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Muskmelon
Evaluations 2007-2008
University of Maine Highmoor
Farm
Mark Hutton (mhutton@umext.maine.edu)
David Handley (dhandley@umext.maine.edu)
During the last few years a number of
new muskmelon cultivars have been released that had not been tested in
New England Universities variety trials. In this experiment we
evaluated the performance of 18 muskmelon cultivars (Table 1.) and their
response to PlantShield®. PlantShield® is a
beneficial fungus that actively grows on plant roots protecting the
roots from attack by many common root pathogens, thereby, increasing the
overall health of the plant. The experiment was set out in a randomized
complete block with split-plots and four replications at University of
Maine Highmoor Farm, Monmouth, ME. Individual plots consisted of 10
plants split into sub-plots with half the plants receiving the
treatment. The PlantShield® treatment was applied as a
drench, 500 ml per plant of a 3 oz PlantShield® / 100 gal
solution in combination with starter fertilizer.
The check treatments
received only the starter fertilizer.
Transplants were seeded, May 14, 2007 and May 20, 2008. Transplanting dates were June 9, 2007 and June 4, 2008. Soil tests were taken and pre-plant fertilizer was incorporated
prior to laying plastic mulch. Sandea (3/4 oz A.I.) was
applied after transplanting to control weeds. The melons were harvested
at ½ slip and harvest occurred three times per week.
All fruit were
individually weighed, rated for flesh color and quality, and brix
measurements taken.
Results
The application
of PlantShield® had no effect on plant health,
fruit yield or quality. There were significant differences in maturity,
fruit yield, and quality among the cultivars evaluated.
Goddess was the
earliest cultivar with the mid-harvest point 100 days after seeding
while Athena, the latest maturing cultivar, reached the mid-harvest
point approximately two weeks later (Table 1). Maverick produced
significantly more fruit than any other cultivar during the two years of
testing. All the cultivars tested developed acceptable levels of sugars
when averaged over all harvested fruit (Table 2). Sarah’s Choice,
Maverick, and Wrangler consistently produced the sweetest most flavorful
fruit.
Table 1. Yield
summary of muskmelons grown at University of Maine’s Highmoor Farm
during the 2007 and 2008 growing season.
|
Cultivar |
Avg. num. of
fruit per
plant |
Avg. fruit wt (lbs) |
Days to mid-harvest |
|
Maverick |
3.5 |
a |
2.4 |
e |
106 |
bc |
|
Strike |
2.5 |
b |
3.4 |
b-d |
112 |
ab |
|
Wrangler |
2.3 |
b |
2.5 |
e |
111 |
ab |
|
Sarah's
Choice |
2.2 |
b |
3.0 |
de |
105 |
bc |
|
Earliqueen |
2.2 |
b |
2.7 |
e |
107 |
bc |
|
Goddess |
2.1 |
b |
3.8 |
a-c |
100 |
c |
|
RockStar |
2.0 |
b |
4.4 |
a |
109 |
ab |
|
Diva |
2.0 |
b |
4.0 |
ab |
110 |
ab |
|
Eclipse |
1.9 |
b |
3.3 |
cd |
113 |
ab |
|
Athena |
1.8 |
b |
3.8 |
bc |
115 |
a |
|
LSD
(0.05) |
0.97 |
|
0.6 |
|
8.24 |
|
Table 2. Fruit characteristics of muskmelons grown in the 2007 and 2008
growing seasons at University of Maine’s Highmoor Farm
|
Cultivar |
Brix |
Fruit Shape |
Netting |
Sutures |
Flesh
Thickness (cm) |
Flesh Color |
|
Sarah's Choice |
11.5 |
a |
2.2 |
bc |
2.4 |
de |
1.5 |
cd |
3.24 |
a-d |
1.8 |
a-c |
|
Maverick |
11.5 |
a |
2.9 |
a |
3.4 |
bc |
2.8 |
b |
2.86 |
d |
1.8 |
a-c |
|
Wrangler |
11.0 |
ab |
1.8 |
c-e |
3.9 |
ab |
3.8 |
a |
2.84 |
d |
2.2 |
bc |
|
Goddess |
10.5 |
ab |
2.0 |
b-d |
2.1 |
e |
1.5 |
cd |
3.79 |
a |
1.8 |
a-c |
|
Eclipse |
10.5 |
ab |
2.3 |
b |
4.0 |
ab |
2.0 |
bc |
3.09 |
b-d |
2.6 |
c |
|
Athena |
10.4 |
ab |
1.8 |
de |
4.2 |
a |
2.1 |
bc |
3.23 |
b-d |
1.8 |
bc |
|
Earliqueen |
10.1 |
ab |
3.0 |
a |
3.7 |
ab |
3.9 |
a |
2.99 |
d |
1.6 |
a |
|
Diva |
10.1 |
ab |
1.5 |
e |
3.8 |
ab |
1.5 |
cd |
3.24 |
b-d |
2.3 |
bc |
|
RockStar |
9.9 |
b |
1.7 |
de |
3.0 |
cd |
2.1 |
bc |
3.66 |
ab |
1.7 |
ab |
|
Strike |
9.7 |
b |
1.6 |
de |
2.9 |
cd |
0.9 |
d |
3.56 |
a-c |
2.4 |
c |
LSD (0.05) |
1.5 |
|
0.4 |
|
0.7 |
|
0.8 |
|
0.549 |
|
0.7 |
|
Fruit Shape: 1 – elongated oval, 2 – oval, 3 – round, 4 – flat round
Netting: 1 smooth – 5 very course
Sutures: 1 no sutures – 5 deep sutures
Flesh Color: 1 light – 3 dark
Brief Descriptions
Sarah's Choice: Round/ oval shape, distinctive green tint in rind,
fine net, slight suture, excellent flavor, PM 1,2; Fus 0,1,2 Maverick: Excellent flavor, firm flesh, fairly course net, prominent
suture, very strong plant, PM 0,2; Fus 1,2 Wrangler: Oval fruit with very prominent green suture, excellent flavor,
high yields, PM 1,2; Fus 0,1,2 Goddess: Early, firm flesh with small cavity, green tint in rind, medium
fine net, slight suture, excellent flavor, musky, PM 0,1,2; Fus 1,2
Eclipse: Slightly oval, medium net, slight suture, some with large open
cavity, range of flesh color, fair flavor, PM 1; Fus 2 Athena: Late, large fruit, very slight suture, firm flesh, fruit holds
well, PM 1,2; Fus 0,1,2 Earliqueen: Oval to round, deep sutures, course net, small cavity, good
flavor and sugars, short harvest period, tends to be soft, no disease
tolerance/resistance Diva: Slightly oblong, green tint in rind, medium net, slight suture,
bland, PM 1,2; Fus 0,1,2 RockStar: Slightly oblong, light flesh color, medium net, slight suture,
poor flavor, PM 0,1,2; Fus 1,2 Strike: Oval, medium net, slight suture, fair flavor, wide range of brix
values, nice flesh color, tight cavity, PM 1,2; Fus 0,1,2 |
Last
Modified:
09/25/09
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