2016 North Carolina Melon Cultivar Evaluations

Hort. Series # 216

Principle Investigators

Jonathan R. Schultheis Keith D. Starke Professor and Extension Specialist, Research Associate, Vegetables Vegetables Department of Horticultural Science Department of Horticultural Science N.C. State University N.C. State University Raleigh, NC 27695-7609 Raleigh, NC 27695-7609

General Cultural Practices

All melon trials were grown using recommended practices for commercial melon production in North Carolina. All plots in the study were under black plastic mulch and fertigated with drip irrigation. Furthermore, pesticides used on all plots were chemicals labeled for use on that crop, (2016 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual, (http://ipm.ncsu.edu/Agchem/agchem.html).

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Phillip Winslow (Superintendent) and Chris Lee (Horticulture Crops Supervisor), Cunningham Research Station, Kinston, NC, as well as, the personnel at the research station for their help to establish, maintain, and harvest the cultivar evaluation trials. We want to also acknowledge the following summer research interns for their assistance with the trials: Steven Bajorek, Elizabeth Indemaur, Logan Haislip and Matt Hooper. The cooperation and support of the following seed companies is also greatly appreciated: Bayer Cropscience; DP Seeds, LLC; Hollar Seeds; Origene Seeds; Rijk Zwaan USA Inc.; Seminis; Syngenta Seeds, Inc.; US Agriseeds and United Genetics.

Disclaimer This publication presents data from the cultivar evaluation trials conducted during 2016. Information in this report is believed to be reliable but should not be relied upon as a sole source of information. Limited accompanying detail is included but excludes some pertinent information, which may aid interpretation.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT COVER PAGE, Title, Principle Investigators, Cooperators, Acknowledgments and Disclaimer ...... i TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... ii

2016 Muskmelon and specialty melon cultural practices, Cunningham Research Station, Kinston, NC ...... 1-3

MUSKMELON ...... 4-32 Figure 1 – Muskmelon photographs; 2016 ...... 4-14 Table 1 – Muskmelon cultivar yield by weight per acre and average fruit weight for early harvests ...... 15 Table 2 – Muskmelon cultivar yield by number per acre and average fruit weight for early harvests ...... 16 Table 3 – Muskmelon cultivar percent yield by category for early harvests ...... 17 Table 4 – Muskmelon cultivar percent number by category for early harvests ...... 18 Table 5 – Muskmelon cultivar yield by weight per acre and average fruit weight for middle harvests ...... 19 Table 6 – Muskmelon cultivar yield by number per acre and average fruit weight for middle harvests ...... 20 Table 7 – Muskmelon cultivar percent yield by category for middle harvests ...... 21 Table 8 – Muskmelon cultivar percent number by category for middle harvests ...... 22 Table 9 – Muskmelon cultivar yield by weight per acre and average fruit weight for late harvests ...... 23 Table 10 – Muskmelon cultivar yield by number per acre and average fruit weight for late harvests ...... 24 Table 11 – Muskmelon cultivar percent yield by category for late harvests ...... 25 Table 12 – Muskmelon cultivar percent number by category for late harvests ...... 26 Table 13 – Muskmelon cultivar cumulative yield by weight per acre and average fruit weight ...... 27 Table 14 – Muskmelon cultivar cumulative yield by number of fruit per acre...... 28 Table 15 – Muskmelon cultivar cumulative percent yield by category ...... 29 Table 16 – Muskmelon cultivar cumulative percent number by category ...... 30 Table 17 – Muskmelon cultivar percentage harvested among harvest intervals ...... 31 Table 18 – Muskmelon descriptive characteristics and interior fruit quality ...... 32

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2016 Muskmelon Cultigen Trial; Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Financial Support, Cunningham Research Station, Kinston, NC

Introduction

Growers in the United States reported an increase of 8,300 acres for cantaloupe production in 2013 and this brought the total cantaloupe acreage to 74,730. However, the total value of the cantaloupe/muskmelon (orange flesh melons) crop was reported at $319 million in 2013, a decrease of $6 million from the previous year when the crop was valued at $325 million. Further reporting reflected seasonal fluctuations in domestic cantaloupe prices, however, they have shown a moderate decline from their price peak of 0.25 per lb in 1980 to a season-average of 0.18 per lb in 2013 (http://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/melon-profile/). In North Carolina the acreage for cantaloupe/muskmelon production has not been published in recent years, although, it is estimated that 3,000 – 4,000 acres are grown in the state. The majority of the melons grown in the state over the last 20 years are the eastern type with ‘Athena’ being the principle cultivar produced. In addition to the eastern type cantaloupe/muskmelon, other orange flesh melons being grown on much smaller acreage include Extended Shelf Life (ESL) or Long Shelf Life (LSL) melons, often termed Harper melons; and a third type termed Italian (Tuscan) melons. The Extended or Long Shelf Life melons, as the name suggests, will hold for a longer period than the eastern type melons. However, it can be more difficult to determine readiness on ESL/LSL melons and this has delayed willingness from growers to move into larger scale production of these melons. Flesh firmness and sweetness tend to be greater in ESL/LSL melons when compared to the eastern melon types. The Italian (Tuscan) type melons tend to split easier than the ESL/LSL or eastern types and more intense management of the crop harvest may be necessary in order to minimize fruit loss due to splitting. In spite of these weaknesses with ESL/LSL and Italian (Tuscan) type melons, North Carolina growers have had some success in producing and marketing these newer melon types. In 2016 several new cultigens were evaluated in our melon field trial and we had a total of 21 advanced lines or cultivar entries (cultigens) from 9 seed companies. These entries were evaluated for yield, earliness, and various other qualities. The entries were as follows:

