Southwest Indiana Muskmelon Variety Trial 2012

Transcription

1 Southwest Indiana Muskmelon Trial 2012 Shubin K. Saha, Vegetable Extension Specialist, and Larry Sutterer, Agriculture Technician Purdue University Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest Purdue Agriculture Program, Vincennes, Indiana Introduction Muskmelon production is a significant industry in Indiana. The annual value of Indiana muskmelon production in 2011 was $12.7 million (18% of the total fresh market vegetable value in Indiana), which ranks fourth in total value in the United States (USDA, 2012). Muskmelons were produced on 2,600 acres in 2011, and Indiana ranks fourth in the United States for total area harvested (USDA, 2012). Management of muskmelons or any vegetable crop takes considerable thought and planning by commercial producers. A key starting point in successful muskmelon production is selecting a variety that will grow well and produce high-quality fruit under local conditions. The objective of the study was to evaluate 23 unreleased or newly released muskmelon varieties for growth, yield, and fruit quality under southwestern Indiana conditions. Materials and Methods On April 16, 2012, the experiment was established when seeds of 23 muskmelon varieties were sown in 50-cell black seedling flats (Myers Industries Lawn and Garden Group, Middlefield, Ohio). The media used for seed germination was Jiffy-Mix Grower s Choice Plus (Jiffy Products of America, Lorain, Ohio). All varieties were transplanted in the field on May 9, in the designated plots. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental plots were 50 feet long and 4 feet wide. Rows were spaced on 6- foot centers with 2.5-foot. in-row spacing leading to 20 plants per plot. Raised-beds were formed and covered in black plastic mulch (4 feet x 2 mil, AEP Industries, Mountain Top, Pennsylvania) after preplant fertilizer application of 350 lbs. (46-0-0), 100 lbs. (0-0-60), and 200 lbs. of pelletized lime. Simultaneously the drip tape (12-inch emitter spacing, 24 gph/100 feet, RO-Drip, Roberts Irrigation, San Marcos, California) was placed under the plastic to allow for irrigation during the season as needed. Plants were harvested 11 times between July 2 and July 23, and each fruit was weighed after harvest. Additionally, nine fruits from each variety were evaluated for quality characteristics including percent soluble solids, size, rind thickness, and firmness. Yield data were analyzed by Fisher s least significant difference test using SAS statistical programs (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina.) Results Overall yield in 2012 was slightly lower, ranging from 3,098-7,696 fruits/acre in 2011 compared to 2,112-9,504 fruits/acre in 2011 (Table 1) (Saha and Hoke, 2012). Average fruit weight for 2012 ranged from lbs. (Table 1). RML 0609 had statistically greater yield at 7,696 fruits per acre as compared to 18 of the 23 varieties evaluated, however it did not have the highest

2 soluble solid content (10.2%) (Tables 1 and 2). Varieties that had higher yield and high soluble solid content were AC 9000 and AC 7609 (Tables 1 and 2). Varieties with higher fruit firmness compared to the others include W5188, ACR 779, and ACR 959 (Table 2). Firmness is important for shipping purposes, but also for the fresh-cut industry. Frequently of interest to producers is having melons with different times to maturity. In the early harvest period, Home Run had significantly greater fruit per plot (24.7) compared to all the varieties, but in particular it had greater fruit number compared to Aphrodite, a commonly used variety in Indiana (Table 3). However, it was ranked near the bottom with respect to soluble solid content (Table 2). Midseason harvest was highest for RML 0609 and Strike, however, as previously mentioned RML 0609 did not have the highest soluble solid content (Table 4). For late-season harvest, E1032 numerically had the highest fruit per plot and was statistically greater than 20 of the 23 varieties (Table 5). Additionally, it had good fruit quality characteristics including soluble solids and fruit firmness (Table 2). Acknowledgements The authors would like to extend their appreciation to the following individuals for all their help and assistance with the completion of the variety trials this year: Bill Davis, Dennis Nowaskie, and Angie Thompson.

