To investigate the effect of leaf numbers in upper stem of fruit (LNUSF) on the quality of melon (Cucumis melo L.), Seolhyang, Kinryu (Cucumis melo L. var. inodorus), and Korea melon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus) were grown under the vinylhouse condition during the spring season of 1992.
Leaf area, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, thickness of mesocarp and soluble solid content were increased according to the increase of LNUSF such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 leaves in all cultivars. All cultivars should be maintained at least 10 leaves in order to produce marketable fruits under the condition of low height vinylhouse.
The width of blossom end was not influenced by the number of leaves in upper stem of ´Seolhyang´ and ´Kinryu´, but which was increased by the LNUSF in ´Korea´.
The rate of dry weight in mesocarp decreased in ´Seolhyang´, but increased in ´Kinryu´ and ´Korea´ as the LNUSF increased.
The soluble solid contents in fruits of those three cultivars increased as the LNUSF increased.
As the LNUSF increased, the degree of net and external quality were satisfactory.
The firmness of epicarp and mesocarp were hard and number of seed and the thousand seed weight increased. But seed purity was low in only 2 leaves plot, and there was no difference among 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 leaves plot.
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