Seed Company Bayer DP Hollar Rijk United US CS Seed Seed Origene Zwaan Seminis Syngenta Genetics Agriseed

Advanced Line or Cultivar (Cultigen) HSR Caribbean SVMF UGR USAMR DuraWest Napoli 4414 Re-Start King 5196 Aphrodite 1594 13 15331

Maxi-East Tasty Santa Athena UGR USAMR Sherbet Monica 2101 14 15332 NUN-26181 Beach Astound NUN-26191 (ME 3716) UGR Accolade 2102 14 Sweet East (ME 3743)

1 Materials and Methods

In February and March commercial seed companies were contacted to obtain seed for the muskmelon cultigen evaluation trial. Seed were sown into 72 cell Poly trays to grow transplants (Hummert Int.; Earth City, MO) on 14 April 2016. The planting medium used was a Fine Germinating Mix, a commercial soilless mix (SunGrow, Agawam, MA). A complete fertilizer (10-10-20 at 600 lbs/ac) was broadcast applied over the entire area that was planted on 14 April. Telone II fumigant (6.5 gal/ac) was soil injected in tandem with laying black polyethylene plastic mulch (0.70 mil thick high density plastic film, 48 inches wide; B.B. Hobbs, Clinton, NC) on 27 April. Herbicide products, Dual (1.5 pints/ac) and Sinbar (3 oz/ac), were applied to row middles for pre-emergent weed control on 10 May. Muskmelon transplants were approximately 3 weeks old when placed in a “hardening” greenhouse for 7 days prior to being established in the field on 11 May. A starter fertilizer solution was applied at transplant (0.5 lb/50 gal H2O of 20-20-20 fertilizer, water soluble). Plot size was one row with 10 plants per plot (20 ft) with in-row spacing of 2 feet and between row spacing of 5 feet. Field arrangement for the muskmelon cultigen trial was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. Plots with missing plants were replanted approximately 7 days after transplanting to achieve 100% stand, in most cases. Drip irrigation was utilized (NETAFIM, 12 inch spacing, 0.24 gal/hr; NETAFIM, Tel Aviv, Israel) throughout the growing season. Fertigation, using a 7-0-7 liquid fertilizer, was initiated 15 days after planting and applied weekly, thereafter. The first application of liquid fertilizer (2 gal) was applied through the drip on 26 May and the last application (1 gal) was applied 16 August. In this trial fertilizer was applied either preplant or through fertigation. Total amount of fertilizer applied through fertigation for the season was 60 lbs/ac of N and 120 lbs/ac K2O. The total amount of fertilizer applied for the entire growing season was 120 lbs of N, 60 lbs/ac of P2O5 and 180 lbs/ac of K2O. Insecticides were applied every 7 to 10 days as a preventative measure beginning 17 May and again on the following dates: 20 and 27 May 2016; 14 and 24 June; 1, 14 and 20 July; 5 and 11 August 2016. The following products were alternated during consecutive spray applications to avoid potential resistance development in insect or mite species: Asana, Venom, Permethrin, Brigade, Sevin and Abamectin. Similarly, the following fungicide products were applied; Kocide, Pristine, Gavel, Zampro, Quadris, Procure, Rally, Tanos, Prevacur Flex, Pristine and Presidio; and applied on the following dates; 27 May 2016; 14 and 24 June 2016; 1, 14 and 20 July 2016; 5 and 11 August 2016. There were a total of 16 harvests for the muskmelon evaluation trial. The first harvest was 15 July 2016 and the sixteenth harvest was 19 August 2016. Harvests were made three times per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each fruit was harvested when ripe and weighed. Evaluations of each melon entry included: yield, fruit size, production earliness, soluble solids (using a digital refractometer), fruit shape and size, exterior and interior descriptions (rind, length/width ratio, and flesh color), and interior flesh firmness. Flesh firmness was measured (recorded in pounds) by using a Penetrometer FT 011 with a 5/16” plunger tip, (QA Supplies LLC, Norfolk, VA). Melon samples were obtained by cutting the center of the fruit, lengthwise, from the fruit’s stem end to blossom end. Pressure measurements were then taken between the cavity and rind (near fruit bottom or ground spot and one from the top of the fruit) on each half of the cut fruit. The reported measures on flesh firmness are an average of the two sample areas from five fruit per plot (10 total fruit halves were measured for flesh firmness per plot). Most of the quality measurements were taken when the melons became ripe between the first and fourth harvests for a given cultigen. The field and growing conditions throughout the harvest period were normal to slightly wet for this trial. There was average to above average rainfall throughout the month of July and August, as well as, optimal ambient temperatures that allowed for good plant growth and fruit set within all the cultigen plots.

