Watermelon is a fruit that has been around for more than 2,000 years, and although truly new developments in how it’s grown are rare, they’re not unheard of. Several decades ago, the seedless watermelon was created thanks to the miracles of cross pollination. And, in the past decade, Japanese farmers have found a way to create watermelons shaped like squares and pyramids using molds to coax the watermelon into various forms while it grows.
Beyond that, the watermelon as we know it has remained virtually unchanged: a round or oblong fruit/vegetable with a sweet, red (or sometimes yellow) interior. But that all changed recently in a laboratory/greenhouse in San Jose, CA, when botanists, with the help of biologists from several area universities, were able to produce the first watermelon with a multicolored interior. Pictured below is one of the first watermelons grown using the new method.
By altering the structure of the carotenes and carotenoid pigments in the watermelon, the group was able to “reprogram” the watermelon’s genetic code to create a product with flesh in various hues based on a simple input in the first two weeks of the watermelon’s growth cycle. According to researchers, although the watermelon may look vastly different on the inside, the actual taste and nutritional benefits of the fruit remain unchanged.
The watermelons were grown in a controlled indoor environment between October 2009 and March 2010. For now, the experiment is limited to around 50 watermelons, but the researchers hope to perfect the technique over the next year in time for a large-scale, outdoor trial at a 100-acre farm near Sacramento, CA, in 2011 and have the multicolored watermelons – which they expect to sell for virtually the same price as regular watermelons – in select stores nationwide later that year.
View Comments (17)
Interesting looking watermelon. Since they supposedly taste the same and will be priced the same, I’d like to try one when they get to the East Coast.
I hope this is an April Fool’s joke, those colors make it look nasty!
I agree, Marnie. A watermelon that ISN’T red, just doesn’t look quite the same.
I agree with Marnie B, it looks like a rainbow puked on the watermelon’s flesh!
I think it looks intresting…I’d be willing to try it, only reason I wouldn’t try it is if it isn’t safe for me to eat and since it is I’d like to give it a shot ….*wonders if it would turn my mouth different colors*
It kind of freaks me out that these could mix with red/pink watermelon… then all watermelon would accidently be brown and nasty inside?
anyone know where in texas they sell all the existing colors of watermelon? i’m near Houston. tedirving@yahoo.com. Thanks
Awesome! I think it’s facinating that you were able to accomplish this, and actually have an end result. I bet that this watermelon has some wicked flavor. Keep up the great work!
Oh come on people its obviously edited. You can see the blue on the green exterior. Its obviously fake. Horrible editing at that
If this I add true it mean this product has been genetically altered. You really want to eat that carp? Fruit and veggies are grown naturally like God intended, not in a lab!