitudinal diameter between Treatment A and CK1, and between Treatment B and CK2, did not reach significant levels, the uniformity of fruit longitudinal diameter was significantly improved under hybridization. This may be related to hybridization's ability to optimize gene expression during fruit growth and development, thereby promoting uniform growth in fruit longitudinal diameter.

[0075] In summary, although the effects of hybridization and selfing on the longitudinal diameter of the fruit were not as significant as their effects on the weight and transverse diameter of the fruit, hybridization and pollination still helped to improve the uniformity of the longitudinal diameter of the fruit.

[0076] 4. Comparison of sugar content of hybrid and self-pollination fruits

[0077] Depend on Figure 4 As shown in Table 4, the average sugar content of CK1 (water melon self-pollination) is 2.9, and the average sugar content of hybrid treatment A (water melon × loofah) is 3.08; the average sugar content of CK2 (loofah self-pollination) is 3.83, and the average sugar content of hybrid treatment B (loofah × water melon) is 4.2, and the highest sugar content can reach 5.5. It can be seen that the sugar content of CK1 (water melon self-pollination) is relatively sweet compared with that of hybrid treatment A (water melon × loofah). The sugar content of CK2 (loofah self-pollination) is also higher than that of hybrid treatment B (loofah × water melon). After manual tasting, measurement with a saccharimeter and various data analysis, it was found that the hybrid water melon and loofah have higher sugar content and better taste, and are deeply loved by consumers.

[0078] Table 4 Sugar content records of hybrid and self-pollination fruits

[0079]

[0080]

[0081] Depend on Figure 4It can be clearly seen that the hybrid treatments of water melon and loofah both showed advantages in sugar content. For water melon, the average sugar content of hybrid treatment A (water melon × loofah) was higher than that of self-pollination treatment CK1 (water melon self-pollination), indicating that hybridization helps to increase the sugar content of water melon. Similarly, hybrid treatment B (loofah × water melon) of loofah also showed a higher average sugar content, with the highest sugar content reaching 5.5, which is much higher than that of self-pollination treatment CK2 (loofah self-pollination). This result was not only verified by measurement with a saccharimeter, but also recognized by consumers through manual tasting.

[0082] To further analyze the effects of hybridization and selfing on fruit sugar content, we conducted an analysis of variance analysis on the sugar content data. The results showed significant differences between the hybridization and selfing treatments, with hybridization significantly increasing fruit sugar content. This may be due to cross-pollination optimizing sugar metabolism within the fruit, promoting sugar accumulation and transport.

[0083] 5. Comparison of fruit hardness between hybridization and self-pollination

[0084] Each melon is tested at three points, namely the upper, middle and lower parts of the melon, and the hardness is calculated by the average value. Figure 4 Table 5 shows the following data: CK1 (water melon self-cross) has an average hardness of 10.12; hybrid treatment A (water melon × loofah) has an average hardness of 9.43; CK2 (loofah self-cross) has an average hardness of 11.81; and hybrid treatment B (loofah × water melon) has an average hardness of 11.63. The data shows that loofah is harder than water melon, while hybrid treatment A (water melon × loofah) has a relatively poor hardness. Hardness determines the maturity of the melon: too soft indicates insufficient maturity, while too hard indicates aging of the melon's fibers, making it unsuitable for testing. Fruit hardness facilitates storage and transportation. However, its disadvantages include limited storage and transportation, limited transportation range, and limited sales.

[0085] Depend on Figure 5 It can be seen intuitively that the firmness of loofah varieties is generally higher than that of water melon varieties. For water melon, the average firmness of self-pollination treatment CK1 (water melon self-pollination) is slightly higher than that of hybridization treatment A (water melon × loofah), but the difference is not significant. This shows that in water melon, self-pollination and hybridization have little effect on fruit firmness. However, in loofah, although the average firmness of self-pollination treatment CK2 (loofah self-pollination) and hybridization treatment B (loofah × water melon) is similar, the firmness data of the hybridization treatment is more concentrated, showing better uniformity. This may mean that cross-pollination helps to improve the stability of loofah fruit firmness to a certain extent.

[0086] Table 5 Fruit hardness records for hybridization and self-pollination

[0087]

[0088] To further explore the effects of hybridization and selfing on fruit firmness, we conducted an analysis of variance analysis on the firmness data. The results showed that while the average firmness differences between Treatment A and CK1, and between Treatment B and CK2, did not reach a significant level, differences in firmness uniformity were observed between the hybridization and selfing treatments. This may be related to the fact that cross-pollination optimizes the fruit cell wall structure, thereby improving the stability of fruit firmness.

[0089] Fruit firmness is a key factor affecting its storage and transportation. Firmer fruits are more resistant to mechanical damage, extending their storage life and expanding their transport range. Therefore, increasing the stability of fruit firmness through cross-pollination is crucial for improving their storage and transport properties.