3 Table 1. Yield of 23 muskmelon varieties, Avg. Fruit Fruit Fruit Number per Plot z Number/Acre Wt./Acre RML 0609 SY 53.0 a y bcd 4.1 jkl 7,695.6 a 31,384 bcd Home Run HL 49.3 ab bcd 4.5 ghijk 7,163.2 ab 32,207 bcd AC 7609 AC 46.7 abc bcdef 4.0 jkl 6,776.0 abc 27,227 bcdef Strike HL 46.0 abcd ab 5.2 ef 6,679.2 abcd 34,379 ab AC 9000 AC 44.7 abcde bcde 4.5 ghij 6,485.6 abcde 29,415 bcde RML 0634 SY 41.3 bcdef bcde 5.0 gh 6,001.6 bcdef 30,107 bcde ACR 959 AC 41.3 bcdef bc 5.5 de 6,001.6 bcdef 33,278 bc Athena SY 40.7 cdef def 4.3 hijk 5,904.8 cdef 25,665 def Grand Slam HL 40.3 cdef ab 5.8 cd 5,856.4 cdef 34,202 ab W5188 AT 39.7 cedf bcde 5.2 ef 5,759.6 cdef 30,236 bcde Tirreno RU 38.7 cdef fg 3.6 l 5,614.4 cdef 20,195 fg Aphrodite SY 38.3 cdef bcd 5.6 de 5,566.0 cdef 31,335 bcd W5219 AT 38.3 cdef ef 4.2 ijk 5,566.0 cdef 23,442 ef Samoa HM 38.0 def cdef 4.7 fgh 5,517.6 def 26,363 cdef ACR 779 AC 37.3 ef bcd 5.9 bcd 5,420.8 ef 32,115 bcd Atlantis SK 36.0 fg bcd 6.1 bcd 5,227.2 fg 31,615 bcd E1032 AT 34.7 fgh fg 4.0 lk 5,033.6 fgh 20,203 fg Avatar SK 34.3 fgh a 8.2 a 4,985.2 fgh 40,975 a Majus RU 34.0 fgh ef 4.7 fghi 4,936.8 fgh 23,200 ef Origami HM 33.7 fgh bcd 6.4 b 4,888.4 fgh 31,396 bcd ACR 4067 AC 27.7 ghi def 6.2 bc 4,017.2 ghi 25,101 def E1029 AT 27.3 hi g 4.0 lk 3,968.8 hi 15,773 g E1030 AT 21.3 i 95.4 g 4.4 hijk 3,097.6 i 13,849 g y Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant test (P 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different.