Results

In the early harvests (1-5) entries that yielded over 500 cwt were Aphrodite, HSR 4414, Astound (ME 3716), UGR 2101 14 and Tasty Sherbet (Table 1). The highest yielding entries based on fruit numbers that exceeded 7,500 per acre for early harvests (1-5) were Aphrodite, Athena, HSR 4414, Astound (ME 3716), Accolade (ME 3743), Santa Monica Beach, UGR 1594 13, UGR 2101 14, UGR 2102 14, Napoli and Tasty Sherbet (Table 2). The 3 to 7 lb. size category had the highest percentage of fruit produced from the early yielding entries. This is the most desirable and marketable size category for muskmelons (Table 3 & 4). The highest yielding entries for fruit weight in the mid- season harvests (6-10) were USAMR 15331, Re-Start, USAMR 15332, NUN 26181, NUN 26191 and UGR 1594 13. The entries that yielded the highest (> 5,000 fruit number) in the mid-season harvests (6-10) were Re-start, USAMR 15331, NUN 26181, NUN 26191, UGR 1594 13 and USAMR 15332. Most fruit produced from these entries were between 3 to 7 lbs.; with the exception of USAMR 15332 which, combined, had 82% of its fruit in the 7.1 to 9 and >9 lb. size categories, respectively (Tables 5 & 6). Fruit in the >9 lb. size category are too large for most

2 growers producing muskmelons in North Carolina and likely for most other areas in the U.S. producing muskmelon for shipping (Tables 7 & 8). Some of the latest yielding (harvests 11-16) melon entries were Aphrodite, Astound (3716), Accolade (3743), Tasty Sherbet and NUN 26191(Table 9). Average fruit size for these entries were 7.2, 6.3, 5.6, 5.2 and 4.7 lbs. (Table 9). The highest yielding entries across all harvests, in terms of tonnage (>800 cwt) were Accolade (ME 3743), Aphrodite, Astound (ME 3743), USAMR 15332, UGR 2101 14 and Tasty Sherbet (Table 13). The melon entries that produced the greatest number of fruits across all harvests were NUN 26181, UGR 1594 13, NUN 26191, Accolade (ME 3716) and Tasty Sherbet (Table 14). Melon entries with the highest average fruit weights across all harvests (16) were USAMR 15332, 7.6 lbs. followed by Aphrodite, 7.2 lbs. and finally, Sweet East, 6.9 lbs. (Table 13). The following melon entries had the lowest average fruit weights across all harvests: NUN 26181, 3.6 lbs. followed by NUN 26191, 4.5 lbs. and finally, Napoli, 4.6 lbs. (Table 13).

Financial Support

In addition to the seed companies, this program has been supported by the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service.

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Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

4 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

5 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

6 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

Astound

Accolade

7 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

8 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

9 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

10 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

11 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

12 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

13 Figure 1. Eastern Melon Pictures.

14 Table 1. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields, Cumulative fruit weight, (x 100), per acre for early1 season harvests 1 - 5. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cumulative Avg. Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Totals 2 Wt. 3 Aphrodite 10 179 190 184 563 7.4 Athena 6 314 102 46 468 5.8 Caribbean King 9 160 69 11 249 5.9 DuraWest 2 198 113 32 345 6.1 HSR 4414 7 388 130 10 535 5.8 Maxi-East 6 183 158 104 451 6.6 Astound (ME 3716) 12 315 126 52 505 6.1 Accolade (ME 3743) 15 292 180 10 497 6.0 NUN 26181 29 137 0* 0* 166 3.4 NUN 26191 3 218 0* 0* 221 4.4 Santa Monica Beach 12 374 10 11 407 5.0 SVMF 5196 6 294 92 0* 392 5.6 Sweet East 8 181 134 154 477 7.2 UGR 1594 13 10 428 34 0* 472 5.2 UGR 2101 14 7 532 90 0* 629 5.4 UGR 2102 14 8 240 200 51 499 6.5 USAMR 15331 1 106 0* 0* 107 5.5 USAMR 15332 3 101 166 104 374 8.0 Napoli 13 430 8 0* 451 4.6 Tasty Sherbet 12 434 116 21 583 5.7 Re-Start 0* 92 49 0*0 1410 6.1 Average 9 266 109 61 406 5.8 LSD (0.05) 18 130 86 78 128 0.9

1 Early harvests (1-5) : 15 - 25 July (52 - 62 days after planting). 2 Cumulative total includes all fruit size categories. 3 Average fruit weights were determined using total cumulative weights and numbers from respective harvests.

