Student boy and watermelon ... pyramid

Dinh Tran Nguyen on a square watermelon bed ( Photo: TTO )

Dinh Tran Nguyen is the son of agricultural engineer Dinh Cong Muoi and Dr. Tran Thi Ba. He is a second year student in cultivation of Can Tho University. On Tet, Tuat, Nguyen gave birth to a square and pyramid-shaped watermelon, creating a breakthrough in the growing of watermelon and export.

This is a new fruit produced in Japan, priced at 80 USD / fruit; In Vietnam, this new watermelon of Nguyen costs 500,000 VND / pair.

The idea of ​​a square watermelon

In 2004, the TV program introduced a square watermelon in Japan. Listening to many people discussing, I paid attention to this topic. After that, wandering on Can Tho University's website, I unexpectedly met the 'Square Watermelon' forum on December 13, 2004! The initiator of this forum is the assistant principal Do Van Xe, with many teachers at home and abroad. Some say it is a product of transgenic technology.

Mr. Duong Minh (Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology) again asserted: Japanese people pressed the mold! Some people say that if there is a square watermelon, even if they are expensive, they will buy it home to celebrate Tet. In Vietnam, there has been no published research on the production of square watermelons, nor have any artisans created it. Only people carved on a melon to boil in three days of Tet.

From there, I started on the Internet to access everything related to square watermelons around the world. But only find a few images of square watermelon and the price of 80 USD / fruit in Japan. Absolutely no technical information about it.

I brought this story to my parents and was encouraged. And I bravely started experimenting in the watermelon season in 2005. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful. Millions of parents give to do experiments also . go off! In 30 starting points, only four and a small size can be harvested, less than 14cm each side.

Fortunately, after Tet, around March 2005, Can Tho University announced that it had funding to support students in scientific research. It seems that luck is about to come, I boldly register the topic 'Study of technical measures to create square watermelon and pyramid shape (mountain fruit) to serve for Tet'.

I don't know if it's approved or not, but I continue to experiment with different ways, with high determination. By May 7-2005, the school announced I was subsidized 5 million for research. I rushed to buy mold making materials, to find farmers to cooperate, to monitor daily the development of the melon to put it into the mold accordingly .

Result

Photo: TTO

At Binh Tuat, I produced 14 fruits out of 50 fruits. The technical problem is not simple because the side effect arises when the watermelon is inserted . 'cell'!

This explains why melons produced in Japan cost up to 80 USD. I bring to Xuan Khanh market, Can Tho city for sale on Tet days. A couple of melons sold for VND 500,000 and still had buyers. The last pair, someone is willing to pay up to VND 650,000, but I do not dare sell for fear . great breed!

According to the research contract with Can Tho University, by July 2006, I will transfer the entire production process. Hopefully by then I will improve the process to make it more productive and able to be popular.

BAO DINH