African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6900

Full Length Research Paper

Study on morphologic variation of different Iranian melon cultivars (Cucumis melo L.)

Hossein Nastari Nasrabadi1*, Hossein Nemati2, Alireza Sobhani3 and Mansoureh Sharifi4
  1Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University, Mashad, Iran. 2Horticultural Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University, Mashad, Iran. 3Scientific Member Board of Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center of Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. 4Department of Agrotechnology, faculaty of Agriculture, University Putra Malaysia.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 28 March 2012
  •  Published: 12 May 2012

Abstract

Information about the correlation and linkage among different horticultural characteristics is of primary importance in the field of crop improvement. In order to determine a morphologic variation of eleven native melon cultivars, a field trial conducted in completely randomized design at Torbat-e-Jam, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, during 2010 and 2011 was carried out. Statistical parameters used included; mean traits, correlation and cluster traits analysis. The results showed that there was a wide diversity in melon cultivars. Correlation analysis between traits showed a significant positive relation between fruit length with sugar content and positive relation between fruit weight with fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh thickness, skin thickness, and sugar content. A negative relation that was observed was between fruit length with fruit diameter, flesh thickness and skin thickness. Significant negative relation was observed between fruit length and seed cavity width. Based on quantitative data, genotypes were divided into six groups. The sixth, fourth and third clusters had maximum flesh thickness, and the third cluster had the highest content sugar than other clusters. The sixth cluster had the strongest period of germination to ripening. Cluster four, and cluster three had less skin thickness than other clusters.

Key words: Cluster analysis, correlation, sugar content.