15 Table 2. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields, Cumulative fruit number per acre for early1 season harvests 1 -5. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cumulative Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Totals 2 Aphrodite 436 2940 2396 1851 7623 Athena 327 6098 1307 436 8168 Caribbean King 436 2831 871 109 4247 DuraWest 109 3920 1416 327 5772 HSR 4414 327 7296 1634 109 9365 Maxi-East 436 3376 1960 980 6752 Astound (ME 3716) 545 5554 1634 545 8276 Accolade (ME 3743) 653 5336 2287 109 8385 NUN 26181 1089 3812 0* 0* 4901 NUN 26191 109 4901 0* 0* 5009 Santa Monica Beach 545 7405 109 109 8168 SVMF 5196 218 5772 1198 0* 7187 Sweet East 327 3267 1634 1525 6752 UGR 1594 13 436 8385 436 0* 9257 UGR 2101 14 327 10128 1198 0* 11652 UGR 2102 14 327 4356 2505 545 7732 USAMR 15331 109 1851 0* 0* 1960 USAMR 15332 109 1742 2069 980 4901 Napoli 545 9148 109 0* 9801 Tasty Sherbet 762 7950 1525 218 10454 Re-Start 0* 1634 653 0*0 2287 Average 408 5129 1385 603 7079 LSD (0.05) 751 2570 1073 780 2550

1 Early harvests (1-5) : 15 - 25 July (52 - 62 days after planting). 2 Cumulative total includes all fruit size categories. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis. ** Each number for fruit size category and cumulative total is rounded to the nearest whole number. **

16 Table 3. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields; Percent1 of fruit weight per indicated size category - Early harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Aphrodite 2 32 34 33 Athena 1 67 22 10 Caribbean King 4 64 28 4 DuraWest 1 57 33 9 HSR 4414 1 72 24 2 Maxi-East 1 41 35 23 Astound (ME 3716) 2 62 25 10 Accolade (ME 3743) 3 59 36 2 NUN 26181 17 83 0* 0* NUN 26191 1 99 0* 0* Santa Monica Beach 3 92 2 3 SVMF 5196 2 75 23 0* Sweet East 2 38 28 32 UGR 1594 13 2 91 7 0* UGR 2101 14 1 85 14 0* UGR 2102 14 2 48 40 10 USAMR 15331 1 99 0* 0* USAMR 15332 1 27 44 28 Napoli 3 95 2 0* Tasty Sherbet 2 74 20 4 Re-Start 0* 65 35 0* Average 3 68 25 13 1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

17 Table 4. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields; Percent1 of fruit number per indicated size category - Early harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Aphrodite 6 39 31 24 Athena 4 75 16 5 Caribbean King 10 67 21 3 DuraWest 2 68 25 6 HSR 4414 3 78 17 1 Maxi-East 6 50 29 15 Astound (ME 3716) 7 67 20 7 Accolade (ME 3743) 8 64 27 1 NUN 26181 22 78 0* 0* NUN 26191 2 98 0* 0* Santa Monica Beach 7 91 1 1 SVMF 5196 3 80 17 0* Sweet East 5 48 24 23 UGR 1594 13 5 91 5 0* UGR 2101 14 3 87 10 0* UGR 2102 14 4 56 32 7 USAMR 15331 6 94 0* 0* USAMR 15332 2 36 42 20 Napoli 6 93 1 0* Tasty Sherbet 7 76 15 2 Re-Start 0* 71 29 0* 0 Average 6 72 20 9 1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

18 Table 5. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields, Cumulative fruit weight, (x 100), per acre for mid1 season harvests 6 - 10. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cumulative Avg. Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Totals 2 Wt. 3 Aphrodite 0* 21 42 27 90 6.3 Athena 3 44 9 0* 56 5.1 Caribbean King 0* 161 33 0* 194 5.2 DuraWest 3 155 40 0* 198 5.6 HSR 4414 0* 47 17 0* 64 5.8 Maxi-East 5 54 60 73 192 7.4 Astound (ME 3716) 6 96 50 0* 152 5.9 Accolade (ME 3743) 3 70 8 0* 81 5.2 NUN 26181 39 226 0* 0* 265 3.5 NUN 26191 3 247 8 0* 258 4.5 Santa Monica Beach 6 39 16 20 81 6.4 SVMF 5196 2 37 0* 0* 39 5.2 Sweet East 0* 71 25 0* 96 5.3 UGR 1594 13 24 182 33 0* 239 4.6 UGR 2101 14 3 55 8 11 77 6.2 UGR 2102 14 2 158 26 0* 186 5.2 USAMR 15331 9 370 84 0* 463 5.4 USAMR 15332 5 68 164 166 403 7.3 Napoli 1 66 8 0* 75 4.6 Tasty Sherbet 0* 17 10 0* 27 6.2 Re-Start 0* 421 17 0* 438 4.8 Average 8 124 35 59 175 5.5 LSD (0.05) 13 80 60 118 110 1.9

1 Mid harvests (6-10) : 27July - 5 August (64 - 73 days after planting). 2 Cumulative total includes all fruit size categories. 3 Average fruit weights were determined using total cumulative weights and numbers from respective harvests. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

