First there were square watermelons, but from next summer, fans of the thirst-quenching fruit will be able to eat one just like an apple.

The downsized gourd will have a very thin skin and no seeds, a feat which has followed the successful deciphering of the watermelon genome sequence.

Sixteen Chinese and foreign research institutions, including the Beijing Vegetable Research Center (BVRC) and Cornell University, published papers in academic magazine Nature Genetics on November 16, declaring the completion of the watermelon genome, the Beijing News reported Wednesday.

Xu Yong, director with BVRC and team leader of the research project, said the "apple watermelon" has not been genetically engineered. 

They selected their target genes from different kinds of watermelons, and got the new seed through crossbreeding technology, said Xu.

"The watermelon has nothing to do with apple genes, it's only similar in size," he said, adding that since all the genes are selected from those that already exist in watermelons, the new variety will be safe to eat.

"The apple watermelon is seedless, sweeter and the skin is thinner," he said. "It will be more expensive than regular watermelons but not beyond consumers' purchasing power."

Zhang Qian, 31, a watermelon lover in Dongcheng district, said she would buy one out of curiosity.

"Genetic engineering isn't widely understood by us regular consumers. As for me, I can only trust those naturally grown fruits," she said.

Han Bin, director with the National Center for Gene Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, suggests consumers should not worry too much about genetic engineering.

"New kinds of crops or fruits from conventional crossbreeding are safe," he noted.