Morphological Studies of Stability and Identity of Melon (Cucumis melo L.) ‘Hikapel’ and Comparative Cultivars

Abstract

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a horticultural plant species included in the Cucurbitaceae family. The need for high nutritional fruits such as melon continues to increase in Indonesia. ‘Hikapel’ is one of the local melons cultivated by the Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada. 'Hikapel' is the result of crossing ? SL-3’ with ? ‘Hikadi’. ‘Moonlight’ is a local cultivar melon issued by CV. Multi Global Agrindo. ‘Sun Lady’ is one of the hybrid melons from Taiwan entering Indonesia issued by the company Known Your Seed Co. Ltd. The majority of melon cultivars cultivated by farmers are imported melons. Farmers assume that imported melon have more qualities than local melon, so that is the reason why the local melon production decreases. This study aimed to find out information on the stability and uniformity of the melon phenotype character of 'Hikapel' with comparative cultivars. The results obtained from the study are 'Hikapel' has a different phenotypic character from 'Moonlight' and 'Sun Lady' melons on the stem color with moderate olive green RHS 146 D, fruit fragrant, crisp texture of flesh fruit, smooth texture of fruit peel, flesh with light orange yellow RHS 19 A color, peel fruit with light greenish yellow RHS 4 C, around 55-62 DAP of harvesting age, and fruit storage capacity of 10-18 days. 'Hikapel' produced in the screen house Mutihan land in 2018 has a few different characters from the previous research at 2015 and 2016, such as; stem with moderate olive green RHS 146 D color, moderate olive green RHS 137 B of leaf color, flower petals light yellow green RHS 45 B color, color vivid yellow RHS 12 A of stigma, flesh fruit is orange yellow RHS 19 A, peel fruit color light greenish yellow RHS 4 C, seed color dark orange yellow RHS 22 A, harvest age 55-62 DAP, and fruit storage 10-18 days. Based on the phenotypic characters melon ‘Hikapel’ produced in 2018 is classified as stable and uniform from previous studies. Identity and character of melon 'Hikapel' was compared to other cultivars are fragrant fruit (aromatic), handy melon, crisp fruit texture, long storability of fruit, and peel fruit color yellow group light greenish yellow RHS 4 C.