Yuliang Jiang^1,2

1 Hangzhou Liangyi Agriculture Development Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, 311113, Zhejiang, China
2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Computational Molecular Biology, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 2   
Received: 18 Jan., 2026    Accepted: 22 Feb., 2026    Published: 05 Mar., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit weight is a crucial indicator for assessing both yield and commercial value, and it is subject to the combined influence of various environmental factors. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms by which environmental factors govern watermelon fruit weight formation, this study-grounded in the biological processes of fruit development—systematically analyzed the impact patterns of key environmental variables (including temperature, light, water, and soil nutrients) on fruit expansion and dry matter accumulation. Building upon this foundation, field experiments were conducted across multiple environmental settings to acquire data on watermelon fruit weight and related growth parameters; subsequently, utilizing a combination of statistical analysis and modeling techniques, a fruit weight formation model applicable to diverse cultivation conditions was constructed. The model was further employed to simulate and validate watermelon fruit weights under various ecological environments; the results demonstrated that the model possesses high predictive accuracy and stability, effectively capturing the dynamic responses of fruit weight formation to fluctuations in environmental factors. Furthermore, through case studies, the potential applications of the model in irrigation scheduling, fertilization management, and the optimization of controlled-environment cultivation systems were explored. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis and technical support for achieving high-yield, high-quality watermelon cultivation, while also offering a valuable reference for the broader application and extension of fruit development models within the field of horticultural crops.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus); Fruit weight formation; Environmental factors; Model construction; Fruit development