ISHS Acta Horticulturae 760: XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: II International Symposium on Plant Genetic Resources of Horticultural Crops
IMPROVED QUALITY AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF MELON |
| Authors: | W.O. Paiva, J.L. Mosca, H.A.C. Filgueiras, C.R.M. Lima, J.B.R. Mesquita, F.W.A. Freitas, R.F. Caitano |
| Keywords: | Casaba, vitamin C, b-carotene, Cucumis melo L. subsp. melo L. |
| Abstract:
The consumption of fruits has been increasing significantly worldwide, mainly for health benefits. ‘Casaba’ melons, Cucumis melo L. subsp. melo L., are appreciated for their appearance, flavour, and storage shelf life, even though their nutritional value is low as compared to Cantaloupe melons. This paper reports the results of two selection cycles to improve quality and increase b-carotene and vitamin C contents in ‘Tupã’ melon, a breeding product with yellow rind and salmon-colored flesh. The base population, cycle I and cycle II were cultivated in Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil. MT200, a line extracted from this population and ‘Orange Flesh,’ a Honey Dew cultivar with salmon-colored flesh were used as controls. Fruits were evaluated for quality and nutritional characteristics. Differences were found in fruit size, flesh color, soluble solids (SS) and b-carotene contents, soluble solids/titratable acids ratio (SS/TA) and flesh firmness (FF) among fruits of the selection cycles and the two controls. No significant change in vitamin C content was found within the selection cycles, whereas both FF and b-carotene content declined. Fruits of the line MT200 and ‘Orange Flesh’ were similar except for SS/TA, FF and b-carotene content, in which MT200 fruit overcame ‘Orange Flesh,’ and for flesh color, in which ‘Orange Flesh’ was superior. | |
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