Everything you need to know about muskmelon cultivation, production and harvest. Learn about:- 1. Introduction to Muskmelon 2. Origin and Distribution of Muskmelon 3. Composition and Uses 4. Climate Required for Cultivation 5. Soil Required for Cultivation 6. Sowing Time 7. Manurial Requirement for Cultivation 8. Irrigation Requirement for Cultivation Few Others.
Contents:
- Introduction to Muskmelon
- Origin and Distribution of Muskmelon
- Composition and Uses of Muskmelon
- Climate Required for Cultivating Muskmelon
- Soil Required for Cultivating Muskmelon
- Sowing Time of Muskmelon Seeds
- Manurial Requirement for Muskmelon Cultivation
- Irrigation Requirement for Muskmelon Cultivation
- Intercultural Operations of Muskmelon
- Harvesting and Yielding of Muskmelon
- Physiological Disorders Develop in Muskmelon
- Cultivated Varieties of Muskmelon
1. Introduction
to Muskmelon:
Muskmelon commonly known as Kharbooja is one of the most important dessert cucurbits of India. It is major crop of riverbed, covering 80% area of total muskmelon cultivation. Muskmelon is annual with climbing, creeping, or trailing vines, and its fruits are many- seeded pepo. Muskmelons also known as cantaloupe are warm-loving vegetables that require little longer time than other cucurbits.
Varieties generally having a salmon or green-color flesh and netted rind are properly called muskmelons. The name describes the aroma (musk or perfume) of the ripe fruit. Cantaloupe is the name used interchangeably with muskmelon for the round to oval netted type of muskmelon, however, the true cantaloupe, which is not widely grown in India, has a hard warty rind and green flesh.
Honeydew, Crenshaw, and casaba are sometimes referred to as winter melons, which are late in ripening and require the longest season for their cultivation. However, their cultural requirements are similar to those of muskmelons. They usually have smooth rind surface but are lacking in distinctive odor. The true winter melon is a Chinese vegetable.
2. Origin and Distribution
of Muskmelon:
Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) probably originated in North Africa and Asia. Its center of development is believed to be Iran, with a secondary center that includes the Northwest provinces of India, Kashmir, and Afghanistan. According to Chadha and Lal (1993), India, Persia, China, and Southern Russia are considered secondary centers of diversity for muskmelon. Based on cytogenetical studies of 43 wild species from South, East, and West Africa consisting of annual and perennials, diploids, tetraploids and hexaploids, South Africa is considered the primary gene centre of the genus.
The oldest record of muskmelon is an Egyptian illustration of funerary offerings from 2,400 B.C. in which appears a fruit that some experts have identified as muskmelon, although others are not so sure. Muskmelons spread to the Mediterranean countries several hundred years B.C. were cultivated by the Romans and finally reached the Greeks by 300 B.C. Culture apparently spread next from Rome to Spain, and muskmelons were grown in the New World as early as 1535 A.D.
3.
Composition and Uses of Muskmelon:
Composition:
The yellow and orange-fleshed muskmelons contain β -carotene, which is pro-vitamin A. Cantaloupe type muskmelon is particularly high in this pigment. Muskmelons are high in vitamin C and sugars. In muskmelons, the aromatic compound is predominantly ester of acetic acid. The fruit contains 0.3 mg protein and 26 mg vitamin C in 100 g edible portion, and seeds contain edible oil. The nutritive value of muskmelon fruit is given below in Table 13.1.
Uses:
Immature fruits are often used as a cooked vegetable but the delicious fruits after ripening are eaten raw as dessert, and occasionally, used in preserves for making jams. A variety with high total soluble solids is preferred more by the consumers and valued as a summer fruit.
Medicinal Uses:
Seeds that have the cooling and diuretic effect are eaten after roasting, and oil extracted from seeds is used for cooking purposes. The fruit pulp is diuretic and used in chronic eczema. The plant extract has the blood sugar lowering principle, and roots have the emetic and purgative properties.
4. Climate Required for Cultivating Muskmelon
:
Muskmelon is essentially a warm season crop mainly grown in tropical and subtropical regions. The optimum temperature to harvest good production is 27-30°C, and for proper germination the optimum temperature of day should be above 25°C and seeds do not germinate if the soil temperature is lower than 18°C. It can be grown in soil temperature range from 15.5 to 33.5°C with optimum 21.1°C.
