Melons (Cucumis melo L.) are an important commercial fruit crop with global popularity due to their numerous retail and consumer preference attributes such as sweetness, flavor, flesh color, nutrition and health benefits. Melon quality traits such as appearance (color) and health attributes are related to their carotenoid contents. Most melon cultivars contain a wide array of carotenoids which are responsible for the distinctive flesh (mesocarp) colors. Besides genetic makeup, carotenoid and sugar accumulation are strongly influenced by management and environmental factors such as production location, soil characteristics, etc. A better understanding of the role of these factors on carotenoid content and composition is important for fruit quality improvement through genetics. In the current study, we characterized carotenoid and sugar contents in different melon cultivars grown in five different locations in California, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina (U.S.A). Mesocarp sugar (sucrose, glucose and fructose) and β-carotene concentrations varied significantly as a function of production location and variety. Among the cantaloupe (western shipper) varieties grown in North Carolina had higher total sugar contents compared to the other cultivars. A significantly higher concentration of β-carotene was observed in Tuscan type (Da Vinci) grown in Texas and Georgia than in fruits grown elsewhere. The Casaba type (TAM Orange Pacal) grown in Texas had significantly higher β-carotene levels compared to other locations and cultivars. While some of the location effects may be due to crop husbandry, they also highlight the impacts of weather conditions and edaphic factors. The data also highlight the stability of key quality attributes such as sweetness and appearance across various environmental conditions. This study demonstrated that growing location had a significant influence on the phytonutrient contents, which should be considered for the selection and improvement of melon varieties rich in sugars and carotenoids.

Assessment of carotenoids and sugars contents in melon cultivars harvested from five different locations in the United States

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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