Evaluation of Central Asian Melon Varieties in the San Joaquin Valley

Cantaloupes, honeydews, and watermelons were grown on 97% of the 27,200 acres of melons in Fresno County, CA in 2008. Only about 760 acres are devoted to “other melons” such as Casaba, Crenshaw, Galia, Juan Canary, Orange Flesh, Persian, Santa Claus, and Sharlyn. However the value of these melons is over $3.5 million. The family of Cucumis melo includes many different subspecies of different shapes, colors, tastes, and sweetness. The Uzbek or Russian melon is one in this family that was grown on about 200 acres in 2001-2004 under the trade name Silk Way. The farmers emigrated to the United States from Kazakhstan and began growing this specialty melon during this period. During the last eight years melon trials were planted and evaluated at the Kearney Research and Extension Center in Parlier to evaluate the cultivars’ production, Brix, acceptability to the consumer, and other parameters. Varieties such as Hami, Piel de Sapo, Medellin, Fioli, Magenta, Esmerelda, Uzbek and others were planted and grown organically. During these trials the main disease problem was Macrophomina phaseoli (charcoal rot), a fungal soil-borne disease.