19 Table 6. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields, Cumulative fruit number per acre for mid1 season harvests 6 - 10. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cumulative Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Totals 2 Aphrodite 0* 545 545 218 1307 Athena 109 871 109 0* 1089 Caribbean King 0* 3158 436 0* 3594 DuraWest 109 2940 545 0* 3594 HSR 4414 0* 871 218 0* 1089 Maxi-East 218 980 762 653 2614 Astound (ME 3716) 218 1742 653 0* 2614 Accolade (ME 3743) 109 1307 109 0* 1525 NUN 26181 1634 5990 0* 0* 7623 NUN 26191 109 5554 109 0* 5772 Santa Monica Beach 327 653 218 218 1416 SVMF 5196 109 653 0* 0* 762 Sweet East 0* 1307 327 0* 1634 UGR 1594 13 1089 3920 436 0* 5445 UGR 2101 14 109 980 109 109 1307 UGR 2102 14 109 2940 327 0* 3376 USAMR 15331 327 7079 1089 0* 8494 USAMR 15332 327 1307 2069 1525 5227 Napoli 109 1307 109 0* 1525 Tasty Sherbet 0* 327 109 0* 436 Re-Start 0* 8821 218 0* 9039 Average 334 2536 447 545 3308 LSD (0.05) 558 1519 780 1058 1830

1 Mid harvests (6-10) : 27 July - 5 August (64 - 73 days after planting). 2 Cumulative total includes all fruit size categories. ** Each number for fruit size category and cumulative total is rounded to the nearest whole number. ** * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

20 Table 7. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields; Percent1 of fruit weight per indicated size category - Mid Season harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Aphrodite 0* 23 47 30 Athena 5 79 16 0* Caribbean King 0* 83 17 0* DuraWest 2 78 20 0* HSR 4414 0* 73 27 0* Maxi-East 3 28 31 38 Astound (ME 3716) 4 63 33 0* Accolade (ME 3743) 4 86 10 0* NUN 26181 15 85 0* 0* NUN 26191 1 96 3 0* Santa Monica Beach 7 48 20 25 SVMF 5196 5 95 0* 0* Sweet East 0* 74 26 0* UGR 1594 13 10 76 14 0* UGR 2101 14 4 71 10 14 UGR 2102 14 1 85 14 0* USAMR 15331 2 80 18 0* USAMR 15332 1 17 41 41 Napoli 1 88 11 0* Tasty Sherbet 0* 63 37 0* Re-Start 0* 96 4 0* Average 4 71 21 30 1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

21 Table 8. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields; Percent1 fruit number per indicated size category - Mid Season harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Aphrodite 0* 42 42 17 Athena 10 80 10 0* Caribbean King 0* 88 12 0* DuraWest 3 82 15 0* HSR 4414 0* 8 20 0* Maxi-East 8 38 29 25 Astound (ME 3716) 8 67 25 0* Accolade (ME 3743) 7 86 7 0* NUN 26181 21 79 0* 0* NUN 26191 2 96 2 0* Santa Monica Beach 23 46 15 15 SVMF 5196 14 86 0* 0* Sweet East 0* 80 20 0* UGR 1594 13 20 72 8 0* UGR 2101 14 8 75 8 8 UGR 2102 14 3 87 10 0* USAMR 15331 4 83 13 0* USAMR 15332 6 25 40 29 Napoli 7 86 7 0* Tasty Sherbet 0* 75 25 0* Re-Start 0* 98 2 0* Average 10 70 16 19 1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

22 Table 9. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields, Cumulative fruit weight, (x 100), per acre for late1 season harvests 11 - 16. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cumulative Avg. Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Totals 2 Wt. 3 Aphrodite 4 73 62 66 205 7.2 Athena 5 85 25 26 141 5.6 Caribbean King 10 73 0* 22 105 4.6 DuraWest 0* 42 16 0* 58 5.8 HSR 4414 0* 56 0* 0* 56 5.3 Maxi-East 3 57 25 38 123 6.8 Astound (ME 3716) 3 107 58 21 189 6.3 Accolade (ME 3743) 16 176 84 11 287 5.6 NUN 26181 14 170 0* 0* 184 4.0 NUN 26191 3 222 0* 0* 225 4.7 Santa Monica Beach 5 90 26 0* 121 5.2 SVMF 5196 0* 19 0* 0* 19 4.5 Sweet East 0* 42 16 25 83 7.4 UGR 1594 13 12 31 0* 0* 43 3.3 UGR 2101 14 5 95 16 0* 116 4.9 UGR 2102 14 5 7 0* 0* 12 6.2 USAMR 15531 0* 43 9 0* 52 5.7 USAMR 15332 0* 39 0* 12 51 5.3 Napoli 3 84 0* * 87 4.4 Tasty Sherbet 2 149 37 12 200 5.2 Re-Start 4 67 0* 0* 71 4.2 Average 6 82 34 26 116 5.3 LSD (0.05) 14 76 56 44 94 2

1 Late harvests (11-16) : 8 - 22 August (76 - 93 days after planting). 2 Cumulative total includes all fruit size categories. 3 Average fruit weights were determined using total cumulative weights and numbers from respective harvests. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

