Evaluation of desert type of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) for southern region of Kerala

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with fifteen muskmelon varieties during December – May (1989 – 90) at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The evalution was done in a randomised block design with three replications and in three sowing months of December 1989, January 1990 and February 1990, to assess the variability available in desert muskmelon with respect to growth, production and quality parameters, to study the interrelationships among yield components and to assess the suitability of the available dessert types of muskmelon for cultivation in the southern zone of Kerala during December – February season. Significant differences were observed among the varieties in the three sowing months for the percentage of germination, number of days to first male/female/bisexual flower production, their node of production, days to first harvest and first fruiting node, yield per vine and volume of fruit, length of vine, number of branches, fresh weight of shoot, reaction towards pest and organoleptic test. Pooled analysis revealed significant influence of environment on the characters viz., days to first harvest, first fruiting node, yield per vine, volume of fruit, length of vine and number of branches. It was observed that December sown crop possessed the majority of the desirable characters and the varieties suitable were Pusa Sharbathi and PMR – 6. The percentage of germination, total weight of fruits/vine, volume of fruit, F/C ratio, percentage of reducing and reducing sugars, acidity, fresh weight of shoot and number of branches exhibited moderate or high values of GCV. High heritability in conjunction with high genetic advance was observed for percentage of germination, yield/vine, volume of fruit vine length. Therefore these characters form reliable index for selection. Significant positive correlations were observed between percentage of germination and yield per vine and number of fruits per vine. The association between number of days for first female/bisexual flower production and first harvest revealed that early flowering variety will be early in coming to harvest also. Yield per vine displayed significant positive association with volume of fruit which in turn was strongly associated with number of tertiary branches and the number of branches with the length of vine. TSS exhibited significant positive association with acidity.