Physicochemical and nutritional evaluation of Spanish melon landraces

Abstract

The study of unknown and therefore unexploited genetic material from landraces and wild relatives could be essential to help modern plant breeders to respond to ongoing requirements and new challenges in food production. The present study evaluates the most relevant physicochemical values and nutrient contents of a genetically unique array of traditional melon varieties, cultivated in Spain at least since the 19th century, and compares them with modern melon hybrids available on the market. This research is complemented with an assessment of variety, environment and repetition effects on each trait to determine their stability. Spanish melon landraces displayed extraordinary diversity with respect to juiciness (70.59–95.97 g/100 g water fresh weight), firmness (20.75–149.89 N), soluble solids content (9.57–16.53 °Brix), pH (5.04–6.38), total sugars (360.21–877.36 mg/g dry weight), carotenoids (0.01–2.05 μg/g fresh weight) and ascorbic acid values (7.55–44.33 mg/100 g fresh weight). A subset of these landraces, belonging to Piel de Sapo and Rochet market classes, revealed remarkably superior values of ascorbic acid in comparison with all commercial varieties, doubling ascorbic acid values with respect to their corresponding market class. Furthermore, most of these landraces exhibited high acidity and accumulated high levels of sugars, fulfilling those sensory and physicochemical characteristics that researchers and breeders have spent many years seeking. The possibilities of these landraces to be used in improvement projects are innumerable; they should be surely taken into account in the near future.