Phenotypic Characters Stability of Melon (Cucumis melo L. Meloni Cultivar)

Abstract

Melon is one of the agricultural commodities that effected Indonesia’s economic rate, hence melon breeding is important to develop specifically for assem- ble the cultivar to be superior. Meloni was resulted by crossing between female melon SL-3 and male melon PI 371795. This study aimed to discover superior character, determine the stability of phenotypic characters melon Meloni F4GH, F4LH and F5LH. In this study, quantitative phenotype characters were analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed that unique character of Meloni’s fruit was elliptical fruit shape, cream skin fruit, the size was approximately 550–840 g (small to intermediate), the sweetness was approximately 8.6–10.6 (brix), and has fragrant aroma. The analysis showed that phenotypic character between melon Meloni F4GH (4th generation in the green house) and F4LH (4th generation in field) was stable in parameters of vertical around, thick of rind, and thick of fruit flesh, whereas between F4LH (4th generation in field) and F5LH (5th generation in field) almost all of characters was stable, except fruit thickness and sweetness level (brix). Environ- mental differences might affect the stability of phenotypic characters and increase variation.