Low temperature and short day promote femaleness. It requires high temperature of 35-40°C at the time of fruit maturity and ripening. Slightly lower temperature in night and warm days are ideal for accumulation of sugars in fruits. Plants are very sensitive to low temperature and frost. Excess humidity and slightly higher temperature promote diseases like powdery mildew, downy mildew and viruses and pests such as fruit fly.
5. Soil Required for Cultivating Muskmelon
:
Muskmelon can be grown on all types of soils but it grows best in well-drained sandy loam or loam soils rich in organic matter. It may not thrive well on heavy clay or peat soils. The soils with lighter texture that warm up quickly in spring are generally utilized for raising early crop. Muskmelon is slightly tolerant to soil acidity but sensitive to high pH.
It grows well in neutral soils having pH 6.5-7.5, but if grown in low pH soils, the blossoms drop may be a problem. The varieties Jobner 96-2 and 60-3 can be grown on high soil pH. A very good crop can also be raised on riverbeds by managing sufficient soil moisture. The soil moisture should be at least 10 to 15% above the permanent wilting point. Soil preparation should be started 3-4 weeks before seed sowing. At the time of soil preparation, farmyard manure 15-20 tonnes per hectare should be mixed in soil or may be directly mixed in pits soil.
6. Sowing Time
of Muskmelon Seeds:
In northern plains, the best sowing time is 15 to 25 February, in northeastern region November- March, in western region September-October, and in southern India October-November. In hills of north India, sowing is done in March. In riverbeds, 2nd week of November for early crop and first week of December for late crop in some parts of India is the best sowing time. Nandpuri and Lal (1978) observed that the crop transplanted in November takes more days to fruit maturity than March transplanted/direct sown crops in Ludhiana.
The November transplanted/direct sown crop is harvested early as compared to March sown crop, however, it is possible in riverbed with proper care. Kumar and Mehta (1986) found high yield from transplanted crop as compared to direct sown crop. In areas where winter is mild, muskmelon could be grown throughout the year.
Muskmelon is sown either on raised bed or in pits. For taking early crop, the seedlings are raised in polyethylene bags of ½ to 1 kg size after filling with a soil mixture of 1 part sand, 1 part garden soil, 1 part compost and fertilizers, and about 25-30 days after they are transplanted in the main field. Besides, following systems are followed for sowing/ transplanting.
i. Shallow Pit Method or Flat Bed Method:
In this method, shallow pits of 60 cm length, 60 cm width, and 45 cm depth are dug at 3×0.6 m distance and filled with a mixture of farmyard manure, soil and recommended dose of fertilizers per pit (Singh, 1989). The pits are left open for two weeks before sowing for partial solarization, thereafter, each pit is filled with mixture of soil and 4-5 kg compost and a part of fertilizers like urea 50-60 g, single super phosphate 100-120 g, muriate of potash 80 g and insecticide Furadon 1-1.5 g.
In this method, the ridges and furrows are prepared manually or mechanically by tractor drawn furrow maker. The distance between two rows is kept 2.5 m with a furrow width of 40-50 cm and depth 15-20 cm. The seeds are sown on edges of raised beds.
In this method, the mounds of 15-20 cm size are generally prepared. Similar mixture of soil, farmyard manure, and fertilizers should be mixed as in shallow pit method. Seeds (3-4) are sown on each mound at proper depth.
Generally, four seeds are sown in each pit or trench. The seeds should be sown 2-3 cm deep in a vertical orientation. Seed germinates in 4-5 days if temperature ranges between 25° and 30°C.
The seed rate of muskmelon depends upon the sowing distance between rows and plants. The test weight of seed varies between 23 and 25 g. If 4 seeds per pit with 60% germination are sown, then the seed rate would be about 700-900 g/ha for open pollinated and 700-800 g for hybrids at recommended plant spacing keeping 3334-6000 plants per hectare and leaving 10% field area occupied by irrigation channels and paths and finally only two vines are retained per hill.
The seeds before sowing are treated with carbendazim 0.25% @ 2.5 g per kg of seed to avoid decaying. Germination usually starts within 3-4 days. To obtain highest yield and good quality fruit of cv. Hara Madhu, the seeds are treated with a solution containing Nitrophenolate sodium + Nitroguaiacol sodium at 5% for 8 h.
Sowing distance depends upon the selected variety and sowing/planting system. A spacing of 2.0-2.5 m between rows and 0.5-0.75 m between plants has been recommended by Seshadri (1986), whereas, Nath et al. (1987) recommended 1.5-2.5 m spacing between rows and 0.6-1.2 m between hills.