23 Table 10. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields, Cumulative fruit number per acre for late1season harvests 11 - 16. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cumulative Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Totals 2 Aphrodite 218 1416 762 653 3049 Athena 327 1742 327 218 2614 Caribbean King 436 1416 0* 218 2069 DuraWest 0* 762 218 0* 980 HSR 4414 0* 1089 0* 0* 1089 Maxi-East 109 1089 327 327 1851 Astound (ME 3716) 109 1960 762 218 3049 Accolade (ME 3743) 653 3267 1089 109 5118 NUN 26181 545 4138 0* 0* 4683 NUN 26191 109 4683 0* 0* 4792 Santa Monica Beach 218 1742 327 0* 2287 SVMF 5196 0* 436 0* 0* 436 Sweet East 0* 653 218 218 1089 UGR 1594 13 545 653 0* 0* 1198 UGR 2101 14 218 1851 218 0* 2287 UGR 2102 14 0* 109 0* 0* 109 USAMR 15331 0* 980 109 0* 1089 USAMR 15332 109 762 0* 109 980 Napoli 545 1742 0* 0* 2287 Tasty Sherbet 109 3158 436 109 3812 Re-Start 218 1525 0* 0* 1742 Average 298 1675 436 242 2219 LSD (0.05) 594 1572 723 406 1860

1 Late harvests (11-16) :8 - 22 August (76 - 93 days after planting). 2 Cumulative total includes all fruit size categories. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis. ** Each number for fruit size category and cumulative total is rounded to the nearest whole number. **

24 Table 11. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields; Percent1 of fruit weight per indicated size category - Late harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Aphrodite 2 36 30 32 Athena 4 60 18 18 Caribbean King 10 70 0* 21 DuraWest 0* 72 28 0* HSR 4414 0* 100 0* 0* Maxi-East 2 46 20 31 Astound (ME 3716) 2 57 31 11 Accolade (ME 3743) 6 61 29 4 NUN 26181 8 92 0* 0 NUN 26191 1 99 0* 0* Santa Monica Beach 4 74 21 0* SVMF 5196 0* 100 0* 0* Sweet East 0* 51 19 30 UGR 1594 13 28 72 0* 0* UGR 2101 14 4 82 14 0* UGR 2102 14 42 58 0* 0* USAMR 15331 0* 83 17 0* USAMR 15332 0* 76 0* 24 Napoli 3 97 0* 0* Tasty Sherbet 1 75 19 6 Re-Start 6 94 0* 0* Average 8 74 22 18 1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

25 Table 12. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields; Percent1 fruit number per indicated size category - Late harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Aphrodite 7 46 25 21 Athena 13 67 13 8 Caribbean King 21 68 0* 11 DuraWest 0* 78 22 0* HSR 4414 0* 100 0* 0* Maxi-East 6 59 18 18 Astound (ME 3716) 4 64 25 7 Accolade (ME 3743) 13 64 21 2 NUN 26181 12 88 0* 0* NUN 26191 2 98 0* 0* Santa Monica Beach 10 76 14 0* SVMF 5196 0* 100 0* 0* Sweet East 0* 60 20 20 UGR 1594 13 45 55 0* 0* UGR 2101 14 10 81 10 0* UGR 2102 14 0* 100 0* 0* USAMR 15331 0* 90 10 0* USAMR 15332 11 78 0* 11 Napoli 24 76 0* 0* Tasty Sherbet 3 83 11 3 Re-Start 13 88 0* 0* Average 13 77 17 11 1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

26 Table 13. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields1, Cumulative fruit weight, (x 100), per acre across all 16 harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cumulative Avg. Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Totals 2 Wt. 3 Aphrodite 13 274 293 277 857 7.2 Athena 14 443 136 71 664 5.7 Caribbean King 19 395 101 33 548 5.5 DuraWest 4 394 169 32 599 5.8 HSR 4414 7 491 147 10 655 5.8 Maxi-East 14 294 243 215 766 6.8 Astound (ME 3716) 20 517 234 72 843 6.0 Accolade (ME 3743) 34 538 272 21 865 5.8 NUN 26181 82 532 0* 0* 614 3.6 NUN 26191 8 688 8 0* 704 4.5 Santa Monica Beach 23 503 52 31 609 5.1 SVMF 5196 8 347 92 0* 447 5.3 Sweet East 8 294 175 178 655 6.9 UGR 1594 13 46 641 67 0* 754 5.0 UGR 2101 14 15 682 114 11 822 5.4 UGR 2102 14 9 403 226 51 689 6.2 USAMR 15331 11 519 92 0* 622 5.4 USAMR 15332 11 209 330 282 832 7.6 Napoli 26 580 16 0* 622 4.6 Tasty Sherbet 14 601 162 32 809 5.6 Re-Start 4 467.3580 66 0* 650 5.0 Average 19 473 150 94 696 5.6 LSD (0.05) 24 142 112 100 136 0.6

1 Melons were harvested 3 times per week. 2 Cumulative total includes all fruit size categories. 3 Average fruit weights were determined using total cumulative weights and numbers from respective harvests. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

