OJEIFO I.M., EMUH F.N.
Abstract
Infliction of injury on the fruit of egusi seed melon is a prerequisite for the fruit rot to enable seed extraction.
The effects of large, medium and small fruit sizes and three injury infliction techniques on egusi- melon fruits were
evaluated to determine the best procedure to hasten rottening of the fruits prior to seed extraction. Large fruits
tended to rot at a faster rate, but the small sized fruits completed rotting 2 days earlier than the large fruits
which rotted about 10 days after inflicting injury on the fruits of melon. Method of inflicting injury significantly
affected all the variables taken and clubbing was generally better than other methods in terms of depth of rot, rate
of rot, cost of inflicting injury and damage to seeds
Key words:
Citrullus lanatus , injury infliction, fruits rot, seed extraction