4 Table 2. Fruit quality of 23 muskmelon varieties, Brix z Rind Thickness (in) Firmness (lbs-force) Length of Seed Cavity (in) Width of Seed Cavity (in) Fruit Length (in) Fruit Width (in) E1029 AT 12.1 a y 0.12 i 5.1 bcde 3.5 i 2.6 d 5.6 g 5.6 j AC 9000 AC 11.9 a 0.28 abc 5.0 bcdef 4.3 defg 3.6 a 6.3 efg 6.0 fghij Athena SY 11.6 ab 0.2 cdefgh 2.8 kl 3.8 ghi 2.7 cd 6.3 efg 6.0 fghij AC 7609 AC 11.3 abc 0.16 efghi 5.3 bcd 3.9 ghi 2.6 cd 6.2 efg 5.9 hij E1032 AT 11.3 abc 0.24 bcdef 5.3 bcd 4.3 defg 2.4 d 6.7 ef 5.8 ij W5188 AT 11.3 abc 0.20 cdefgh 6.7 a 4.0 fghi 2.7 cd 6.6 ef 6.5 bcd E1030 AT 11.3 abc 0.16 fghi 5.6 bc 3.7 hi 2.4 d 6.4 ef 6.0 efghij W5219 AT 11.3 abcd 0.12 hi 3.5 hijk 4.2 fgh 2.5 d 6.5 ef 5.9 ghij Majus RU 10.9 abcde 0.16 efghi 2.8 kl 4.2 fgh 3.1 abc 6.5 ef 6.5 bcde Origami HM 10.8 abcde 0.16 hi 5.4 bc 5.2 ab 2.8 bcd 7.9 b 6.5 bcd Aphrodite SY 10.8 abcde 0.16 ghi 3.1 ijkl 4.3 defg 3.3 ab 6.8 de 6.9 b Samoa HM 10.5 bcdef 0.20 defghi 4.5 cdfgh 4.2 efgh 2.4 d 6.5 ef 5.9 ghij RML 0634 SY 10.3 bcdefg 0.16 efghi 3.7 ghijk 4.4 defg 2.7 cd 6.9 cde 6.1 defghi ACR 4067 AC 10.3 bcdefg 0.28 abc 4.7 bcdefg 4.2 fgh 2.8 bcd 6.6 ef 6.7 bc RML 0609 SY 10.2 cdefg 0.16 ghi 2.2 l 3.9 ghi 2.7 cd 6.3 efg 5.8 ij ACR 779 AC 9.9 defg 0.32 a 6.7 a 4.9 bcd 2.3 d 7.7 b 6.6 bc Grand Slam HL 9.8 efg 0.24 bcd 4.1 efghi 4.6 cdef 2.6 cd 7.4 bcd 6.4 cdef Strike HL 9.4 fg 0.32 ab 3.0 jkl 4.8 bcde 2.4 d 7.8 b 6.5 bcde Atlantis SK 9.2 fg 0.20 cdefgh 4.9 bcdef 5.1 bc 2.6 cd 7.8 b 6.3 cdefgh Avatar SK 9.2 fg 0.20 defgh 4.3 defgh 5.7 a 3.3 ab 8.9 a 8.0 a Tirreno RU 9.1 g 0.20 cdefg 3.9 fghij 3.6 i 2.6 cd 6.0 fg 5.9 ghij Home Run HL 9.1 g 0.24 bcde 2.9 jkl 4.9 bcd 2.5 d 7.5 bc 6.3 cdefg ACR 959 AC 9.1 g 0.24 cdef 5.7 ab 5.1 bc 2.6 cd 8.1 ab 6.5 bcd z Brix: percent soluble solid. y Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant difference test (P 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different.

5 Table 3. Early yield of 23 muskmelon varieties, Number per Plot z Avg. Fruit Home Run HL 24.7 a y 90.3 a 3.6 abcd Aphrodite SY 18.0 b 87.8 a 4.9 a Athena SY 16.3 bc 53.0 b 3.2 abcde Majus RU 13.3 c 53.6 b 4.0 abc Grand Slam HL 7.0 d 27.6 c 2.6 bcedf Strike HL 6.3 de 21.1 cd 3.2 abcde ACR 959 AC 6.3 de 27.8 c 4.4 ab Atlantis SK 3.0 def 11.9 cde 3.6 abcd Avatar SK 2.3 ef 14.9 cde 4.1 abc Tirreno RU 2.0 f 6.3 de 2.0 cdefg RML 0609 SY 2.0 f 6.5 ef 2.2 bcdefg AC 7609 AC 1.3 f 3.2 de 1.6 defg ACR 779 AC 1.3 f 5.7 de 4.3 ab Origami HM 0.7 f 2.5 e 2.5 bcdef AC 9000 AC 0.3 f 1.2 e 1.2 efg ACR 4067 ES AC 0.3 f 1.3 e 1.3 efg W5219 AT 0.3 f 0.9 e 0.9 fg Samoa HM 0 f 0 e 0 g E1032 AT 0 f 0 e 0 g E1030 AT 0 f 0 e 0 g RML 0634 SY 0 f 0 e 0 g W5188 AT 0 f 0 e 0 g E1029 AT 0 f 0 e 0 g y Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant test (P 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different.

