Specialty Melon Cultivar Evaluation under Organic and Conventional Production in Florida, Poster Board #342

Interest in production of specialty melons is increasing in Florida, particularly among small producers and organic growers. However, more research on yield performance and disease resistance of specialty melon cultivars is needed for quality production. In this study, ten specialty melon cultivars were evaluated under both conventional and organic production. Selections include: Ananas melons ‘Creme de la Creme’ and ‘San Juan’; Canary melons ‘Brilliant’ and ‘Camposol’; Asian melons ‘Ginkaku’ and ‘Sun Jewel’; Galia melons ‘Arava’ and ‘Diplomat’; and Honeydew melons ‘Honey Pearl’ and ‘Honey Yellow’. Muskmelon cultivar ‘Athena’ was included for comparison as the standard production melon. Cultivar evaluations were performed in Spring 2011 at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, FL. A randomized complete block design was used with 4 replications and 10 plants per cultivar per replication. Harvest date, marketable yield, fruit quality, and disease and root-knot nematode damage were recorded for each melon. Most melon cultivars exhibited higher yield when grown conventionally compared to organic cultivation, while the Asian type melon ‘Sun Jewel’ produced higher marketable yield under organic production. ‘Honey Yellow’, ‘Sun Jewel’, ‘Diplomat’, and ‘Honey Pearl’ matured earlier than other specialty cultivars and earlier than ‘Athena’ by approximately 10 days. ‘Camposol’ demonstrated the highest marketable yield and produced the largest fruit. ‘Diplomat’ and ‘Sun Jewel’ had the highest percentage of culls due to fruit cracking prior to harvest, resulting in lower marketable yields. The total soluble solids content (SSC) of ‘Honey Yellow’ fruit exceeded 15 °Brix, the highest value among all the cultivars grown conventionally and organically. ‘Brilliant’, ‘Sun Jewel’, and ‘Honey Pearl’ had SSC above 12 °Brix. Disease damages were assessed based on visual ratings of disease severities. Gummy stem blight was identified on melons in the organic field, whereas powdery mildew and downy mildew were prevalent in the conventional field. ‘Camposol’, ‘Arava’, ‘Diplomat’, ‘Honey Pearl’, and ‘Honey Yellow’ showed less severe symptoms of gummy stem blight in the organic field trial, while ‘Honey Yellow’, ‘Brilliant’, ‘Camposol’, ‘Sun Jewel’, and ‘Arava’ were less susceptible to powdery mildew and downy mildew in the conventional trial. Roots were rated for damage caused by root-knot nematodes in the organic trial. ‘Athena’ exhibited less galling compared to specialty melon cultivars. Among specialty cultivars, ‘Camposol’, ‘Creme de la Creme’, and ‘Sun Jewel’ demonstrated lower root galling ratings, and ‘Honey Yellow’ exhibited the highest rating.