Introduction to the Main Cultivated Varieties of Muskmelon
Introduction to Muskmelon Varieties
The cultivated varieties of muskmelon can be divided into four botanical varieties: Guadanzi, Bailan melon, Hami summer melon and Hami winter melon, and each variety group contains outstanding cultivars. The varieties currently adapted to cultivation in North China include:
Huangdanzi has a growth period of 85-90 days and is early maturing. The fruit is nearly round; the rind is yellow-green, turning orange-yellow when ripe, and the fruit surface has green netting or is smooth. The flesh is white, with a refractive sugar content of 12%-25%. It has somewhat strong resistance to moisture and disease. The fruit is firm and tolerant of storage and transport. Jimi melon No. 1 is early maturing, with a growth period of 86-90 days, reaching about 95 days in cool regions. It has strong adaptability and is easy to cultivate. The plant has strong vigour. It sets fruit on secondary and tertiary vines, with a high fruit-setting rate. The melon is round, with a golden-yellow outer skin and sparse netting. The flesh is light green, crisp and juicy, with a strong aroma. It contains 12%-15% refractive sugar, is extremely tolerant of transport, and is drought tolerant. On saline-alkali, Wenming, hilly and riverbank land, it can be cultivated with plastic mulch laid on the ground.
Hetao melon has strong adaptability, tolerates transport, and has a hard rind. The fruit is broadly round, with a raised shoulder; the skin is orange-yellow, and the top of the fruit is densely covered with transverse netting and is rather rough. The flesh colour is deep green, with a refractive sugar content of 15%-16%. It has strong disease resistance.
Lutian No. 3 is an early-maturing variety with a growth period of 80 days. The fruit is round; the young melon is light green and turns yellow when mature. The flesh is milky white, firm in texture, juicy and sweet, with a refractive sugar content of 14%. It tolerates storage and transport. The growth vigour is rather weak at the seedling stage, and growth gradually becomes vigorous after the vines begin to run; it has a high fruit-setting rate and is suitable for cultivation in small tunnels.
Tianyou No. 1 has a total growth period of 100 days and a fruit development period of more than 45 days. The fruit is oval, with a smooth skin that is light green and turns yellow when mature, with green stripes and spots. The flesh is emerald green, fine in texture and aromatic. It contains about 13% refractive sugar. It is suitable for cultivation in tunnels.
Muskmelon plants grow vigorously, and the leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds are all relatively large. The rind is thick and hard and inedible; the flesh is more than 2 cm thick, with a high sugar content and a sweet taste, while the placental tissue is tasteless. It is suited to a warm, dry climate and requires a large day-night temperature difference and sufficient light; its disease resistance is rather poor, and it does not tolerate dampness. Under high temperature and high humidity, diseases are severe.
Huangdanzi has a growth period of 85-90 days and is early maturing. The fruit is nearly round; the rind is yellow-green, turning orange-yellow when ripe, and the fruit surface has green netting or is smooth. The flesh is white, with a refractive sugar content of 12%-25%. It has somewhat strong resistance to moisture and disease. The fruit is firm and tolerant of storage and transport. Jimi melon No. 1 is early maturing, with a growth period of 86-90 days, reaching about 95 days in cool regions. It has strong adaptability and is easy to cultivate. The plant has strong vigour. It sets fruit on secondary and tertiary vines, with a high fruit-setting rate. The melon is round, with a golden-yellow outer skin and sparse netting. The flesh is light green, crisp and juicy, with a strong aroma. It contains 12%-15% refractive sugar, is extremely tolerant of transport, and is drought tolerant. On saline-alkali, Wenming, hilly and riverbank land, it can be cultivated with plastic mulch laid on the ground.
Hetao melon has strong adaptability, tolerates transport, and has a hard rind. The fruit is broadly round, with a raised shoulder; the skin is orange-yellow, and the top of the fruit is densely covered with transverse netting and is rather rough. The flesh colour is deep green, with a refractive sugar content of 15%-16%. It has strong disease resistance.
Lutian No. 3 is an early-maturing variety with a growth period of 80 days. The fruit is round; the young melon is light green and turns yellow when mature. The flesh is milky white, firm in texture, juicy and sweet, with a refractive sugar content of 14%. It tolerates storage and transport. The growth vigour is rather weak at the seedling stage, and growth gradually becomes vigorous after the vines begin to run; it has a high fruit-setting rate and is suitable for cultivation in small tunnels.
Tianyou No. 1 has a total growth period of 100 days and a fruit development period of more than 45 days. The fruit is oval, with a smooth skin that is light green and turns yellow when mature, with green stripes and spots. The flesh is emerald green, fine in texture and aromatic. It contains about 13% refractive sugar. It is suitable for cultivation in tunnels.
Muskmelon plants grow vigorously, and the leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds are all relatively large. The rind is thick and hard and inedible; the flesh is more than 2 cm thick, with a high sugar content and a sweet taste, while the placental tissue is tasteless. It is suited to a warm, dry climate and requires a large day-night temperature difference and sufficient light; its disease resistance is rather poor, and it does not tolerate dampness. Under high temperature and high humidity, diseases are severe.