Kiwano!

20 years ago

Here's another school project that interested me maybe someone can help with. Learning at 50 is not easy but better late than never! I have some Kiwano seeds and want to try and breed it with something else that will produce a sweeter taste to it. It's really bitter. But not bad in small small doeses. It's from S. Africa and out of the melon family and has 24 chromosomes. I know a few have tried various watermelon types with no success. Too new at this to know what to try. Maybe some of you more expreinced people can direct me. THank you Ella

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Comments (5)

seedyoulater
20 years ago
YOU CAN TRY GERKINS , , CUKES REGULAR AND GUTA, MELONS . cantalopes , watermelons, the odds are against you but try anyway.
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Raymondo
20 years ago
The scientific literature abounds with the results of unsuccesful attempts at crossing Cucumis metuliferus with others in the same genus. Believe me they've tried hard because this melon has some very desirable resistance characteristics that melon growers the world over would love to have. But so far zip! If the techos, who are so keen to cross it, haven't managed, I wouldn't even bother trying.
Being a melon it's probably an outbreeder which means there may well be a lot of genetic heterogeneity (lots of different combinations of genes). This gives you the possibility that in a field if kiwano you might strike a plant with sweet or at least less bitter fruit - maybe. But are you going to plant a field of kiwano on that basis?
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Hot, dry conditions are best for preventing powdery mildew. The plants are grown similarly to cucumbers. Caution is in order because Kiwanos have a "weedy" nature; they are vigorous climbers and robust plants which can quickly take over. The fruit forms in clusters with the fruit closest to the plant center maturing first. They have to be cut from the vine, gloves should be worn, and care taken not to puncture a neighboring fruit with the spines. USDA storage recommendations are 50Â° to 60Â°F at 90 percent relative humidity, with an approximate storage life of 6 months. Do not stack the fruit as the spines can puncture other fruit. (the spines on the fruit you purchased may have been sanded to dull them for shipment)
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cantaloupes and cukes can crossbreed It is rare however the "guta" Armenian cuke actually a melon . pumpkins can only crossbreed with :gourds ,squash , other pumpkins . The Big Max is a "squashkin" . You can try all cantaloupes , gherkins, cukes , but there are no guarentees . I do not believe the horned melon has been crossed with anything yet. You could be the first . Maybe a loofa would cross with pumkins or kiwanoes.
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Hi, You can save seeds from your Kiwano( In case anyone else is wondering what it is, it is Cucumis metuliferous. It also goes by the nicknames- Horn Melon, African Horned Cucumber, Jelly Melon, and probably a few others I don't know, lol.) It does need to be fermented like a tomato. There is an outer casing that comes off the actual seed with fermentation. About Red Currants, I'm not postive. I do know I get seedlings from my Jostaberry(currant-gooseberry cross) popping up in the spring. So I'm betting they need a cold period to germinate. Remy
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Raymondo
20 years ago
Sorry, I've mislead you. Apparently, the kiwano is cross compatible with the musk melons, Cucumis melo L. which includes Muskmelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, and Sugar melon among others. However, I've not read the sources which claim this so I have no idea under what circumstances these crosses were obtained.
You could give it a go using both as 'mother'. In other words try Honeydew pollen on a kiwano female flower and the reverse.
Have you tried breeding before? If not and you decide to give it a go, look up the literature (internet is easiest) on how to cross melons or squash. You will need to know something about breeding a new plant in general as well. Can I suggest Carol Deppe's book 'Breeding your own vegetables' 2nd edition which you might get through your local library or bookshop if you want to buy. It's a great intro for the backyard gardener.
Good luck and please post updates regularly.
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KarenDK
19 years ago
I bought a kiwano melon recently and was surprised by all the seeds! So of course I tried planting them in soil (for seeds) and today only 3 days after I have lots of seedlings.
Does anybody know how to take care of the seedlings? So far I have kept the soil covered with plastic on a warm windowsill.
happy easter...
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keking
19 years ago
Here's one paper that reported fruit formation but no viable seeds:

Euphytica 128(3): 371-374 (January 2002)

Incompatibility in diploid and tetraploid crosses of Cucumis sativus and Cucumis metuliferus
S.Â AlanÂ Walters1 and ToddÂ C.Â Wehner2

(1)Â Department of Plant, Soil, and General Agriculture, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901-4415, U.S.A
(2)Â Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7609, U.S.A

AbstractÂ Â The African horned cucumber (Cucumis metuliferus Naud.; 2x = 2n = 24) contains genes that can confer resistance to many important cucumber (C. sativus L.; 2x = 2n = 14) pests [e.g., root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood]. Cucumber is highly susceptible to this root-knot nematode species, and a recent screening of C. sativus accessions in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm collection did not identify sources of resistance. Thus, autotetraploids of Cucumis sativus and C. metuliferus were created to recover fertile resistant interspecific progeny. Autotetraploids were obtained at the highest rate when seeds were immersed in 0.5% colchicine for a period of 6 to 8 hrs. Treatment durations less than 6 hrs produced few tetraploids, and durations of 10 hrs or more were lethal to seeds or developing seedlings. Crosses between C. sativus and C.metuliferus were made using diploid and tetraploid lines in all possible combinations, including reciprocals. Fruit development occurred in crosses when diploid and tetraploid C. sativus were used as the female parent. However, seeds developed only in fruit of C. sativus (4n) ÃC. metuliferus (2n) crossings. Seeds from these crosses, however, were flat and not viable. No fruit development occurred in crosses where C. metuliferus was used as the female parent.

Success was achieved (apparently -- I haven't read the article) by making somatic hybrids -- fusing cells from two species.

Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report No. 14, July 1991
Selective methods for the recovery of somatic hybrids of Cucumis melo x C. metuliferus and C. sativus x C. metuliferus
M. Dabauza, L.A. Roig and V. Moreno (Spain)

Karl
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Kiwano!

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