27 Table 14. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields1, Cumulative fruit number per acre across all 16 harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cumulative Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Totals 2 Aphrodite 653 4901 3703 2723 11979 Athena 762 8712 1742 653 11870 Caribbean King 871 7405 1307 327 9910 DuraWest 218 7623 2178 327 10346 HSR 4414 327 9257 1851 109 11543 Maxi-East 762 5445 3049 1960 11217 Astound (ME 3716) 871 9257 3049 762 13939 Accolade (ME 3743) 1416 9910 3485 218 15028 NUN 26181 3267 13939 0* 0* 17206 NUN 26191 327 15137 109 0* 15573 Santa Monica Beach 1089 9801 653 327 11870 SVMF 5196 327 6861 1198 0 8385 Sweet East 327 5227 2178 1742 9474 UGR 1594 13 2069 12959 871 0* 15899 UGR 2101 14 653 12959 1525 109 15246 UGR 2102 14 436 7405 2831 545 11217 USAMR 15331 436 9910 1198 0* 11543 USAMR 15332 545 3812 4138 2614 11108 Napoli 1198 12197 218 0* 13613 Tasty Sherbet 871 11435 2069 327 14702 Re-Start 218 11979 871 0* 13068 Average 840 9339 1911 849 12606 LSD (0.05) 1021 2834 1414 939 2654

1 Melons were harvested 3 times per week. 2 Cumulative total includes all fruit size categories. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis. ** Each number for fruit size category and cumulative total is rounded to the nearest whole number. **

28 Table 15. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields; Percent1 of fruit weight per indicated size category - Cumulative harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Aphrodite 2 32 34 32 Athena 2 67 20 11 Caribbean King 3 72 18 6 DuraWest 1 66 28 5 HSR 4414 1 75 22 2 Maxi-East 2 38 32 28 Astound (ME 3716) 2 61 28 9 Accolade (ME 3743) 4 62 31 2 NUN 26181 13 87 0* 0* NUN 26191 1 98 1 0* Santa Monica Beach 4 83 9 5 SVMF 5196 2 78 21 0* Sweet East 1 45 27 27 UGR 1594 13 6 85 9 0* UGR 2101 14 2 83 14 1 UGR 2102 14 1 58 33 7 USAMR 15331 2 83 15 0* USAMR 15332 1 25 40 34 Napoli 4 93 3 0* Tasty Sherbet 2 74 20 4 Re-Start 1 89 10 0* Average 3 69 21 12 1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

29 Table 16. Muskmelon cultigen trial yields; Percent1 fruit number per indicated size category - Cumulative harvests. Kinston, NC, 2016. Fruit size category Cultivar < 3 lb 3-7 lb 7.1 - 9 lb > 9 lb Aphrodite 5 41 31 23 Athena 6 73 15 6 Caribbean King 9 75 13 3 DuraWest 2 74 21 3 HSR 4414 3 80 16 1 Maxi-East 7 49 27 17 Astound (ME 3716) 6 66 22 5 Accolade (ME 3743) 9 66 23 1 NUN 26181 19 81 0* 0* NUN 26191 2 97 1 0* Santa Monica Beach 9 83 6 3 SVMF 5196 4 82 14 0* Sweet East 3 55 23 18 UGR 1594 13 13 82 5 0* UGR 2101 14 4 85 10 1 UGR 2102 14 4 66 25 5 USAMR 15331 4 86 10 0* USAMR 15332 5 34 37 24 Napoli 9 90 2 0 Tasty Sherbet 6 78 14 2 Re-Start 2 92 7 0* Average 6 73 16 7 1 Percentages for each fruit size category for each cultivar were rounded to the nearest whole number. * Data entered as zeros were not included in statistical analysis.

30 Table 17. Muskmelon cultigen trial percentage of fruit number harvested among varying harvest intervals. Kinston, NC, 2016. Pecentage harvested among harvest periods Cultivar Company Early Harvests1 Mid Harvests2 Late Harvests3 Aphrodite Syngenta 64 11 25 Athena Syngenta 69 9 22 Caribbean King Rijk Zwaan 43 36 21 DuraWest Bayer Cropscience 56 35 9 HSR 4414 Hollar Seed 81 9 9 Maxi-East Bayer Cropscience 60 23 17 Astound (ME 3716) Syngenta 59 19 22 Accolade (ME 3743) Syngenta 56 10 34 NUN 26181 Bayer Cropscience 28 44 27 NUN 26191 Bayer Cropscience 32 37 31 Santa Monica Beach Rijk Zwaan 69 12 19 SVMF 5196 Seminis 86 9 5 Sweet East Bayer Cropscience 71 17 11 UGR 1594 13 United Genetics 58 34 8 UGR 2101 14 United Genetics 76 9 15 UGR 2102 14 United Genetics 69 30 1 USAMR 15331 US Agriseed 17 74 9 USAMR 15332 US Agriseed 44 47 9 Napoli DP Seed 72 11 17 Tasty Sherbet DP Seed 71 3 26 Re-Start Origene 18 69 13 Average 57 26 17 1 Early harvests (1-5) : 15 - 25 July (52 - 62 days after planting). 2 Mid harvests (6-10) : 27 July - 5 August (64 - 73 days after planting). 3 Late harvests (11-16) : 8 - 22 August (76 - 93 days after planting).

