# data[].attributes.body
I’m curious like how would melon grown via hydroponics would be different in term of its taste,the flavor compare to melon that grown in soil🧐 The distinctive sweet flavor it is ? the level of crunchiness it is? Really would like to see in real life situation on how particular farmer grow and managed so well for it to grow with hydroponic especially in the 3rd video,independently manage! Even did hand pollination himself! Motivation up up!

# data[].attributes.body
I always find it interesting whenever farmers are experimenting hybridization on fruits or any crops to see what type they would get, and it would always turn something this amazing. The way nature works would never disappoints me honestly.

I also love to see the farmers taking so much care of the crop throughout the process, really makes me believe that whatever crop they grow, it would definitely taste delicious.

# data[].attributes.body
true- true, I agree with you, bring me with you when you're going to try the watermelon one day. 😋
(but you pay, I'll just bring my tummy 😂😆)

# data[].attributes.body
I do think that there would be many consumer who would buy this watermelon eventhough the price is expensive compares to the ordinary watermelon. However the principle of quality over price is always the sustainable choice and becoming the more important than price to most consumers. Like here in the video I could literally see how much amount of time and care the Japanese farmer in managing the plant until it producing the best quality of watermelon out there. Just amazing! Would like to taste one in the future surely or perhaps i can even grow this

# data[].attributes.body
Personally, it's fascinating that despite the simple step-by-step instructions, it's really a delicate and precise technique as mention by Khairina and may possibly take a lot of trial and error.  It's also can be done at home since the required materials are easy to obtain.

However, the main drawbacks of hand-pollination are that it takes time and that fertilization is not assured. It might also need thorough staff training.

# data[].attributes.body
I find it interesting on how delicate the process of hand pollination as shown and maybe wanted to try to do it one day. This brings me to a question, why do we need to do a hand pollination ?

One of the reason is hand-pollination becomes useful when there is no pollinators around to pollinate the plants, such as in a greenhouse, closed room, balcony garden. Hence, with the hand pollination, it could help to increase the chance of successful pollination.

# data[].attributes.body
It really attracts me how the farmers really put 100% focus and care to the growth of the melon from start to finish. Not only that, the melons are also being transported to an auction site after harvesting where consumers are willing to pay high prices just to get the melons. This reflects how the consumers really take into account of the hard work that the producers or farmers put into to produce such high quality melons. Really hope Brunei will be able to do the same in the future.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
its a different type of melon (Didn't take a photo of the scars)

# data[].attributes.body
When he mentioned about the netting on the melon reminds me of the information I learn during field trip to ‘IAMFood’ company, where she explains that when the melon has a lot of scars on its skin, it will be very sweet than those with less scar/ smooth skin.

# data[].attributes.body
What intrigued me in this video was the length of the root system and how healthy they are, so I look up the function/ purpose of the Dyna-gro (7-9-5). I found out that the Dyna-gro has a high phosphorus ratio content, and for the roots to grow healthier, stronger and vigorously just like how the video shows, it needs a high phosphorus fertiliser (solution) so to allow it to absorb more nutrients.

Other than that, this video kind of reminds me of my father growing pumpkins in the backyard, kind of similar (letting it grow vertically) but different since they are not grown via hydroponic and they grow outside (under the sun).

# data[].attributes.body
🍉Benefits of Densuke watermelon:

Quick energy boost

aids in the prevention of dehydration

⬆️ concentration of nutrients > other watermelons.

nutrients: Zinc, Copper, Iron, Potassium

(Dogra, 2022)

# data[].attributes.body
All older flower should be pulled off to prevent shedding of pollen onto the freshly emasculated flower

Always clean pollinating tools thoroughly between crosses with 95% ethanol

Make sure the ethanol gets evaporated or cleared as it can kill pollen grains if not dried properly

# data[].attributes.body
Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis is the scientific name for a rockmelon, which is one of the Cucumis melo or'melon' species' variants.

Rockmelons are typically consumed fresh or raw, as in fruit salads, or with custard, ice cream, or pavlova, and are frequently found on antipasto platters and in salads.

# data[].attributes.body
While watching the video, I was curious as to why the Japanese were willing to spend a lot of money on watermelon, or this kind of fruit in general.

So, I found out that fruit in Japan has traditionally played an important role in their gift-giving culture. For example, a long time ago in the 14th century, Samurais would bring fruits such as tangerines 🍊 or melons 🍈 as a show of respect and loyalty to their hereditary military leader (Shogun).

Even though this mindset still persists until today, the price of the fruit is the most important sign instead of the fruit itself, which symbolises appreciation. Also, it's because of how the farmers in Japan devote their lives to growing/creating the perfect fruit they desired.

