1College of Horticulture, Sirsi, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka-581401, India
2Regional Horticulture Research and Extension Centre, Dharwad, UHS, Bagalkot, Karnataka-580005, India
3College of Agriculture, Shivamogga, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agriculture and Horticultural Sciences (KSNUAHS), Shivamogga, Karnataka-577204, India
*Author for Correspondence: Email- ratnakar.shet@uhsbagalkot.edu.in
Online published on 24 June, 2022.
Culinary melon (Cucumis melo spp. agrestis var. acidulus) from southern India belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and commonly known as ‘Mangalore melon’ or ‘sambar cucumber’ mainly used for culinary purpose. It is a common and popular vegetable found in almost every home in coastal districts of southern India. This crop has a special feature that the fruits can be stored up to 8-10 months without losing their freshness. Collection and conservation of the germplasm is first and foremost activity in the crop improvement programme. Sixty eight accessions of culinary melon were collected from farmer’s fields and vegetable markets of southern Indian states namely Karnataka (31), Kerala (15), Telangana (1), Andhra Pradesh (16) and Tamil Nadu (5). The collected accessions had variability in fruit shape, fruit weight, fruit colour, flesh thickness, seed size, fruit yield, storage life, and other traits. Majority of the farmers cultivated the crop in small areas of paddy fallow land. Fruits may be stored for many weeks by hanging them from the roof ceiling, firmly bound by thin coconut fiber ropes/cut drip wire. The seeds of collected germplasm accessions are conserved at the College of Horticulture, Sirsi and will be further evaluated for their growth and yield parameters.
Accessions, Collection, Culinary melon, Southern India, Germplasm, Survey
