Drought-resistant melons were bred in the USA

Researchers at Texas A&M have developed two new melon hybrids, Supermelon and Flavorific, with deeper root systems to combat drought by extracting more water from the soil, as reported in a study on ResearchGate. The goal was to combine traits for disease resistance, yield, retail appeal, and palatability, achieved by selecting for healthy plants and strong root systems in disease-prone environments. Initial reports indicate that the melons are sweet with dense flesh, and they have the potential to become a superfood of the future.