Watermelons 'could be used as fuel'

Researchers in the US believe that watermelons may provide an unlikely source of renewable energy.

A study has revealed that ethanol biofuel can be fermented from the juice of "reject" watermelons that go unsold.

Scientists say the fruit could generate fuel at the rate of 220 litres per hectare, or 2.5 acres.

Dr Wayne Fish, from the US Department of Agriculture, said: "About 20% of each annual watermelon crop is left in the field because of surface blemishes or because they are misshapen.

"We've shown that the juice of these melons is a source of readily fermentable sugars, representing a heretofore untapped feedstock for ethanol biofuel production."

Writing in the online journal Biotechnology for Biofuels, researchers say watermelon juice could also be a useful source of the two health supplement "nutri-chemicals" lycopene and L-citrulline.

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant while L-citrulline improves blood flow.

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