Evaluation of postharvest shelf life of south Indian culinary melon (Cucumis melo var. acidulus) accessions

Abstract: Cucumis melo var. acidulus, also known as Mangalore melon, has been reported to have a shelf life of more than six months. A study was conducted to assess the variability in fruit traits with shelf life for 52 culinary melon accessions at room temperature. Fruits were suspended in the air, tied with smooth plastic fibre and pseudostem banana fibre, and hung from the roof of a laboratory, with observations made on fruit weight loss, rind colour change, and fruit decay. During storage, there was a significant variation in shelf life and rind colour change among the accessions. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive high association between shelf life and weight loss during storage (0.602), followed by fruit weight (0.544), flesh thickness (0.401), fruit length (0.359), days to harvest (0.346), peduncle length (0.332), and fruit width (0.322). Twenty six accessions had a shelf life of more than 150 days. Green rind fruits were more prone to discoloration and decay. MS30, MS28, MS79, MS74, MS78, MS39, MS74, and MS6 were identified as promising accessions for shelf life with marginal weight loss, rind colour change, and fruit traits among the accessions. Understanding the physiological and biochemical changes that occur in fruits during storage, as well as the identification of candidate genes for shelf life, will aid in the use of this trait to improve the muskmelon