No wonder they are willing to pay it in a large sums of money.😲
(Dayman, 2018)

# data[].attributes.body
Advantages:

The purity of the race is maintained

Zero-waste of pollen grains

Ensures the elimination of recessive characters

Does not depend on external factors or pollinating agents for pollination.

Disadvantages:

Leads to the production of plants with less genetic diversity

Less seeds

Cannot produce new varieties of plants

Produce weak seeds due to the minute size of the endosperm

Without new characters introduced, the resultant offspring's’ immunity to diseases reduces.

# data[].attributes.body
Advantages:

Leads to the production of new varieties

More seeds produced and they are more viable

The seeds develop and germinate accurately and grow into healthier plants

Results in new types because cross-pollination can be carried out between two different types of the same species or even two species.

Disadvantages:

More wastage of pollen grains

Pollination may fail due to the distance barrier

May introduce some undesirable characters.

Does not depend on external factors or pollinating agents for pollination.

It is uneconomical for plants as they have to produce large, aromatic and nectar flowers to attract insects.

# data[].attributes.body
Selfing and crossing are critical steps in the crop improvement process. The precise measures employed to achieve self or cross-pollination of certain plants will be determined by the floral structure and regular pollination method.

(TNAU Agritech Portal, 2015)

# data[].attributes.body
🗣 Another thing worth mentioning is that the pipes are connected underground, allowing for the water to be returned back into the tank and recycled, making it a closed hydroponics system. This closed system helps save the amount of water used and reduces the amount of fertilizers needed as the water and nutrients are being recycled back into the system.

# data[].attributes.body
✅ The fact that this hydroponics farm is being operated outdoor during the planting phase really caught my attention because prior to this virtual field trip, I only came across with hydroponics farm that is operated indoor mainly using greenhouse to give the optimum environment for the plant to grow in as well as to control pest problems.

# data[].attributes.body
Weighs 2.5kg - 3.0kg each

1 growth cycle = 60-70 days, therefore 1 melon can be harvested from the same plant 5 times a year

1 plant = 1 melon, if there are several fruit buds present, only one will be selected and the rest will be cut off

# data[].attributes.body
They will be cleaned, polished and assigned according to their weight for sell.

# data[].attributes.headline
5. When the watermelon has been grown in the greenhouse, the best one will be placed on a plastic tray and the other melons will be removed in order to concentrate the nutrients on the chosen one.

# data[].attributes.subject
5. When the watermelon has been grown in the greenhouse, the best one will be placed on a plastic tray and the other melons will be removed in order to concentrate the nutrients on the chosen one.

# data[].attributes.body
note:
Green rind➡️ unripe
Black rind ➡️ ripe

# data[].attributes.headline
4. Prior planting it in the greenhouse, the seedlings will be tended for half a month

# data[].attributes.subject
4. Prior planting it in the greenhouse, the seedlings will be tended for half a month

# data[].attributes.headline
3. *The seedlings will be coupled with another melon sprout for hybridisation. (grafting)

# data[].attributes.subject
3. *The seedlings will be coupled with another melon sprout for hybridisation. (grafting)

# data[].attributes.body
Hybridisation: produces a hybrid by crossbreeding genetically different parents. As a result, polyploid offspring.
Polyploid: having more than two complete sets of chromosomes.

(Nature.com, 2022) (Woodhouse, M., Burkart-Waco, D. & Comai, L. ,2009)

# data[].attributes.body
Chillax with this music while browsing our blog!!

# data[].attributes.body
*important

Planting period: March
Harvesting period: May

# data[].attributes.body
⬜ I find it quite intriguing that this farm uses rectangular pipes for their hydroponics system instead of the typical cylindrical pipe which is used in other hydroponics farms. In addition to that, the upper part of the pipes can also be detached easily which makes it easy for the farmer to clean and maintain the pipes.

# data[].attributes.body
Byju's. What are the advantages and disadvantages of self-pollination and cross-pollination? Available at: https://byjus.com/questions/what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-self-and-cross-pollination/

Dayman, L. (2018). Why Melons in Japan Can Cost $27,000. [online] Culture Trip. Available at: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/why-melons-in-japan-can-cost-27000/

Lumen Learning. Self pollination and Cross-pollination. Biology for Majors II, Module 9: Plant reproduction. Available at: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-biology2/chapter/self-pollination-and-cross-pollination/

Miller, L. (2020). What is hand pollination – learn about hand pollination. [online] Available at https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/purpose-of-hand-pollination.htm

Nature.com. (2022). Plant hybridization - Latest research and news | Nature. [online] Available at: https://www.nature.com/subjects/plant-hybridization#:~:text=Definition,frequently%20results%20in%20polyploid%20offspring.

