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Mangalore melon (Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis var. acidulus): a neglected and underutilized vegetable of the western ghats of India

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Abstract

Mangalore melon (Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis var. acidulus) is found in the Western Ghats of India. It is a breeding treasure for extending the shelf life of melons more than six months storability of fruits, and it is easily crossable with muskmelon. Despite these advantages, still it is remained as an underutilized vegetable crop, seldom grown in Southern India due to its subpar agronomic performance. In this study, the nutritional value and agronomic performance of the Mangalore melon cultivar sambar southe 17 (SS17) was assessed. The cultivar SS17 grown and maintained by farmers in and around Sirsi, Karnataka Province of India. The Mangalore melon cultivar SS17 is distinguished by its dark green leaves, which bears 4.1 vines on average measuring 195.9 cm long. The plants produce monoecious yellow flowers with a 9.06:1 male to female floral sex ratio. The male and female flowers begin to bloom 26.9 and 31 days after sowing, respectively. The stigma receptivity lasts in between 2 and 3 days, and anther dehiscence take place in between 7 to 9 AM. Well-pollinated flowers yield elongated fruits that weigh about 2.53 kg, the fruit have a smooth, thin peel, white or light green peel, solid, white, non-sweet, and non-aromatic flesh has little yellow seeds. Dark green foliage, which is produced by oval seeds with epigeal germination, is a distinctive feature of the Mangalore melon. The shelf life of Mangalore melon fruits is typically greater than six months and they are non-climacteric in nature. It contains high amounts of ascorbic acid (juice content: 33.75%, pulp content: 20%), carotene (0.5 mg/100 g), reducing sugar (2.46%), non-reducing sugar (3.43%), and total sugar (4.96%) with TSS (Juice: 3.38 °Brix, Pulp: 4.14 °Brix). Collection of cultivars/landraces/ecotypes by surveying, and their maintenance could aid to the genetic improvement, and breeding for sustainable and commercial production of the underutilized melons. The fundamental knowledge obtained by this work could be used to harness the genetic traits and their diversification in other melons.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot and PremNath Agricultural Sciences Foundation, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, for providing financial support and facilities.

Funding

This work was supported by University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, 587104, India

    Virupakshi Hiremata, Ratnakar Manjunath Shet, Raghavendra Gunnaiah & Prashantha Anjappa

  2. ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Hesaraghatta Lake, Bengaluru, 560089, India

    Virupakshi Hiremata & Dalasanuru Chandregowda Manjunathagowda

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  1. Virupakshi Hiremata
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  2. Ratnakar Manjunath Shet
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Correspondence to Ratnakar Manjunath Shet or Dalasanuru Chandregowda Manjunathagowda.

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Hiremata, V., Shet, R.M., Gunnaiah, R. et al. Mangalore melon (Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis var. acidulus): a neglected and underutilized vegetable of the western ghats of India. Genet Resour Crop Evol 70, 1895–1902 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-023-01585-w

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