Citron watermelon [Citrullus lanatus var. citroides (L.H. Bailey) Mansf. ex Greb.] is an important genetic resource serving for food, feed, and breeding dessert watermelon (C. lanatus var. lanatus) and other cross-compatible species. Wide phenotypic variation exists among South African citron watermelon landraces which are yet to be systematicaly assessed for diverse uses and cultivar design. The objective of this study was to assess phenotypic diversity of citron watermelon landrace accessions of South Africa and to select desirable genotypes with suitable agronomic and horticultual traits for direct production, breeding and conservation. Thirty six citron watermelon landrace accessions were evaluated under field conditions in two seasons using a 6 × 6 alpha lattice design with three replicates. Data on key qualitative and quantitative traits were collected and subjected to non-parametric and parametric statistical analyses. The accessions showed wide phenotypic variation and unique traits for genetic improvement. Positive and significant correlations (p < 0.001) were recorded between total fruit yield per plant with plant height (r = 0.64), number of harvestable fruits (r = 0.70), number of marketable fruits (r = 0.73) and marketable fruit yield (r = 0.96). Seed yield per plant positively and significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with number of male flowers (r = 0.68), plant height (r = 0.61) and total fruit yield (r = 0.79). Prinicipal component analysis identified nine components which accounted for 86.38% of total variation amongst accessions for assessed phenotypic traits. Citron watermelon accessions WWM16, WWM67 and WWM79 were high-yielding suitable for fruit production for food or livestock feed. Accessions namely WWM03, WWM09, WWM16, WWM39, WM64 and WWM76 produced high fruit number and marketable fruit yield per plant which are recommended as parental genotypes for breeding. Furthermore, accessions WWM04, WWM15, WWM24, WWM28, WWM46, WWM66, WWM68, WWM76 and WWM79 were selected with higher seed production for the food or feed industry. The study recommends citron watermelon accessions such as WWM14, WWM16, WWM39, WWM41, WWM67 and WWM79 for use as leafy vegetables owing to their profuse branching ability and longer vine production. Whereas accessions including WWM03, WWM17, WWM35, WWM40, WWM50, WWM67, WWM79 and WWM85 are selected with larger fruit size. Accessions WWM05 and WWM09 are sour-flesh types which are suitable genetic stocks for breeding sweet-and-sour dessert watermelons. Orange-fleshed accessions such as WWM03, WWM04, WWM46, WWM64, WWM66 and WWM67 are recommended for fresh consumption, cooking, processing or variety design. Accessions WWM02, WWM03, WWM08, WWM14, WWM16, WWM23, WWM38, WWM40, WWM41 and WWM67 have red and white seed coat colour which are superior selections to prepare roasted citron watermelon seed snack.

柚子西瓜[ Citrullus lanatus var。柠檬酸（LH Bailey）Mansf。前Greb]是服务于食品，饲料，育种西瓜甜点（一个重要的遗传资源C.西瓜变种西瓜）和其他交叉兼容的物种。南非柚子西瓜地方品种之间存在广泛的表型差异，尚未对其各种用途和品种设计进行系统评估。这项研究的目的是评估南非柚子西瓜地方品种的表型多样性，并选择具有合适农艺和园艺性状的理想基因型，以直接生产，育种和保存。在六个季节的田间条件下，使用6个6个α晶格设计和三个重复样品，评估了36个柚子西瓜地方品种。收集有关关键定性和定量性状的数据，并进行非参数和参数统计分析。这些种质表现出广泛的表型变异和独特的遗传改良性状。p  <0.001）记录在每株植物的总果实产量与株高之间（r  = 0.64），可收获果实的数量（r  = 0.70），可出售水果的数量（r  = 0.73）和可出售水果的产量（r  = 0.96）之间。每株植物的正和显著（种子产量p  <0.001）的雄花（数相关- [R  = 0.68），植物高度（[R  = 0.61）和总果实产量（ř = 0.79）。亲本成分分析确定了九个成分，占评估表型性状在种质中总变异的86.38％。柚子西瓜品种WWM16，WWM67和WWM79高产，适合用于食品或牲畜饲料的水果生产。诸如WWM03，WWM09，WWM16，WWM39，WM64和WWM76的单株产生较高的果实数量和可销售的果实产量，建议将其作为育种的亲本基因型。此外，为食品或饲料行业选择了种子产量更高的登录号WWM04，WWM15，WWM24，WWM28，WWM46，WWM66，WWM68，WWM76和WWM79。该研究建议将柚子西瓜品种（例如WWM14，WWM16，WWM39，WWM41，WWM67和WWM79）用作多叶蔬菜，因为它们具有丰富的分支能力和较长的葡萄树产量。而包括WWM03，WWM17，WWM35，WWM40，WWM50，WWM67，WWM79和WWM85的种质则选择较大的果实。保藏号WWM05和WWM09是酸肉类型的，是适合于甜酸甜甜西瓜育种的遗传资源。对于新鲜食用，烹饪，加工或品种设计，建议使用橙皮的保藏号，例如WWM03，WWM04，WWM46，WWM64，WWM66和WWM67。保藏号WWM02，WWM03，WWM08，WWM14，WWM16，WWM23，WWM38，WWM40，WWM41和WWM67具有红色和白色的种皮颜色，是制备柚子西瓜种子点心的上等选择。对于新鲜食用，烹饪，加工或品种设计，建议使用橙皮的保藏号，例如WWM03，WWM04，WWM46，WWM64，WWM66和WWM67。保藏号WWM02，WWM03，WWM08，WWM14，WWM16，WWM23，WWM38，WWM40，WWM41和WWM67具有红色和白色的种皮颜色，是制备柚子西瓜种子点心的上等选择。对于新鲜食用，烹饪，加工或品种设计，建议使用橙皮的保藏号，例如WWM03，WWM04，WWM46，WWM64，WWM66和WWM67。保藏号WWM02，WWM03，WWM08，WWM14，WWM16，WWM23，WWM38，WWM40，WWM41和WWM67具有红色和白色的种皮颜色，是制备柚子西瓜种子点心的上等选择。