Ten Random Facts. 2022. Rockmelon - Ten Random Facts. [online] Available at: <http://tenrandomfacts.com/rockmelon/> [Accessed 21 April 2022].

Thomas Nelson. (2021). Densuke Watermelons: The Black Watermelon That Costs A Fortune. [online] Available at: https://thegardenmagazine.com/densuke-watermelons-the-black-watermelon-that-costs-a-fortune/

TNAU Agritech Portal (2015). Crop Improvement: Selfing and Crossing Techniques. Available at: https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/crop_improvement/crop_imprv_selfcross.html

Wikimedia Foundation. (2022). Pollination. Wikipedia. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollination

Woodhouse, M., Burkart-Waco, D. & Comai, L. (2009) Polyploidy | Learn Science at Scitable. [online] Available at: https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/polyploidy-1552814/#:~:text=Polyploidy%20is%20the%20heritable%20condition,groups%20of%20fish%20and%20amphibians.

‌

# data[].attributes.body
A well-developed flower that has not yet opened; immature but at the -1 or -2 days stage, is suitable for crossing. Below are the steps they took for the crossing:

First, they pull two or more sepals to expose petals on one side of the flower. After that, they removed the petals carefully with the help of a tweezer. Then they removed the anthers by skewing them using a pair of sharp tweezers. The flower should be emasculated carefully without hurting the stigma.

Next, they sliced open the anther cone lengthwise from a matured flower of the male parent using either a dissecting needle or scalpel. While holding the emasculated flower in one hand, they applied enough pollen to cover the stigma surface using a dissecting needle. Tagging the crossed inflorescence with the prepared tag. In the tag, they wrote:

1. the *female parent’s name X male parent’s name,

2. date of crossing and

3. name of crosser

If the cross is successful, buds can be observed after two to three days.

*Female parent’s name should come first

# data[].attributes.body
First, they selected the desired tomato plant's open and matured yellow flower. Either can do selfing:

1. gently shaking the anthers either with hands or mechanical vibrators OR

2. by collecting pollen from the anthers with the help of dissecting needle

Then, they would dab the pollen on the stigma. After that, they wrote the parent's name, indicating selfing, date, and initials on the tag. The inflorescence is then tagged with the prepared tag.

# data[].attributes.body
🍉Name: Densuke Watermelon
🍉One of the expensive fruit,
🍉Ranging from $250 to $6000 USD
🍉Produce a few dozens per year. (⬆️ care and maintenance)
🍉 It is regarded as a valuable gift for special events.
🍉 They were brought to auction sites.

# data[].attributes.body
🍉Features/ Characteristic:

Dark green-black rind (unique/ different from the other typical watermelon).

hard skin (shiny).

⬆️ Level of sweetness.

⬆️ Red, crispy

Contains fewer seeds.

(Thomas Nelson, 2021)

# data[].attributes.body
Location of the watermelon production:
Town of Toma, Nothern Island of Hokkaido, Japan.

# data[].attributes.body
🔄 I think it is also important to mention that the solution in the container used for hydroponics needs to be changed as what was stated by the farmer. It is essential to change the water because we need to add new mixture of water and nutrients into the hydroponics system to ensure that the plant as well as the fruit get balanced nutrients during the final stages of planting as what was supplied initially to the plant.

# data[].attributes.body
🍈 I find it interesting that the farmer emphasize on only having one fruit per fruiting vine so he cuts the vine to avoid another fruit from growing because if there are more than one fruit, the resources will need to be shared along the vine thus the fruit that is nearest to the main vine will get the most nutrients.

# data[].attributes.body
Let us get to know the detailed processes behind plant reproduction 👨‍🌾👩‍🌾🙆‍♂️

# data[].attributes.body
✂️ It is very interesting to see that the side vine is being pruned as the farmer said that the side vine will grow vigorously into another vine and will take up and use most of the nutrients which is not essential for the growth of the plant and also the fruit itself.

# data[].attributes.headline
🪴Opinion/ Thoughts: Growing Japanese Melon Hydroponic + Rock Melon Hydroponic

# data[].attributes.subject
🪴Opinion/ Thoughts: Growing Japanese Melon Hydroponic + Rock Melon Hydroponic

# data[].attributes.headline
🍉Opinion/ Thoughts: Black Melon Production

# data[].attributes.subject
🍉Opinion/ Thoughts: Black Melon Production

# data[].attributes.headline
🍅 Opinion/ Thoughts : Selfing & Crossing Tomato Plant

# data[].attributes.subject
🍅 Opinion/ Thoughts : Selfing & Crossing Tomato Plant

# data[].attributes.body
Khairina Umairah Binti Takiyaudin B20210129 🐑
Muhammad Izzul Haikal Bin Haji Mohammad Sofry B20210207 🦁
Muzfirah Ridwana Binti Madani B20200174 🐰
Nurin Aqilah Binti Ahmad Athery B20210218 🦉
Ummi Faridah binti Haji Mohd Ishak B20210340 🐨

