访谈录 2008-07-15&07-16 西瓜=伟哥（在线收听）

"The chemicals that are in the watermelon rind work much like Viagra.

Oh, rollick!

Give me two more. "

Just a week after the annual Watermelon Thump celebration in Luling, there's something new that watermelon growers can hang their hat on.

The rind on watermelons has some of the same effects as Viagra.

Really?

Yes.

Really?

Ha ha ha

Well give me another one.

I'll get some more.

Hah……

The director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center has discovered that watermelons have an ingredient that delivers Viagra-like effects and may even increase libido.

Maybe you need to raise the price.

I don't get used to it.

Ha ha ha

There is a catch. The phyto-nutrient called citrulline that relaxes the blood vessels is found in the highest concentrations in the part you generally don't eat, the watermelon rind.

Would it take like a whole watermelon rind to eat to do any good, I mean you might get yourself sick before you get yourself any help.

Have you ever eaten the rind?

No, but I must start right now.

Rinds are used in watermelon pickles and they are Kelly Allen's specialty.

My husband loves these, I don't know if it's because he eats these or not, but he dosen't have a problem.

Neither does Hoyt Alford, according to his girl friend, Lois.

I don't know that you need them.

Oh, thank you. That's a compliment, isn't it?

Scientists are working to breed watermelons with higher concentrations of citrulline in the flesh, which may change Luling's image from being known for watermelons to something else.

It might be a new aspect to our watermelon growing, I can tell you that, No pun intended,  but, you know, but...

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phyto-: of plants

citrulline: An amino acid, NH2CONH(CH2)3CHNH2COOH, which occurs in watermelons and is an intermediate in urea synthesis in animals.