Prabhakar et al. (1985) reported highest fruit yield of cv. Hara Madhu with 3.0 × 0.6 m spacing. Singh (1989) also recommended a spacing of 1.5-2.0 × 0.75-1.0 m for pit method and 1.5-2.5 in both ways in case of riverbeds. The recommended spacing for different varieties of muskmelon is being given below in Table 13.2.
7. Manurial Requirement
for Muskmelon Cultivation:
Farmyard manure @ 25-35 t/ha should be mixed thoroughly into the soil at the time of ploughing or mixed in filling soil mixture. Padda et al. (1968) and Randhawa et al. (1981) obtained the highest yield at Ludhiana by applying nitrogen 56 and 50 kg/ha, respectively, however, Jassal et al. (1970) observed significant response of nitrogen up to 110 kg/ha under similar growing conditions.
The highest fruit yield was obtained by Singh and Chauhan (1986) with nitrogen 100 kg/ha, and Srinivas and Prabhakar (1985), Pandey et al. (1974) and Singh et al. (1982) obtained highest yield with nitrogen 50 kg/ha, while Ramchander et al. (1988) stated that the response of muskmelon to nitrogen varies from season to season.
A dose of nitrogen 50 and 75 kg/ha was optimum under a condition of low and high yielding environments, respectively. The nitrogen recommendation varies from 50 kg in Haryana to 125 kg/ha in Punjab (Table 13.3). Nitrogen can also be applied in soil or as three foliar sprays of urea at 1.5%.
The response of phosphorus application varies from season to season and place to place. Jassal et al. (1970) reported highest yield with phosphorus 50 kg/ha but Padda et al. (1968) and Randhawa et al. (1981) obtained highest yield with phosphorus 30 and 37.5 kg/ha, respectively under growing conditions of Ludhiana.
The highest yield of muskmelon was obtained at Hisar with phosphorus 30 kg/ha and with 50 kg/ha at Varanasi, however, Prabhakar et al. (1985) recorded response of phosphorus up to 60 kg/ha. According to Ramchander et al. (1988), phosphorus 60 kg/ha was the optimum dose for muskmelon under both low and high yielding environments.
No significant effect of potash on muskmelon has been reported under Ludhiana conditions, however, Jassal et al. (1970) and Randhawa et al. (1981) obtained maximum yield with potash 50 and 37.5 kg/ha. Under a condition of Varanasi, the response of potash was recorded up to 50 kg/ha. Srinivas and Bhatnagar (1984) and Prabhakar et al. (1985) reported significant increase in yield of muskmelon with potash up to 60 kg/ha under Bangalore conditions.
According to Ramchander et al. (1988), response of potash varies from season to season, thus, it is not possible to make a general recommendation of potash application, however, various states recommended potash from 25 to 62 kg/ha (Table 13.3). Randhawa and Singh (1979) reported significant increase in yield of muskmelon with foliar application of potash 1.5%.
Besides application of above fertilizers, the spray of boron 4 mg/l or calcium 20 ml/l, or molybdenum 3 ml/l also increased the number of female flowers and yield of muskmelon.
Total amount of phosphorus and potash and one-third amount of nitrogen are applied at the time of furrow or pit preparation as basal dressing near expected root zone. Remaining two-third of the nitrogen is applied as top dressing in two equal splits after about 20 days (at start of vine growth) and 40 days (before flower initiation) of sowing followed by hoeing and earthing up.
8. Irrigation Requirement
for Muskmelon Cultivation:
Muskmelon crop suffers with extremes soil moisture or extended drought. It is moderately deep- rooted and requires adequate soil moisture with good drainage. Irrigation is recommended especially when the vines start growing and the fruits are developing. Muskmelons ripen to highest quality when the vines remain healthy and temperature is warm but not excessively high, especially when the weather is comparatively dry at the time of maturity.
Pre-sowing irrigation is good practice if there is insufficient moisture in soil. It is better to delay further irrigation for some time so that the root system may develop and harden well. Supplemental irrigation may be required, particularly in the early stages of growth. Regular irrigation at an interval of 5-7 days is required up to fruit setting stage.
When irrigating, irrigate the soil in the effective root zone to field capacity. Soil moisture stress during vine development, pre-flowering, flowering and fruit development stages drastically reduce the yield. Soil moisture of 50-75% was found optimum during flowering. Chander and Mangal (1983) obtained best growth, flowering and fruiting on sandy loam soil at Hisar when irrigation was applied at 0.9 PEC (Pan Evaporation Coefficient).