# data[].attributes.body
Biological process

Pollen grains are transferred from an anther (male part of a plant) to the stigma (female part of the plant)

# data[].attributes.body
1. Wind

2. Water

3. Animal

# data[].attributes.body
Plant  Sexual Reproduction

# data[].attributes.headline
🐝Video 1: Selfing & Crossing Tomato Plant

# data[].attributes.subject
🐝Video 1: Selfing & Crossing Tomato Plant

# data[].attributes.body
Materials needed:

Tomato plant with flowers

Tags

Pencil or marker

Dissecting needle or scalpel

Tweezers

Ethanol wash

This technique involves two process, which is selfing and crossing

# data[].attributes.body
Selfing (self-pollination) occurs when pollen from the anther is deposited on the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant.

Crossing (cross-pollination) is the transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another bloom on a different individual of the same species.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
World's Most Expensive Watermelon - Japanese Black Watermelon Cultivation - Black Watermelon Farm

# data[].attributes.headline
🚰Video 3: Growing Japanese Melon Hydroponic

# data[].attributes.subject
🚰Video 3: Growing Japanese Melon Hydroponic

# data[].attributes.body
A trip to see the progress of how well this Japenese melon grow via hydroponics 😯

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Growing Japanese Melons Indoors in Hydroponic

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Figure shows the set up of the indoor Hydroponic

# data[].attributes.body
🍈Ichiba Kouji (Japanese Melon)

55-60 days to maturity

Round, green skinned, with a fine net and matures to over 3 lbs

Growing them hydroponically > require more water and nutrients than other types of hydroponic crops

Grow in: 20 gallon of water

Nutrients used:  Dyna-gro (7-9-5)

# data[].attributes.headline
🚿Video 4: Rock Melon Hydroponic in Malaysia

# data[].attributes.subject
🚿Video 4: Rock Melon Hydroponic in Malaysia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ladang Hidroponik Rock Melon Terbesar di Malaysia | HMA Hydrofarms Malaysia

# data[].attributes.body
📍 Location: 290 Jalan Sharif 1, Batu 8 Ijok, 45600 Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, Malaysia
🎀 Size: 1.25 acres
🧺 The biggest hydroponics rock melon producer in Malaysia
🍈 Has 8000 rock melon plants, 1 plant = 1 melon

# data[].attributes.body
🌼 It also caught to my attention  that the farmer himself is the one who self pollinate (hand-pollinating) the male flower with the female flower as these Japanese Melons are being grown indoor via hydroponics which means that there are no insects that are able to carry out such a task.

# data[].attributes.body
🌾 Occurs when the pollen grains from the anther of a plant are transferred to the stigma of the same plant

# data[].attributes.body
🌿Occurs when the pollen grainss from the anther of a plant are transferred to the stigma of a different plant

🌿Results in genetically varied offspring

# data[].attributes.body
🌷When a pollen grain lands on the tip of the stigma ,a pollen tube grows from it

Enzyme relased by pollen grain digest a pathway to the ovule for the male gametes to travel in

Once male gametes reach ovule,one of them fuses with ovum to form a zygote

Zygote will undergo cell division and development to form embryo of a seed

# data[].attributes.body
Begin here

# data[].attributes.headline
Suprisingly the plant actually progress really well under water >  Added one more plant : Honey Kiss Melon between the two plants

# data[].attributes.subject
Suprisingly the plant actually progress really well under water >  Added one more plant : Honey Kiss Melon between the two plants

# data[].attributes.body
Honey Kiss Melon: Fast growing plant

# data[].attributes.headline
Fast foward at 25 days: Quickly growing another inches and grow fruit

# data[].attributes.subject
Fast foward at 25 days: Quickly growing another inches and grow fruit

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
The purpose of hand pollination is to assist in the reproductive process of the plant (Miller L,2020)

# data[].attributes.body
How?

Ensure that melon plant has both male and female flowers

Both male and female melon flowers are ready for the pollination process when they are open

When melon flowers open, they will only be ready for pollinating for about a day, so it is needed to move quickly to hand pollinate melons.

Two methods:

The first is to use the male flower itself  or to use a paintbrush.

(Miller L,2020)

# data[].attributes.body
Look at the roots of the plants 😮

# data[].attributes.body
1 plant produce 2 melons

Started to have netting indicating the melon is almost mature