Uncommon disorders and decay in near-isogenic lines of melon and reference cultivars

• Published in: Horticultura brasileira 2009-12, Vol.27 (4), p.505-514
• Main Authors: Martínez, Juan Antonio(University of Cartagena Dep. of Plant Production Institute of Plant Biotechnology), Jowkar, Mohammad-Madi(Islamic Azad University), Obando-Ulloa, Javier Mauricio(UPCT Dep. of Agricultural and Food Engineering), Varó, Plácido(Centro Integrado de Formación y Experiencias Agrarias), Moreno, Eduard(Centre de Recerca en Agrigenòmica CSIC IRTA), Monforte, Antonio José(Universidad Politécnica de Valencia Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular de Plantas), Fernández-Trujillo, Juan Pablo(UPCT Dep. of Agricultural and Food Engineering)
• Format: Magazinearticle
• Language: English
• Subjects: acidentes fisiológicos; Cucumis melo; decay; fruit quality; physiological disorders; podridão; postharvest; preharvest; pré-colheita; pós-colheita; qualidade do fruto
• ISSN: 0102-0536; 0102-0536
• DOI: 10.1590/S0102-05362009000400017

Postharvest disorders and rots can produce important economic losses in fruits stored for long time for exportation. The genetic and physiological basis of some disorders in melon (Cucumis melo L.) are unknown and particularly the possible relation with climacteric behavior. A collection of melon near-isogenic lines (NILs) (SC3-5 and seven more showing climacteric and two non-climacteric ripening pattern) were analyzed to study genetic and physiological aspects of fruit disorders and rots. Two non-climacteric (Nicolás; Inodorus Group; and Shongwan Charmi PI161375, Conomon Group) and two climacteric cultivars (Fado, Reticulatus Group; Védrantais, Cantaloupensis Group) were used as reference. The field was divided in eight blocks containing one three-plant replication for each NIL, two for the parental cultivar Piel de Sapo and one or two for the reference cultivars. Replications evaluated were more than six in the cultivars studied. Plant problems included aphids, powdery mildew, and leaf wind injury. Preharvest fruit disorders included whole fruit cracking in cultivar Védrantais and NIL 5M2, and stylar-end cracking in cultivar Fado. Climacteric NILs with yellow skin were particularly affected by over-ripening, stylar-end cracking, and sunburn during cultivation. At harvest, two NILs showed slight placental tissue necrosis which was inherited from SC and were also detected after storage. Other uncommon disorders seen at harvest or 30 days after storage at 8ºC included warted skin (scarring), flesh discoloration (light brown or translucent areas), hollow flesh disorder, and deep furrow netting inherited from SC. Less common rots included grey mould, bacterial soft rot, Penicillium rot, cottony leak and internal Cladosporium rot. Stylar-end hardness below 20 N·mm-1 was associated with cracking and softening. The incidence of the disorders and rots was too low to confirm that the genetic component played a role in their development. Analisaram-se frutos de melão (Cucumis melo L.) provenientes de uma coleção de linhas quase-isogénicas (NIL), SC3-5 e outras sete climatéricas e duas não-climatéricas, para avaliar a ocorrência de acidentes fisiológicos e a suscetibilidade a podridões. Como termo de comparação utilizou-se duas cultivares não-climatéricas (Nicolás, grupo Inodorus, e Shongwan Charmi ou acesso PI161375, grupo Conomon) e duas cultivares climatéricas (Fado, grupo Reticulatus, e Védrantais, grupo Cantaloupensis). O experimento foi dividido em oito blocos