Lovers of the juicy, red watermelon might soon be able to eat the summer fruit without spitting out pesky black seeds thanks to an undergraduate who started growing a seedless version as an experiment.

Charles Zahra, who comes from a family of farmers, is growing four varieties of seedless watermelon on a Għargħur farm as part of his B.Sc. Mediterranean Agro Eco-System Management course.

Mr Zahra told Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino – who visited the farm yesterday – that his project focused on growing different types of watermelon.

The project, carried out in collaboration with the University’s Rural Sciences Department, is attempting to determine the amount of lycopene, which gives the fruit its red colour, in different varieties of watermelon.

Three different experiments are being carried out at the Zahra farm with eight varieties of watermelon – of which four are seedless as the pips do not fully form. These watermelons are being sold by the Zahra family at various farmers’ markets.

The research focuses on the nutritious elements of the watermelon. The fruit, which is high in potassium, helps to control blood pressure and improve circulation.