What is the difference between male and female watermelon?

In this article we will answer the question”What is the difference between male and female watermelon?” and discuss the different varieties of watermelon as well as the benefits and risks of eating watermelon.

What is the difference between male and female watermelon?

There is no difference between male and female watermelon, because there is only one type of watermelon. There are no female or male watermelon fruits. 

The generation of a watermelon fruit is possible when a female flower of the watermelon plant is pollinated by pollen from a male flower of the watermelon plant (1,2). 

How are watermelons produced?

Watermelons are produced from watermelon plants which produce both male and female flowers, called monoecious; or by plants that produce both male and bisexual flowers, called andromonoecious (1).

The fruit is, however, the development of the pollinated female or bisexual flower, whereas the male flower cannot develop and form a fruit.  

The fruit is a result from the development of the ovary part of the female flower that has been pollinated by bees, which carried pollen from the male flower to the female flower (2). 

What is the difference between male and female watermelon flowers?

The difference between male and female watermelon flowers is that female flowers have a female morphology with an enlarged receptacle and inferior ovary at the base flower, resembling a small watermelon fruit (3).

The male watermelon flower is of male morphology, called androecium, which is composed of modified leaves called stamens.

Are there different types of watermelon fruits?

Yes, there are different types of watermelon fruits. The different varieties have particularities and differences in the color of the rind and flesh, as well as different formats, sizes and sweetness. 

Some commercialized and common varieties of watermelon and their characteristics are (4):

VarietyFruit shapeMain rind colorStripe colorFlesh colorSeed color
Sugar BabyRoundDark greenMedium GreenRedBrown
Yellow crimsonRoundLight greenDark greenYellowDark Brown
Crimson sweetRoundLight greenDark greenRedBrown
Charleston greyEllipticGrayLight greenPinkBrown

What are the benefits and drawbacks of eating watermelon?

The benefits of eating watermelon are (5,6,7):

  • Source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant. The consumption of lycopene is related to the reduction of the risks of developing diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart diseases
  • Watermelon is reported to have many health benefits due to its components, which include lycopene, vitamin C and citrulline
  • Watermelon contains B vitamins, especially B1 and B6, as well as minerals such as potassium and magnesium

The drawbacks of eating watermelon are:

  • The consumption of watermelon can lead to the fermentation of this sugar in the intestines, resulting in a slower gastric emptying, stomach pain, distention, dyspepsia and nausea, due to the high amount of fructose
  • Watermelon contains sugars and should be consumed with moderation by diabetics
  • Due to the presence of fructose, watermelon should be avoided by individuals following low-FODMAP diet

Other FAQs about Watermelon that you may be interested in.

What is the difference between male and female watermelon?

What makes watermelon sweet?

What are the yellow spots on watermelon?

What happens if you eat too much watermelon?

Conclusion

In this article we answered the question”What is the difference between male and female watermelon?” and discussed the different varieties of watermelon as well as the benefits and risks of eating watermelon.

References

  1. Manzano, Susana, et al. Involvement of ethylene in sex expression and female flower development in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Plant Physiol Biochem, 2014, 85, 96-104.
  2. Watermelon. Citrullus lanatus. Washington State University
  3. Tom Michaels, T. et al .The Science of Plants. Understanding Plants and How They Grow. 2022.
  4. Gichimu, Bernard M., et al. Morphological characterization of some wild and cultivated watermelon (Citrullus sp.) accessions in Kenya. ARPN J Agric Biol Sci, 2009. 
  5. Muir, Jane G., et al. Fructan and free fructose content of common Australian vegetables and fruit. J agric food chem, 2007, 55, 6619-6627. 
  6. Naz A, Butt MS, Sultan MT, Qayyum MM, Niaz RS. Watermelon lycopene and allied health claims. EXCLI J. 2014 ,1, 650-60.
  7. Tack, Jan, et al. Evidence-Based and Emerging Dietary Approaches to Upper Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction. Am J Gastroenterol, 2022, 117, 965.

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