The combining ability among watermelon genotypes was estimated, using a dialelic cross system (3x3). The experiment was carried out in Embrapa Rondônia, at Porto Velho, Brazil. The crossings were performed using the cvs. Sugar Baby and Kodama and the access BA-09 in all possible hybrid combinations, including reciprocals. A randomized block design was used with nine treatments, four replications and four plants per plot. We evaluated the number of days for the appearance of the first male and female flowers; number of the shoots where the first male and and female flowers appeared; main vine length; number of fruits per plant; production per plant; fruit weight; soluble solid content; transversal and axial fruit diameter; rind thickness at stalk area and at the floral scar area. Data were submitted to the analysis of variance and the dialelic analysis was done using Griffing's method I. Most of the characters is controlled simultaneousily by additive and not-additive genic effects. This work demonstrated the potencial of the cross between 'Sugar Baby' and 'Kodama' as basic material to develope segregant bulks, in which it will be possible to select promising recombinants to obtain prolific plants, small fruits and high soluble solid content.
Citrullus lanatus; genetic breeding; hybrid