They further observed that frequent irrigations reduced the TSS and ascorbic acid contents. Mangal et al. (1987) reported that irrigation at 0.2-0.6 PEC produced fruit with highest content of TSS, ascorbic acid and reducing sugar in cv. Hara Madhu. Enhanced maturity and increased yield were obtained with short interval of irrigation at 0.8 PEC, however, best growth, flowering and fruiting was recorded with irrigation at 0.9 PEC.
The highest soil moisture during early stage also predisposed the plants to Fusarium wilt. Excessive soil moisture during ripening results in poor quality fruits with low TSS content. It is best if irrigation is reduced after attaining a good fruit size since reduced irrigation in some cases increases the sugar content of the mature fruit.
9. Intercultural Operations of Muskmelon:
i. Hoeing and Weeding:
Muskmelon is very sensitive to weeds at initial stage of their growth, therefore, the weeding may be practiced in 15-20 days after sowing, i.e., the stage at which the vines start their growth. Most of the pre- and post-emergence weedicides are phototoxic to seedlings, and thus, reduce plant growth in muskmelon.
Sandhu et al. (1987) found that the application of fluchloralin alone or with nitrofen or metribuzine, metribuzine alone, turbutryn, or thiobencarp reduced the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash ions by weeds in both direct sown and transplanted crops.
It is also found that nutrient uptake by the crop is enhanced by the application of herbicides compared to that of with no weed control, however, pre-plant or pre- emergence application of fluchloralin 1.2 kg a.i./ha and fluchloralin 0.48 kg with nitrofen 0.50 kg/ha was found effective in controlling weeds and increasing yield of muskmelon significantly.
Use of weedicides will be effective only up to 55 days. At later stage, removal of weeds is not required since providing shade they protect the fruits from sun burning, however, if required, the weeds may be removed by pulling out manually without disturbing the vines.
Muskmelon responds favorably to mulching with black plastic. Plastic mulch can be spread over the prepared soil (bed) 5-10 days before sowing/planting. For sowing the seeds or transplanting seedlings, the holes are made at recommended spacing on the spread mulch. Mulches are mainly used to reduce or increase the soil temperature.
Mulch also improves the quality of fruits by avoiding their direct contact with soil. Organic mulches protect the plant roots from heat, conserve soil moisture, reduce weeds, and modify the soil and air microclimate. It is also helpful in early germination because of the above reasons.
iii. Use of Plant Growth Regulators:
The application of ethrel 250 ppm increases the fruiting and yield. Exogenous application of silver thiosulphate 300-400 ppm induced the male flowers in gynoecious lines of muskmelon. These chemicals should be applied twice at two true-leaf stage and secondly at four true-leaf stage.
10. Harvesting
and Yielding of Muskmelon:
The eating quality of muskmelon fruit mainly depends on its texture and sugar content developed during ripening on the vines. There are many maturity standards of ripening depending upon cultivars and environments. On that basis, fruits are generally harvested 60-70 days after sowing, 30-40 days after anthesis and 25-30 days after setting, observing other changes of outer color of the skin. When muskmelons are ripe, the rind changes from a green to tan or yellow between the netting.
Muskmelon is generally picked at ‘half-slip’ stage for commercial marketing (part of the pedicel remains attached to the fruit, i.e., the abscission layer is not fully developed). Sugar and flavor are not found optimum at half-slip stage and increase on the vine up to the time of full slip stage. Full slip is the stage at which the peduncle separates easily from the fruit with little or no pulling.
At this stage, however, the fruits of most cultivars have a very short shelf life and fruits will be overripe by the time they reach the consumer, therefore, suitable only for nearby market. Fruits for distant market should be harvested when mature but before full ripeness to minimize to breakdown in texture and damage during transport. Time between harvest and consumption is a critical factor in determining the harvest, and ripeness is difficult to judge once the melon has been picked.
Picking should not be done at under mature stage, otherwise, the quality will not be as good as that of melons that ripen on the vine, and flesh will never develop acceptable sweetness since sugar content does not increase after harvest. Harvesting is done almost entirely by hand and early in the morning. Picking can be done on alternate days at the beginning of the season, and later, on daily basis in peak season.
