Question

Which of the following is NOT a true indicator of fruit ripening stage of watermelon?

• A. Withering of the tendril near the place of fruit attachment
• B. Change of ground spot colour of the fruit
• C. Dull-thud sound on thumping the fruit
• D. Changing in fruit shape

Hint:

Common signs of watermelon ripeness:
Tendril near fruit dries.
Ground spot turns from white to yellow.
Dull sound when thumped. Fruit shape is established early and doesn't change to indicate ripeness.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Determining the ripeness of watermelon before harvesting is crucial. Several indicators are commonly used:
(1) Withering of the tendril near the place of fruit attachment: The tendril closest to the fruit often dries up and turns brown as the watermelon ripens. This is a reliable indicator.
(2) Change of ground spot colour of the fruit: The spot where the watermelon rests on the ground (ground spot) changes from a pale white or light green to a creamy yellow or richer yellow color as it ripens. This is another good indicator.
(3) Dull-thud sound on thumping the fruit: A ripe watermelon typically produces a dull, hollow thud when thumped, whereas an immature fruit gives a sharper, more metallic sound. This is a common, though somewhat subjective, indicator.
(4) Changing in fruit shape: The basic shape of the watermelon fruit is determined early in its development and does not significantly change as an indicator of ripening. While the fruit swells and increases in size during maturation, its fundamental shape (round, oblong, etc.) remains consistent. This is NOT a true indicator of the ripening stage. Therefore, a change in fruit shape is not a reliable indicator of watermelon ripeness. Changing in fruit shape

Answer 2

Sorting indicators by what actually changes at ripening:
Three of the listed cues genuinely change as the fruit matures: the nearby tendril dries and browns, the ground (belly) spot deepens from pale to creamy yellow, and the internal tissue changes enough to alter the sound produced on thumping from metallic to dull.
Fruit shape, however, is fixed early by the cultivar's genetics and fruit-set pattern; growth after that stage only increases size, it does not alter the basic round/oblong outline.
Since shape does not track ripening the way the other three cues do, changing in fruit shape is the indicator that is NOT a true ripeness cue.