[0090] 6. Comparison of Vitamin C Content between Hybridization and Selfing Treatments

[0091] Vitamin C content was determined by potassium permanganate titration. Figure 6 Table 7 shows that the vitamin C content of the water melon self-cross CK1 solution ranged from 6.37 to 7.35 mg, with an average of 6.91 mg. The vitamin C content of the solution of treatment A (water melon × loofah) ranged from 5.95 to 9.38 mg, with an average of 7.68 mg. The vitamin C content of the solution of loofah self-cross CK2 ranged from 6.23 to 8.54 mg, with an average of 7.43 mg. The vitamin C content of the solution of treatment B (loofah × water melon) ranged from 7.35 to 9.1 mg, with an average of 7.84 mg. Data analysis shows that the average vitamin C content of CK1 (water melon self-cross) is lower than that of treatment A (water melon × loofah); and the vitamin C content of CK2 (loofah self-cross) is lower than that of treatment B (loofah × water melon). This indicates that vitamin C has a clear super-parent advantage and possesses good genetic traits. The vitamin C content of the hybrid fruit is higher in nutritional value.

[0092] Table 7 Vitamin C content record table of hybridization and selfing treatment (mg / 100g)

[0093]

[0094] Depend on Figure 6 It can be seen intuitively that both hybrid water melons and loofahs exhibited advantages in vitamin C content. For water melons, hybrid treatment A (water melon x loofah) had a higher average vitamin C content than self-cross treatment CK1 (water melon self-cross), indicating that hybridization helps increase the vitamin C content of water melons. Similarly, hybrid treatment B (loofah x water melon) of loofahs also exhibited a higher average vitamin C content. This result was not only verified by laboratory measurements but also highlights the advantages of hybrid fruits from a nutritional and health perspective.

[0095] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. The hybrid breeding method of water melon and loofah is characterized in that, The method comprises the following steps: S1. Parent selection and cultivation: High-yield, tender water melon varieties and disease-resistant, prominently grooved loofah varieties are selected as parents and parent cultivation is performed on them; S2. Parental hybridization: using water melon as the female parent and loofah as the male parent for cross-pollination; or using loofah as the female parent and water melon as the male parent for cross-pollination; or self-pollinating water melon or loofah; S3. Seed cultivation: S3-1. Post-pollination management: 5-8 days after pollination, check the melon strips on the mother plant. Re-mark any hybrid melons that are not clearly marked. Remove any hybrid melons that are unclearly marked and cannot be identified as non-hybrid melons. S3-2. Hybrid Fruit Collection: Record the development of the fruit and observe whether the hybrid fruit has hybrid characteristics; keep some uniform-sized and well-developed melons to continue growing, and harvest them for seed production when the skin turns yellow-brown; S3-3. Collection of hybrid and self-propagated seeds: When the color of the melon turns yellow or becomes dry and yellow-brown, and the melon strips make a sound of seeds when shaken, they can be harvested. After harvesting, the melon strips are exposed to sunlight until the skin becomes crisp and the seeds are basically fallen off. Then cut the melon strips and knock them hard to take out all the seeds for classification. Then, use cardboard to expose the seeds to the sun for 5 to 7 days until all the moisture in the seeds evaporates. After drying, remove the poorly developed seeds and leave the high-quality seeds of uniform size. Pack them at room temperature, put a label paper in the bag with the name of the variety, collection date and other information, seal it and store it in a freezer.

2. the hybrid breeding method of water melon and loofah according to claim 1, is characterized in that, In step S2, the method for cross-pollination of water melon as the female parent and loofah as the male parent is as follows: 1) Pollen preparation: In the evening between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, select fresh and healthy male flowers of the male parent loofah and collect pollen with a brush; 2) Female flower preparation: Select the female flowers of the female water melon plant that are about to bloom, remove the petals, and expose the stigma; 3) Pollination: Apply the pollen stuck on the brush evenly to the stigma, bag the flowers after pollination, and record them with a label, i.e. number the parents and mark the pollination date.

3. the hybrid breeding method of water melon and loofah according to claim 1, is characterized in that, In step S2, the method for performing hybrid pollination using loofah as the female parent and water melon as the male parent is as follows: A. Pollen preparation: Select fresh and healthy male flowers of the male parent water melon from 7:00-8:00 in the morning and collect pollen with a brush; B. Preparation of female flowers: Select the female flowers of the female water melon plant that are about to bloom, remove the petals, and expose the stigma; C. Pollination: Apply the pollen stuck on the brush evenly to the stigma, bag the flowers after pollination, and record them with a label, that is, number the parents and mark the pollination date.

4. the hybrid breeding method of water melon and loofah according to claim 1, is characterized in that, The method for self-pollinating the water melon or the loofah in step S2 is: a. When the water melon or loofah is in bloom, use a brush to dip the pollen from the fresh male flowers of the same plant or a different plant, and apply it evenly to the fresh stigma of the female flowers. b. After pollination, bag the plants and record the numbers of the parents and the pollination date.

Images