Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 8:39-40 (Article 15) 1985
Gomez-Guillamon, M. L.
Estacion Experimental La Mayora (C.S.I.C.), Malaga, Spain
Abadia, J.
Centro de Edafologia (C.S.I.C.), Murcia, Spain
Cuartero, J.
Estacion Experimental La Mayora (C.S.I.C.), Malaga, Spain
Cortes, C. and F. Nuez
Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain
An evaluation of several melon cultivars was started in 1983, as a preliminary step in melon breeding studies. Native cultivars, as well as foreign cultivars from several origins, have been studied.
The experiments were carried out throughout 1983 and 1984 at two different locations (Murcia and Malaga) and under two different environmental conditions (open-air and plastic-house).
Seventeen qualitative characters and the following nine quantitative characters were studied: yield, weight, fruit shape (expressed as relationship width/length), flesh index (calculated on the fruit cross- section as the flesh length percentage in relation to width), skin index (expressed as the rind thickness percentage in relation to whole width), refractometric index (° Brix) and the weight of 100 seeds.
In addition, in a few experiments, eight vegetative and two agronomic characters were also evaluated.
Multivariant analysis methods of principal components were used to determine the quantitative characters of high discriminatory value and to establish groups of cultivars.
Some associations between qualitative characters were found, too. These associations were verified through a contingency test applied to the cultivars.
In all, 96 cultivars have been studied: 36 are of Spanish origin, 17 are from North America, and 43 from other countries (European, Asiatic, and American).
High correlations between the weight, the length and the fruit width have been founded on the one hand, and, on the other, between the fruit width, the central cavity diameter and the thickness of the flesh. These results suggest that it could be possible to obtain a simplified characterization by using only the weight and fruit length, the refractometric index and the yield.
In addition, a set of associations between qualitative characters were deduced. We emphasized the following associations:
a) Ribbing/Ease of stem obscission
b) Flesh salmon color/Strong netting
c) Strong netting/Ease of stem abscission
d) Skin white color/Absence of skin spots
Finally, the analysis of principal components has allowed us to establish some
groups of cultivars:
In one experiment, the following four groups of cultivars were found:
a) Perita and Amarillo Pintado
b) Tokyo Giant and Tokyo Early
c) Hilo Carrete, Coco-melon, Ogen and Amarillo Oro
d) Punjab Sunheri, melon Tapetate, Perlita (IPB), Cantaloupe de Westland,
Imperial-45, and Gulf Stream
In another experiment, the following six groups of cultivars were obtained:
a) China-1 and China-4
b) Israel and Bathalla
c) Krim and Perlita (Asgrow)
d) Suditalien and Piel de Sapo
e) Shipsmaster, Split/Dalmatien, Sudbalkan-5, and Ogen
f) Blanco, De olor antiguo, Tam Perlita, and Cantaloupe Amarelo
Literature Cited
- Abadia, J., F. Nuez, J. Cuartero, J. Costa, C. Cortes, and M. L. Gomez-
Guillamon. 1984. Caracterizacion de cultivares de melon en cultivo al
aire libre. Proceedings of V Jornadas de Seleccion y Meyore de Plantas
Horticolas, Logroño, Spain. - Gomez-Guillamon, M. L., J. Cuartero, C. Cortes, J. Abadia, J. Costa, and
F. Nuez. 1983. Descripcion de cultivares de meon (I) Caracteres
cuantitativos. Proceedings I Congreso Nacional de Ciencias Horticolas,
Valencia, Spain. - Gomez-Guillamon, M. L., J. Cuartero, F. Nuez, J. Abadia, C. Cortes, and J.
Costa. 1983. Desscripcion de cultivares de melon (II) Caracteres
cualitativos. Proceedings I Congreso Nacional de Ciencias Horticolas,
Valencia, Spain. - Gomez-Guillamon, M. L., J. Cuartero, C. Cortes, and F. Nuez. 1984.
Descripcion de cultivares de melon (I) Españoles y americanos.
Proceedings V Jornadas Seleccion y Mejora de Plantas Horticolas,
Logroño, Spain. - Gomez-Guillamon, M. L., J. Cuartero, C. Cortes, and F. Nuez. 1984.
Descripcion de cultivares de melon (II) Otras procedencias. Proceedings
V Jornadas Seleccion y Mejora de Plantas Horticolas, Logroño, Spain.