Beta-carotene content of postharvest orange-fleshed muskmelon fruit: Effect of cultivar, growing location and fruit size

The influence of two growing locations (soil types), six fruit sizes, and two years on the postharvest Beta-carotene content of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud) fruit was studied with two different cultivars. Fully abscised commercial size fruit: 9, 12, 15, 18, 23, and 30 (fruit/0.04 M(3) shipping box) had highly variable Beta-carotene contents (5.3 to 33.8 mu g/g fresh weight) that varied by size class, soil type and cultivar. Beta-carotene content increased with fruit size up to a maximum, though fruit size continued to increase. Find sandy loam soil produced fruit with less Beta-carotene content than silty clay loam soil. The cultivar Prime contained higher Beta-carotene content levels than cultivar Cruiser. Mesocarp percent moisture content for both 'Cruiser' and 'Primo' at both locations by fruit size was not significantly correlated (r = 0.40) with Beta-carotene content. Indicating fruit cell dilution may not contribute to the differences in Beta-carotene content in different fruit size classes. Beta-carotene content of size class '18' fruit from six cultivars grown on the silty clay loam soil for two consecutive years, showed a year, and year by cultivar effect for some cultivars. Whereas, some cultivars did not differ in Beta-carotene content between the two years. This indicates a potential for controlling Beta-carotene content of muskmelon fruit at a constant, high level by careful selection of production cultivar.