6 Table 4. Midseason yield of 23 muskmelon varieties, Number per Plot z Avg. Fruit RML 0609 SY 34.0 a y bcd 4.0 ghij Strike HL 28.7 ab b 5.2 bcdef Tirreno RU 26.3 bc 81.8 fghij 3.1 j AC 9000 AC 25.3 bcd defg 4.2 efghij AC 7609 AC 25.3 bcd 95.7 fgh 3.8 hij Avatar SK 25.0 bcd a 8.4 a ACR 959 AC 24.7 bcd bcde 5.4 bcd Origami HM 23.0 bcde bc 6.4 b Atlantis SK 20.3 cdef cdef 5.6 bc W5188 AT 19.0 defg 90.2 fghi 4.8 cdefgh ACR 779 AC 17.3 efgh 99.7 efgh 5.8 bc Samoa HM 16.7 efghi 72.7 ghij 4.4 defghi RML 0634 SY 16.0 fghi 75.4 ghij 4.7 cdefgh Home Run HL 15.7 fghi 80.9 fghij 5.2 bcdef ACR 4067 ES AC 14.3 fghij 74.4 ghij 5.1 cdefg Grand Slam HL 13.3 ghij 70.4 hijk 5.1 bcdefg Athena SY 11.7 hij 55.9 ijkl 5.3 bcde Aphrodite SY 10.7 hijk 51.0 jkl 5.0 cdefg Majus RU 10.7 hijk 48.0 jklm 4.4 defghi E1029 AT 10.3 ijk 36.9 klmn 3.5 ij W5219 AT 8.3 jkl 34.0 lmn 4.1 fghij E1032 AT 4.3 kl 15.9 mn 4.2 efghij E1030 AT 2.7 l 9.9 n 3.5 ij y Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant test (P 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different.

7 Table 5. Late season yield of 23 muskmelon varieties, Number per Plot z Avg. Fruit E1032 AT 30.3 a y ab 4.1 l W5219 AT 29.7 ab a 4.3 kl RML 0634 SY 25.3 abc a 5.2 fghij Samoa HM 21.3 bcd abcde 5.0 ghijk W5188 AT 20.7 cde abc 5.6 efgh AC 7609 AC 20.0 cde 88.6 abcdef 4.4 ijkl AC 9000 AC 19.0 cdef 94.5 abcdef 4.9 hijkl ACR 779 AC 18.7 cdefg abcd 6.2 cde E1030 AT 18.7 cdefg 85.5 abcdef 4.5 ijkl E1029 AT 17.0 cdefgh 71.8 cdef 4.2 kl RML 0609 SY 17.0 cdefgh 73.1 cdef 4.3 jkl Grand Slam HL 16.7 defgh abcde 6.9 bc ACR 4067 ES AC 13.0 defghi 97.2 abcdef 7.5 ab Atlantis SK 12.7 efghi 92.3 abcdef 7.3 ab Athena SY 12.7 efghi 67.9 def 5.4 efghi Strike HL 11.0 fghi 67.0 ef 6.1 cdef ACR 959 AC 10.3 ghi 68.8 def 6.6 bcd Tirreno RU 10.3 ghi 51.0 f 5.0 hijkl Origami HM 10.0 hi 68.1 def 6.8 bc Majus RU 10.0 hi 58.2 f 5.9 cdefg Aphrodite SY 9.7 hi 77.0 bcdef 7.9 a Home Run HL defgh Avatar SK 7.0 hi 56.6 f 8.0 a y Means in columns separated by Fisher s least significant test (P, 0.05). Means with same letter are not significantly different. Literature Cited Saha, S.K. and S. Hoke, Midwest Muskmelon Trial in Southwest Indiana. Midwest Vegetable Trial Report for United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Vegetables 2011 Summary. usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/vegesumm/ VegeSumm pdf.