China: Chemicals cause melons to explode

Fields of watermelons have been exploding in China after farmers gave them overdoses of growth chemicals during wet weather.

About 20 farmers around Danyang city in Jiangsu province were affected, losing up to 115 acres of melon.

Prices over the past year prompted many farmers to jump into the watermelon market. All of those with exploding melons were first-time users of the growth accelerator forchlorfenuron, although it has been widely available for some time, said China Central Television.

The farmers used it during a wet period and too late in the season, agricultural experts said.