2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Over the past two decades, the planted acreage of Indiana fresh market cantaloupe has declined by 50%. Increased competition from neighboring states and higher production risks due to food safety related issues have contributed to the decline along with growing conditions that limit production to a small selection of cantaloupe types. The decrease in acreage and market share is a threat to the long-term sustainability of the cantaloupe industry in Indiana. Improved production technologies may change this situation. The production of a more diverse range of cantaloupe types (i.e. Charentais) and the use of production technologies that would increase yield and enhance product quality could increase the current market share of Indiana fresh cantaloupe. Charentais is a popular melon in France. They are fragrant with high sugar content. North American type cantaloupes (C. melo var. reticulatus) and Charentais (C. melo var. cantalupensis) were grown as a spring/summer crop to determine the effect of growing systems on yield and fruit quality. During 2017, eight specialty cantaloupe cultivars were grown in a conventional open field production system and in two passively ventilated high tunnels at the Throckmorton and Southwest Purdue University Agricultural Centers in Lafayette and Vincennes (Indiana), respectively. In one high tunnel, cantaloupes were grown in a soilless growing media using hydroponic production techniques, and in the other they were planted in soil. Mean fruit number per plant varied between the different cultivars, but a consistent trend was observed between the different production systems. All cultivars produced between 3 and 6.3 fruit per plant, except Savor, which produced significantly lower yields in the open field and soil-grown high tunnel. Average fruit weight was consistent between production systems, except for Inspire and Escorial, which produced significantly larger fruit in the open field evaluation. Tasty Bites and Inspire produced a significantly higher total fruit weight per plant in the open field and soil-grown high tunnel evaluation. Yields varied between 5.7 and 7.1 kg per plant. However, yields were significantly higher in the high tunnel production systems compared to the open field. This is mainly due to the 3.2 times higher planting density in the high tunnels. Mean TSS was 10.6 °Brix or greater in the open field evaluation. Cultivars in both high tunnel growing systems produced fruit with lower TSS compared to the open field. High tunnels produce significantly higher yields, but fruit quality will need to be improved.