Melon (Cucumis melo L.) grown under greenhouse conditions: correlations between variables

Abstract

For 63 melon genotypes grown under greenhouse conditions the researchers estimated Pearson correlations between five quantitative variables: fruit weight (g), number of fruits per square meter, yield per area (ton/ha), fruit flesh firmness (N) and percentage of total soluble solids (°Brix). Andromonoecious melons showed a higher number of fruits per square meter and a higher yield than monoecious melons, and there were no significant differences between them for fruit weight, percentage of total soluble solids, and fruit flesh firmness. The only Pearson correlation evaluated in the 63 genotypes that was high (r ≥ 0,69) and statistically significant (p ≤ 0,05), was obtained between yield and the number of fruits per square meter (r = 0,79); in this case the linear regression was calculated (R2 = 0,63). It is concluded that the number of fruits per square meter is the most important variable to predict yield in greenhouse grown melon. Statistically significant correlations were observed in eleven more cases, not across all genotypes but estimated according the kind of sexual expression or the type of melon.