Genetic and morphological characterization of Turkey's snake melon (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus)

This research was carried out in greenhouse and laboratory of Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Çukurova for detecting the genetic diversity of Turkish snake melon and its relation with other Cucumis species. Sixty eight snake melons, 9 melons and 1 cucumber genotype obtained from different regions of Turkey, National Gene Bank and France World Melon Gene Bank were characterized morphologically and molecularly.Morphological characterization was done according to UPOV descriptor list. Besides, totally 14 quantitave characters were measured in seedling (3), plant (3), leaf (3), ovary (2) and fruit (3) traits. As a result of morphological characterization, it was determined that the genotypes were seperated into four main groups.Molecular characterization was conducted using 17 RAPD primers. Totally 132 bands were produced, 126 of them were polymorphic and 6 of them were monomorphic. Polymorphism rate was % 95.45. Genetically A-7, A-9 and A-8 were detected closest genotypes to each other.