The fruits picked at half-slip stage can safely be retained for 7-8 days at ambient room temperature (24-40°C) and for 20-25 days at 0-1.5°C, however, it will not produce any additional sugars after harvesting since there are no starch reserves to break down. Muskmelon fruit is damaged easily during handling, and it suffers a lot when field heat is not removed promptly after harvest. Pre-cooling is necessary immediately after harvest to slowdown the respiration.
Hydro cooling is the most efficient method for rapid cooling of fruits. If this is not done swiftly, sugars will be utilized in respiration, decreasing quality and curtailing shelf life. Muskmelon fruit is commonly packed in the container containing 10-20 fruits.
The polyethylene film wrapping has been shown to prolong the shelf life markedly and considered best for long distance transportation. The fruits of most cultivars harvested at full slip stage have a very short shelf life since they can be stored hardly for 2-3 days at ambient room temperature, however, the period of storage can be increased by lowering the storage temperature to 0°C at relative humidity 80-90%.
The yield of muskmelon varies from 10 to 25 t/ha, depending upon the variety used. Pusa Rasraj (F1 hybrid) gives fruit yield about 25 t/ha. The open pollinated varieties Pusa Madhuras and Pusa Sharbati give a fruit yield of 12-16 and 10-13 t/ha, respectively.
11. Physiological Disorders
Develop in Muskmelon:
Poor flavor and lack of sweetness is due to poor fertility, low potassium, magnesium, or boron, cool temperature, wet weather, poorly adapted variety, loss of leaves due to disease, or picking melons unripe. Also poor pollination caused by wet, cool weather, lack of bee pollinators and planting too close results in excessive vegetative growth.
Excess moisture due to rain or heavy irrigation during ripening may cause some of the fruit to split open. Fruit in contact with soil may develop rotten spots or be damaged by insects on the bottom. To avoid this, board or a couple inches of light mulching material like sawdust/straw can be put beneath each fruit. The physiological disorders develop in muskmelon are as under:
This disorder refers to sudden vine collapse or rapid wilting of vine soon as the fruits start to develop netting and the vines have covered the ground. The entire plants in the field may collapse within a couple of days and fail to recover. Enormous pathogens have been found associated with this disorder and may be the primary causes of the observed symptoms. Fusarium and Pithium fungi have been linked to this disorder.
Soil fumigation delays the development of such symptoms. Periods of cool and cloudy weather during growth of the plant followed by hot sunny conditions increase the incidence of this disorder.
Cracking of fruit surface at stem end is a common occurrence in certain varieties and often results in great losses. Several environmental factors seem to be involved in the cracking of muskmelon fruits. It is very common especially when the rains follow a long dry spell and the temperature is relatively high. Water on the surface of fruit is more conductive for cracking than high soil moisture. Fruits exposed to sun have more cracking problem than those well covered beneath the foliage.
This trouble occurs mainly when the fruit at ripening/after maturity stage are exposed to extreme sunshine. Sunscald appears as white patches on parts of the fruits exposed to sun. The tissues are so severely damaged that the patches shrink and the surface dries out. The affected portion becomes soft and pulpy. Later fungi causing decay may invade the patches. To avoid sunscald injury, the weeds should not be removed from the field as they will produce shade and keep the fruits covered.
12. Cultivated Varieties of Muskmelon:
i. Hara Madhu:
A variety developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana through a selection from local collection of Kutana is widely cultivated throughout the country. Fruit is round with ten prominent green sutures. Rind is thin, smooth, pale yellow at maturity, flesh green, thick, very juicy, TSS 12-13% and average fruit weight 1 kg. Its average yield is 150-200 q/ha but the post-harvest life is short.
A variety tolerant to powdery and downy mildew developed at Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi through a selection from local collection is medium in maturity. Plants have medium vine and sparsely lobed and dark green leaves. Fruits with average weight 700-750 g are round with open prominent green sutures, half-slip in nature, rind thin, smooth and pale yellow at maturity, flesh salmon orange (mango colour), thick, very juicy with 13-14% total soluble solids and seeds are loosely packed in the seed cavity. Post-harvest life is long with good transportability, and fruit yield is 200-270 q/ha.
A variety tolerant to downy mildew and powdery mildew developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana through selection from a cross between Hara Madhu × Edisto and released in 1973 at state level bears round to elliptical fruits devoid of distinct sutures at maturity. Fruit with average weight 700-800 g is brown in colour at maturity. The average yield potential is 130- 150 q/ha. It has better shelf life and suitable for distant transportation.
