Karakterisasi Morfologi Beberapa Genotipe Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Grup Cantalupensis dan Inodorus

Abstract

Melon is one horticulture commodity with high economic value and large morphological diversity. The aims of this research was to elucidate genetic diversity of 16 melon genotypes based on morphological characteristics, and to identify potential genotypes for further utilization in a plant breeding program. This research was conducted at IPB Tajur II experimental station, Bogor, from December 2014 to March 2015. The genotypes used in this research consisting of 15 melon genotypes from the Center for Tropical Horticulture Studies IPB and 1 check variety (Ivory). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with single factor and three replicates. The analysis of variance showed that the genotypic effects were significant for all observed traits, except for days to hermaprodite flowering and flesh thickness. Characters having broad sense heritability value > 50% were stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, days to harvest, fruit weight, sugar content, fruit length, fruit diameter, and flesh thickness. The SMM genotype has the highest sugar content, while the average weight of G8 fruits is similar to Ivory as a check variety. Correlation analysis showed that the fruit weight has positive correlation with fruit diameter, flesh thickness, leaf width, fruit rind thickness, stem diameter, and leaf length. Clustering based on morphological characteristics generally showed that the genetic dissimilarity among cultivar groups (cantalupensis and inodorus) is greater than teh dissimilarity among genotypes within each group.