Agro-morphological diversity of Spanish traditional melons (Cucumis melo L.) of the Madrid provenance

Abstract

The variability of 14 landraces belonging to a Madrilean village historically specialized on melon cultivation, Villaconejos, was evaluated based on 58 quantitative and qualitative morphological traits. These landraces were compared to a reference array composed of 14 accessions which represented the main varieties cultivated in Spanish fields. Individual data related to plant, fruit, seed and phenology have been analysed using a multivariate analysis. This analysis showed intra-and inter-varietal diversity, as emphasized the most discriminant morphological traits in order to define similarities. Villaconejos accessions were morphologically distinct from the reference accessions (RA). Only the landraces belonging to Piel de Sapo market class showed common morphological affinities with the RA, grouping with them. The majority of Villaconejos traditional varieties clustered in five different groups, with no RA within, showing distinctive morphological singularities not described previously. Two of these groups showed some particularities in fruit traits, which are appreciated as quality marks for Spanish consumers. These results indicate that these accessions must be conserved as valuable genetic resources to enrich the Inodorus genetic bases for future breeding proposes worldwide. Furthermore, it should be considered the opportunity of promoting their cultivation under the shelter of a Protected Geographical Indication as a high quality melon. Finally, the discovering of such a high variability presented in a very small area, gives a clue for focusing, with an elevated probability of success, future surveys in similar ancestral European villages which in the past times, also supplied more populated cities with their farming products.

Genetic divergence among accessions of melon from traditional agriculture of the Brazilian Northeast

“…The lack of consistency observed in the clustering of accessions from the same botanical group in this study is similar to the results of Escribano and Lázaro (2009), and it is associated with the quantitative nature of characteristics because of environmental influence. Moreover, morphological descriptors divided 29 accessions of melon including inodorus, flexuosus, and dudaim varieties into eight groups without an association with the taxonomic type (Soltani et al, 2010).…”

“…Therefore, the characterization of the accessions based on descriptors of the fruit (Table 1) showed great variability, even within the same botanical group, which is consistent with reports of polymorphisms of Cucumis melo (Staub et al, 2004;Nakata et al, 2005;Escribano and Lázaro, 2009). It is noteworthy that these morphological methods, which are the basis for traditional systematics, are irreplaceable in the evaluation of genetic resources and are necessary for initial assessment of diversity and precise identification of traditional cultivars (Konopka and Hanson, 1985).…”

“…Extensive variation in length and width of the melon fruit has been observed in the literature (Stepansky et al, 1999;López-Sesé et al, 2003;Escribano and Lázaro, 2009;Szamosi et al, 2010). In addition, Monforte et al (2005) found variations in the heterosis of the longitudinal and transverse diameter characteristics and fruit shape index while working with accessions from Africa, Asia, and Europe.…”

“…As for the flesh color, most had a white color, followed by salmon and greenish-white colors, and three accessions had green-colored pulp. Escribano and Lázaro (2009) evaluated 28 accessions of melon that were collected in Spain, and they found great variation in pulp color and observed a second color in the pulp of some accessions.…”

Genetic diversity among melon accessions (Cucumis melo) from Turkey based on SSR markers

“…As stated by Escribano and Lázaro (2009), morphological analyses are an absolute requirement for the initial evaluation of genetic resources and the accurate identification of local landraces. Several studies have morphologically characterized local germplasms and found them to represent different genetic sources (Decker-Walters et al, 2002;Liu et al, 2004;Staub et al, 2004;Laghetti et al, 2008;Escribano and Lázaro, 2009;Szamosi et al, 2010).…”