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Article: A new world of watermelon: ARS develops low-sugar melons, finds mini-fruit rich in key nutrients.(Agricultural Research Service)
- Article from:
- Agricultural Research
- Article date:
- December 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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There's a lot happening in the world of watermelons. Just ask researchers at ARS's South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Lane, Oklahoma.
For starters, plant geneticist Angela Davis is developing low-sugar watermelons. These melons, which still maintain high lycopene levels, would be welcomed by diabetics.
Meanwhile, plant physiologist Penelope Perkins-Veazie has followed up previous work--in which she confirmed watermelon as a high-lycopene food (See "Watermelon Packs a Powerful Lycopene Punch," Agricultural Research, June 2002)--by finding that lycopene and beta-carotene are abundant in mini-watermelons, a niche product that's recently seen ...