Other Name: – Whole Some Fruit, Cantaloupe

Botanical Name: Cucumis melo

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Chromosome Number: 2n=24

Origin: Tropical Africa

Importance Points

• High temperature at the time of maturity increase sweetness.
• Full slip stage ideal for harvesting.
• Hara Madhu variety harvested at Netting stage.
• TSS in most of varieties 11-17%.
• In Western Countries Muskmelon used to prepare ice-cream.
• Anthesis time 5:30 -6:30AM at 22-29⁰ C temperature.
• Muskmelon is climacteric vegetable.
• Respiration rate of muskmelon is very high.
• Pickling Melon –C.  melo var. conomon
• Mango or Lemon Melon – C. melo var. chito
• Suitable crop for Daria Cultivation in India (about 75-80% area under Daria cultivation).

Area and production

It is grown in garden lands and river beds in India.

Sr. No.	States	2016-17		2017-18
		Area (000’ hac)	Production (000’ MT)	Area (000’ hac)	Prodcution (000’ MT)
1	Uttar Pradesh	21.03	547.04	21.10	548.67
2	Andhra Pradesh	8.68	264.35	9.90	314.39
3	Punjab	5.28	94.04	5.56	127.48
7	Other states	15.42	191.87	17.54	240.12
	Total	50.41	1097.30	54.10	1230.66

Source :- NHB 2018

Economic importance

• The fruits contain 95gm water, 0.3gm protein, 0.4gm minerals, 3.5 gm carbohydrates per 100g fresh weight. It is also a rich source of iron (1.4mg).
• Mature ripe fruit is used as desert fruit and as salad.

Varieties

1. Selection: –

Durgapura Madhu

Arka Jeet

Arka Rajhans

Hara Madhu

Pusa Madhuras

 

2. Hybrids: –

Pusa Shabati: -Kutana X Cantaloupes (early Variety)

Punjab Sunheri : – Hara Madhu X Edisto

MHY-5 Durgapura Madhu X Hara Madhu

Punjab Rasila :- PM an DM resistant Variety

Hissar Madhur Pusa Sharvati X 75

Pusa Rasraj:- developed using monoecious sex form as female parent.

Swarna

Shweta

3. Other Varieties: –

Punjab Hybrid

RM-43

MHW 6

Gujarat Kharbuja (Chaman- 262)

Narendra Kharbuja -1

Sona

M-3

M-4

 

Climate

Generally, a long warm period, preferably dry weather with abundant sunshine is required for the development of flavour and high sugar content. It cannot with stand frost. Melons require tropical climate and fairly high temperature of 35-40⁰C during fruit development.

Soil

Muskmelon cultivated in all type of soils but grown successfully in sandy or sandy loam soil. Muskmelon prefers a soil pH of 6 – 6.7.

Sowing Time

Muskmelon generally cultivated as summer crops and is sown from November to March. And in South India or West Bengal, it is sown November to December.

Preparation of field

Land should be thoroughly prepared to get fine tilth for seed bed.

Seed Rate

The recommended seed rate for Muskmelon is 3.5 to 6 kg/ha.

Sowing

Plant spacing and sowing method is different according to cultivar and regions. The seeds may be sown in furrows or raised beds both the side. The seeds are sown 2.5 to 5.0 cm deep in beds at 1.5 to 4 m row to row spacing and 60 to 75 cm plant to plant spacing. In every pits 3-4 seeds are sown. After germination 2 to 3 week plants are removed and only one left in every pits.

Nutrition

The fertilizer doses given to crop according to soil test. In soils having medium in fertility add 200 quantal FYM or Compost, 80 Kg Nitrogen, 50 kg phosphorus and 50 Kg Potassium.

All fertilizers and half of nitrogen given at last ploughing and remaining Nitrogen is given at flowering stage as top dressing.

Irrigation

 Musk melon require more frequent irrigation in summer to spring crop, while in rainy season crop, irrigation may not be necessary at all. In summer irrigate the crops at 5-7 days’ interval. At maturity stage muskmelon irrigate at wider interval. In Daria cultivation crop do not require irrigation, it intake of water by capillary action of roots.

Weeding

For successful cultivation of muskmelon, plots kept free from weeds. During early stage of crops, beds, ridges etc. need to be kept free from weeds. Herbicides also beneficial in muskmelon crop to reduce the weed growth like Simazine, Dichloremate etc. these weedicides are used at pre emergence.

Use of Growth regulators

Sr. No	PGR	Doses	Effective
1	MH	200ppm	Increase fruit setting
2	GA3	10ppm	Increase fruit setting

 

These chemicals/plant growth regulators must be applied at 2-true leaf stage.

Harvesting

Generally, fruit ready for harvesting in 110 days after sowing, depending on the variety and agro-climate conditions.

Muskmelon harvest Maturity Indices

• Change in the external colour of the fruits
• Softening of the rind
• Development of abscission layer

1. Full Slip stage: – At full maturity stage fruit self-detached from vine due to development of abscission layer. And at the detection point a clear small pit remains, this stage of harvesting of muskmelon is known as full slip stage. At this stage shelf life of fruit is less than half slip stage. This stage is suitable for local market or home consumption.
2. Half-slip stage: – harvesting of fruits 1 to 2 days before full slip stage, when at the detection point half clear pit are seen known to be as half-slip stage. At this stage self-life of the fruit is more and fruits are suitable for sale at distant market.

• In some varieties harvesting is done at netting stage example Hara Madhu

Yield

The average yield is 125-150 quantal/ hac.

Plant protection measures of cucurbits

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