An investigation of some genotypes of Kırkagac melon (Cucumis melo L.) pure lines and hybrids in terms of resistancy to Fusarium oxysporum F. Sp. melonis, morphological characterization and shelf life

Melon belongs to Cucurbitaceae family is one of the economically important species among species grown in subtropics, tropics and temperate zones around the world. Pests and diseases are major obstacle in commercial growing in Turkey as well as in the other melon producer countries. Fusarium wilt is the most common fungal disease among disease in melong growing and it can be reason of whole product lose in case of epidemic. Therefore, breeding of disease resistant cultivar should be improved for disease management for sustainability. At present study, resistancy to fusarium wilt of some kirkagac melon genotypes were evaluated and morphological characterization and shelf life of the fruit were investigated to improve superior hopefull genotypes in terms of Fusarium wilt and fruit characteristics. A twenty-one superior pureline in terms of Fusarium resistancy among seventy-five were selected after Fusarium test and twenty-one hybrid genotypes were obtained after crossing among selected purelines. Hybrids were evaluated in terms of pomological characteristics, yield, heterosis and heterobeltiosis comparing with characteristics of commercial control cultivars. According to results, the highest heterosis rates were determined in two hybrids coded with 57-64 and 22-64. The highest heterosis rates were 68.44% and 60.61% in 57-64 and 22-64 respectively. In similar with heterosis rate, the highest yields were found in 57-64 and 22-64 with 8154.83±11.54 kg/da and 7714.87±3.70 kg/da respectively. These genotypes were superior in terms of investigated paramters in the study and they could be suggested as hopeful putative cultivar.