Effect of fruit age on mother-plant seed quality of ‘egusi’ melon (Cucumeropsis manni Naudin) cultivars.

Abstract

Melon fruits produced at the base of the stem are older. Age reduces as they get closer to the apex of the stem. Melon farmers however, conduct harvest operation on the same day and do not grade fruits according to their ages and position on the mother- plant before extraction of seeds. The experiment was conducted in 2019 at the laboratory of Crop Production Department, Federal University of Technology, Minna to evaluate the qualities of two “egusi” melon cultivars harvested at different ages on their mother-plant. The treatments were three harvesting stages, 23, 33. 43 days after anthesis (DAA) and two “egusi” melon cultivars (“paragi” and “ofe”). The seeds were placed on filter paper moistened with distilled water in plastic dishes and laid out in Completely randomized design (CRD) in four replications. Data were collected on seed length, dry seed weight, seed diameter, 100-seed weight and germination percentage. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Tukey’s test. The results indicated that, the “Paragi” variety recorded significantly higher values for all the observed seed parameters except seed length and seed diameter. The results also revealed 23 days after anthesis had significantly lower values compared to 33 and 43 days after anthesis for 100- seed weight, number of seeds per fruit and weight of seed. For seed length and seed diameter, 43 days after anthesis was significantly higher. The germination percentage between the two varieties were generally similar throughout the duration of storage. Though significant germination percentage differences were recorded among the seeds harvested at different days after anthesis at 0, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 storage periods, the trend was not consistent. Seed of cultivar “Paragi” retained higher quality traits. For optimum storability and good seed quality, “egusi” melon should be harvested at 43 days after anthesis.