The origin and genetic affinities of wild populations of melon (Cucumis melo, Cucurbitaceae) in North America

D. S. Decker-Walters, S. M. Chung, J. E. Staub, H. D. Quemada, A. I. López-Sesé

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The origins of wild melon (Cucumis melo) populations in the New World have been in question since their initial description in the mid-nineteenth century by Charles Naudin. Typically, these populations have been assumed to represent escaped forms of cultivated vars. chito or dudaim, and have been labelled accordingly, or more rarely as var. agrestis. To clarify the origins of New World melons, North American, chito, and dudaim accessions were studied with respect to 45 quantitative and 10 qualitative morphological and physiological characters. Also collected were RAPD and SSR data for 42 North American populations, 10 Cultivar accessions of vars. chito and dudaim, 10 other small-fruited Old World accessions, and 4 other varieties of C. melovars. conomon, flexuosus, inodorus, and cantalupensis. All data revealed that New World populations are distinct, and should be classified as ssp. agrestis var. texanus Naudin. This variety showed the greatest genetic affinities to var. chito and to cultivars from Eastern Asia, including var. conomon.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)183-197
Number of pages15
JournalPlant Systematics and Evolution
Volume233
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2002

Keywords

  • Cucumis melo
  • Melon
  • RAPD
  • SSR
  • Var. chito
  • Var. dudaim

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The origin and genetic affinities of wild populations of melon (Cucumis melo, Cucurbitaceae) in North America'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this