31 Table 18. Eastern muskmelon hybrid cultivar trial. Descriptive characteristics and interior fruit quality. Kinston, N.C., 2016.1 Netting Netting Stem Stem Flesh Flesh Foliage 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 12 13 14 Cultivar Company SS Sutures Density Type Scar Splitting LW8 Color Firmness10 Cavity11 Shape Size Cover

Aphrodite Syngenta 13.4 1.7 2.0 2.9 2.4 1.5 1.6 3.0 2.9 2.5 4.1 3.8 3.5 Athena Syngenta 12.5 1.5 2.4 2.3 2.0 1.5 1.7 2.9 2.9 2.0 3.5 3.9 3.1 Caribbean King Rijk Zwaan 13.6 1.1 2.5 2.1 . . 1.2 2.9 4.6 2.1 5.0 3.8 3.4 DuraWest Bayer Cropscience 13.4 1.1 2.1 2.3 . . 1.1 3.4 5.6 1.6 4.6 3.6 4.0 HSR 4414 Hollar Seed 12.5 1.2 2.4 3.4 . . 1.4 3.0 3.4 1.7 3.5 3.4 2.8 Maxi-East Bayer Cropscience 13.7 1.5 2.4 2.9 2.2 1.2 1.4 2.9 3.6 2.4 4.1 4.0 3.9 Astound (ME 3716) Syngenta 13.0 1.5 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.5 1.4 2.9 3.8 1.9 4.3 3.8 3.5 Accolade (ME 3743) Syngenta 13.4 1.5 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.3 2.5 3.6 2.1 4.6 4.4 3.3 NUN 26181 Bayer Cropscience 14.3 1.1 2.1 1.1 . . 1 4.6 5.5 1.0 5.0 4.3 4.6 NUN 26191 Bayer Cropscience 14.3 1.0 1.9 1.3 . . 1 4.5 5.4 1.0 5.0 4.4 4.6 Santa Monica Beach Rijk Zwaan 13.4 1.2 1.8 2.8 2.2 2.0 1.4 2.9 3.4 1.8 4.3 3.5 3.9 SVMF 5196 Seminis 13.8 1.3 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.3 1.3 2.7 3.7 2.0 4.6 4.3 3.6 Sweet East Bayer Cropscience 13.0 1.4 2.3 2.8 1.9 1.0 1.4 3.4 4.6 1.7 4.5 4.3 3.6 UGR 1594 13 United Genetics 13.6 1.1 3.4 3.3 . . 1.2 2.8 4.1 1.3 5.0 4.0 3.1 UGR 2101 14 United Genetics 13.0 1.1 1.8 3.5 2.0 1.8 1.3 2.8 3.3 1.4 4.3 3.9 3.3 UGR 2102 14 United Genetics 13.9 1.3 2.4 3.0 . . 1.3 3.0 4.9 1.9 3.9 3.3 2.6 USAMR 15331 US Agriseed 14.7 1.0 2.9 2.5 . . 1.3 2.7 5.4 1.7 4.5 4.3 3.5 USAMR 15332 US Agriseed 11.0 1.3 3.0 2.0 . . 1.2 2.9 3.8 2.0 5.0 4.5 3.3 Napoli DP Seed 14.1 3.0 2.4 2.6 2.0 2.5 1.4 2.4 3.1 1.6 4.6 4.0 3.3 Tasty Sherbet DP Seed 12.9 3.0 2.3 3.3 2.3 2.0 1.4 2.6 4.1 1.9 4.8 4.0 3.1 Re-Start Origene 13.5 1.1 2.6 2.0 . . 1.2 3.4 4.3 1.4 4.9 4.3 4.1 Average 13.4 1.4 2.3 2.5 2.1 1.7 1.3 3.1 4.1 1.8 4.5 4.0 LSD (0.05) 1.1 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.2 0.6 1.0 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.7 1 Most measurements were obtained from fruits in harvests 2-6. 8 LD = Length and diameter ratio, average of 5 melons per replication. 14Foliage cover: 2 SS = Indicates sweetness, average of 5 melons per replication (20 total). 9 Flesh color: 1 = pale orange, 5 = deep orange. 1 = no fruit covered, 3 Sutures: 1 = none, 3=moderate, 5 = deep. 10 Flesh Firmness is represented in pounds. 5 = all fruit covered (lush). 4 Netting Density: 1=none, 5=dense. 11 Cavity: 1=small, 2=medium, 3=large

5 Netting Type: 1 = fine, 5 =thick ropy. 12 Shape: 1=all fruit are various, 3 = majority are the same, 5 = all fruit same shape. 6 Stem Scar: 1 = small, 3=medium, 5 = large (unattractive). 13 Size: 1=all fruit are various, 3 = majority are the same, 5 = all fruit same size. 7 Stem Splitting: 1= none, 5 = extensive (unmarketable).

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