A variety moderately resistant to downy mildew and highly resistant to powdery mildew developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana through selection from a cross between WMR-29 × Hara Madhu has medium long vines. Fruit with average weight 600 g is nearly round in shape, light yellow in color at maturity. The TSS is 10-11%. It is suitable for riverbed cultivation and gives an average yield of 150-160 q/ha.
An early maturing variety developed at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore through selection from Bati strain of Uttar Pradesh bears small round fruits with flat ends. The fruits are smooth skinned, orange colored, white fleshed with 13-15% TSS and average fruit weight 300-500 g. The average yield is 140-150 q/ha in crop duration of 90 days.
An early maturing variety resistant to powdery mildew developed at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore through pure line selection from a local collection (IIHR-107) from Rajasthan bears round to slightly oval fruits with netted creamy white skin, white flesh and 11-14% TSS. It is good in keeping and transport qualities. Its average yield is 200-250 q/ha in crop duration of 85-90 days.
A variety developed at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi bears round netted fruits with 11-12% TSS, and is suitable for riverbed as well as general cultivation and recommended for cultivation in northern Gangetic plains.
A variety developed at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi is suitable for southern India and bears netted fruits with dark green strips and average fruit weight 0.5-1.0 kg. Duration of crop is 90-95 days.
A high yielding variety developed at Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar is spreading in growth habit, and bears round fruits with 10 green strips, yellow brick red skin, orange-fleshed on ripening, small cavity, musky flavor, and TSS 8.5%. It takes 75-80 days from sowing to first picking.
A very early maturing variety developed at Rajasthan Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Durgapura (Rajasthan) is recommended for zones IV, VI, VII, and VIII. It bears oblong fruits with avenge weight 500-600 g, pale green rind, light green flesh, and TSS 13-14%. Its average yield is 150-200 q/ha.
A variety developed at Rajasthan Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Durgapura (Rajasthan) through a selection from locally collected germplasm and released at state level bears oblong pale green fruits with dark green 10-12 sutures, average weight 400-600 g, hard rind, small seed-cavity, green flesh, and TSS 10-12%. Fruits have good keeping quality and transportability. It gives an average yield of 150-200 q/ha.
A variety developed at Rajasthan Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Durgapura (Rajasthan) through a selection from the cross Durgapura Madhu x Pusa Madhuras was notified by the State Seed Varietal Evaluation Committee in 1999. Its vines are vigorous and spreading about 2.5-3.0 m long, and fruits are round flat, and smooth surfaced with yellow rind and light green stripes. Flesh colour is light green, texture soft, and TSS 13-16%. Average fruit weight is 700-800 g and yield 150-200 q/ha.
A variety developed at Rajasthan Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Durgapura (Rajasthan) through a selection from the cross Durgapura Madhu x Hara Madhu is recommended for zone VII. Vines are vigorous and moderately spreading about 2-2.5 m long. Fruits with smooth rind and medium seed cavity are round flat, tapering at stem end and green yellow in colour. The flesh colour is light green, texture soft, and TSS 13-16%. Average fruit weight is 700- 800 g and yield 150-200 q/ha.
A variety developed at Rajasthan Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Durgapura (Rajasthan) through a selection from the cross Durgapura Madhu x Sel-1 was released by State Varietal Release Committee in 2003. Vines are well-developed up to 2-2.5 m. Ovate-shaped fruits are pale green in colour having ten green sutures, and TSS 14-16% with green flesh. Average fruit weight is 500 g and yield 150-200 q/ha.
xv. Narendra Muskmelon-2 (NDM-15):
A variety developed at Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad through a selection from the cross between Mau-5 and Hara Madhu is identified for Zone IV in 2002. Oval round shaped fruits with average weight 800-1000 g are smooth surfaced and light yellow in colour with green strips at maturity. Flesh is thick, dark orange, and semi juicy with excellent musky flavour, and TSS 10-13%. It takes 70-75 days from sowing to first fruit harvesting, and gives an average yield of 150-200 q/ha.
i. Punjab Hybrid-1:
A first F1 hybrid of public sector developed at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana from parent’s ms-1 (male sterile line), and Hara Madhu. Orange fleshed fruits with average weight 800 g are globular in shape, netted, and become ready for harvesting at full slip stage. It is moderately resistant to powdery mildew and fruit fly, however, poor in keeping quality.
A F1 hybrid developed at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi bears oval shaped and smooth surfaced fruits without netting and with TSS 11%. It takes 75-80 days from sowing to maturity. Average fruit weight is 800-1000 g and yield 220 q/ha.