An archaeobotanical contribution to the history of watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai (syn. C. vulgaris Schrad.)

@article{Wasylikowa2004AnAC,
  title={An archaeobotanical contribution to the history of watermelon, Citrullus lanatus
(Thunb.) Matsum. \& Nakai (syn. C. vulgaris Schrad.)},
  author={Krystyna Wasylikowa and Marijke van der Veen},
  journal={Vegetation History and Archaeobotany},
  year={2004},
  volume={13},
  pages={213-217}
}
  • K. Wasylikowa, M. Veen
  • Published 18 June 2004
  • Environmental Science
  • Vegetation History and Archaeobotany
The discovery of several 5000-year old seeds of wild watermelon, Citrullus lanatus, at an archaeological site Uan Muhuggiag in southwest Libya, re-opens the debate on the origin, wild distribution and domestication history of this species. The seeds were found within a plant assemblage of wild seeds and fruits, associated with pottery and bones of domestic animals belonging to Neolithic pastoralists. The presumed wild progenitor of the modern cultivar C. lanatus is today found exclusively in a… 
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It is implied that sweet watermelon originates from West, not southern Africa as previously believed, and that the South African citron melon has been independently domesticated.
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The cultivated and wild watermelon appear to have diverged independently from a common ancestor, possibly C. ecirrhosus from Namibia, and the most ancient citroides haplotype originated in Swaziland and South Africa resulting in colonization routes from this area all over the world.
Chromosome numbers, Sudanese wild forms, and classification of the watermelon genus Citrullus, with 50 names allocated to seven biological species
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To help improve Citrullus taxonomy and nomenclature, some 50 scientific names to seven biological species are allocated, chromosome counts are correct, and notes on misidentified germplasms traceable by accession numbers are provided.
A 3500-year-old leaf from a Pharaonic tomb reveals that New Kingdom Egyptians were cultivating domesticated watermelon
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It is shown that modern cultivars and the ancient plant uniquely share mutations in a lycopene metabolism gene (LYCB) affecting pulp color and a stop codon in a transcription factor regulating bitter cucurbitacin compounds, implying that the plant sequenced had red-fleshed and sweet fruits and that New Kingdom Egyptians were cultivating domesticated watermelons.
Origin and domestication of Cucurbitaceae crops:insights from phylogenies, genomics and archaeology.
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Insights on cucurbit domestication from new phylogenies, archaeology, and genomic studies are reviewed, suggesting that an annual life cycle may have contributed to domestication.
New insights about economic plants during the 6th–2nd centuries bc in Sardinia, Italy
A research project carried out in Santa Giusta lagoon, Sardinia, since 2005 has revealed the presence of Phoenician and Punic waterlogged archaeological contexts of exceptional importance. Several…
Black Watermelon Bug, Coridius viduatus (F.) (Heteroptera: Dinidoridae) in Hatay Region of Turkey
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In these studies, it was observed that the pest was able to complete its life cycle when only squirting cucumber and watermelon were used as food sources.
Variability of agro-morphological traits in some Moroccan watermelon landraces (Citrullus lanatus Thunb. Matsum. and Nakai)
A total of five Moroccan landraces and four modern varieties of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) were characterized for morphological characteristics. The experimental design was a randomized complete…
Changing foodways: watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) consumption in Roman and Islamic Quseir al-Qadim, Egypt
The identification of size differences in watermelon seeds recovered at Roman and Islamic period Quseir al-Qadim, Egypt, initiated research into the signature of seed eating. Distinct breakage…
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