Journal of Horticultural Science
with the collaboration of Iranian Scientific Association for Landscape (ISAL)

Influence of Ripening Process on Quantitative and Qualitative Fruit Characteristics of Two Lesser-Known Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Accessions

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

E. SoleimanyFard 1
K. Mashayekhi 1
S. J. Mousavizadeh 1
M. Zarei 2

1 Department of Horticulture Science, Faculty of Plant Production, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Gorgan, Gorgan, Iran

2 Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gonbad Kavous University, Gonbad Kavous, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jhs.2025.94365.1445
Abstract
Introduction
Melon (Cucumis melo L., Cucurbitaceae family) is an important commercial fruit crop that is extensively grown throughout the world due to its generally very good adaptation to climate and soil. The quality of melon fruits represents a combination of a wide range of physical characteristics (fruit size, shape, texture, firmness, etc.) and chemical compositions (acidity, sugars, vitamins, phenolic compounds, etc.), which are very important for consumer acceptability and marketability. On the other side, high-quality fruit must be achieved in the field because after harvesting time all fruit attributes can only be preserved, not improved. Hence, harvesting time plays an essential role in determining quality and marketability as well as storage life of melon fruits. Moreover, the accurate determination of harvesting time and ripening stages of melon fruit have widespread application to improve its management. Despite the increasing consumption and the cultivation of various melon accessions in different regions of Iran, the physical characteristics and chemical compositions of some fruit melon accessions (particularly lesser-known accessions) during fruit ripening have not yet been evaluated in detail. With this background, the specific objectives of the study were, primarily, to monitor and compare the changes of physicochemical traits, total phenolics and antioxidant activity of two Iranian melon accessions (‘Chaghercheh’ and ‘Zamcheh’) during the ripening process and, secondly, to determine the optimal harvesting time to achieve maximum fruit quality and marketability.

Materials and Methods
In order to evaluate the influence of ripening process on quantitative and qualitative fruit properties of two lesser-known melon accessions (‘Chaghercheh’ and ‘Zamcheh’) have grown in Gonbad Kavous, the experiment was conducted according to a factorial design based on a completely randomized design with 4 replicates (five fruits per replication) during two years (2023-2024). The developing fruits were hand-harvested at five different developing stages from 10 days after fruit set up to fruit ripening (namely, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days after fruit set) during June and July. Data from two years were combined and analyzed by Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software using analysis of variance and differences among means were determined for significance at P ≤ 0.05 using Tukey’s test. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to identify the relationship between the different physical and chemical characteristics.


Results and Discussion
The findings of this experiment confirmed that there were significant differences among the different harvest times in all measured factors for both accessions. The fresh weight and dimensions of fruit, thickness and percentage of pulp increased throughout fruit ripening and reached to the maximum values at last harvesting stage, while fruit firmness, peel thickness, percentages of peel and seed showed a descending trend in the same period. At full maturation stage, the both melon accessions exhibited the highest total soluble solids and pH, along with the lowest titratable acidity, resulting in the highest maturity index. As the ripening proceeded, levels of ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity incremented, and reaching the peaks on 30th day after fruit set, but afterward mentioned factors reduced dramatically until the end of the harvesting period. Also, significant differences of all measured parameters were statistically detected among two melon accessions. At full maturation stage, the fruit fresh weight, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity were varied from 2438.12 (‘Zamcheh’) to 2941.17 g (‘Chaghercheh’), 14.02 (‘Zamcheh’) to 20.66 N (‘Chaghercheh’), 13.17 (‘Chaghercheh’) to 15.23 °Brix (‘Zamcheh’), 0.59 (‘Zamcheh’) to 0.79 mg.100 g-1 FW (‘Chaghercheh’), 17.80 (‘Zamcheh’) to 19.47 mg.100 g-1 FW (‘Chaghercheh’), 21.34 (‘Zamcheh’) to 22.48 mg.100 g-1 FW (‘Chaghercheh’), and 22.26 (‘Zamcheh’) to 24.08% (‘Chaghercheh’), respectively. Also, the antioxidant activity was positively correlated with total phenolics (r = 0.936) and ascorbic acid (r = 0.869).

Conclusion
Overall, the data of this study revealed the degree of maturity and the variety are main parameters controlling the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of melon fruit. The both accessions showed identical evolution trends throughout their growth and development. The period between 40 and 50 days after fruit set seemed to be the most active time of fruit ripening in both accessions, which growers can maximize marketability, nutritional value and quality of melon fruit by choosing the ideal harvest. In general, the both accessions are potential source of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity that can be regarded as an important nutrient for dietary and health of human.

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Gorgan and Gonbad Kavous University for their cooperation.

Keywords

Antioxidant activity
Growth and development
Physical properties
Total phenolics
Subjects

Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

 

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Journal of Horticultural Science
Volume 40, Issue 2
Summer 2026
Pages 366-349

  • Receive Date 12 July 2025
  • Revise Date 31 August 2025
  • Accept Date 14 September 2025
  • First Publish Date 14 September 2025

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