Distribution of habitats and ecology of weedy melons (Cucumis melo var. agrestis Naud.) in Korea

Abstract

Natural habitats of weedy melons were distributed on the islands along and on the west and south coasts of Korean peninsula including Boryeong, Seosan (Taean), Seocheon, Okgu, Buan, Gochang, Yeonggwang, Muan, Shinan, Haenam, Jindo, Wando, Goheung, Yeocheon, Hadong, Namhae, Goseong, Tongyeong, Geoje, and Jeju islands including Jeju city, Bukjeju-gun and Nam Jeju-gun. Weedy melons were found growing wildly in or around the cultivated lands in these regions. Natural habitats of weedy melons were in and around the cultivated lands. Weedy melon plants were found most often in soybean fields, followed by fields of mungbean, sweet potato, pepper, sesame, cotton, and peanuts. The plants were also found growing wild in foxtail millet fields, rice paddy levees along the streams, upland field edges, watermelon fields, corn fields, vegetable gardens near farmhouse, orange fields, compost piles, fallow fields, roadside and home gardens. They inhabited in sunny and a little dry spaces in relatively low-height crop plant fields in general. The time of fruit maturity was from early July to late October with the most frequency in September according to post survey answer. Fruits dropped off from the fruit stalk when matured. This phenomenon was thought beneficial for perpetuation in the wild. The fruits were being used commonly for food and toys for children. It was thought that weedy melons were perpetuating through the cycle of human and animal feeding of the fruits, human and animal droppings, often mixed in compost, and application of the compost to crop fields by human. © 2013 Korean Society for Horticultural Science.