A test on pollen viability and fruits forming ability of some melon varieties by using storage treatment

Abstract

Abstract Climate change decreases biodiversity through hybridization. The warming climate affects the spread of hybridization. The production of melon fruit in Indonesia fluctuated from time to time from the seeds’ lousy quality. An effort to improve melon seeds’ quality was needed using hybridization. However, the low availability of high viability pollen became one of the problems in the hybridization process. This research aimed to study the pollen’s viability and produce two varieties of melons using some storage treatments. The research used Randomized Complete Block Design with split-plot design by using two treatment factors, the main plot and storage treatment were used as the subplot. The combination of varieties and pollen storage was significant for the viability of the pollen. Golden Melon Variety A and B had different pollen viability. Using a two-day storage treatment at low temperatures, Golden Melon Variety B showed the highest pollen viability. Storage treatment took effect on the percentage of the number and the weight of the fruits produced. The 0-day storage treatment at low temperature showed the optimum yield. Pollen viability was positively correlated with fruit weight.