Studies on Traditional Melon ‘Vellari’ (Cucumis melo var. momordica L.) in Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The local snapmelon landrace known as “Vellari” is an important traditional crop in southern India, specifically in the districts of Tamil Nadu. However, it has received limited attention in global studies and gene bank collections, primarily due to the lack of germplasm collections and data on its morphological traits and significant quality characteristics. This study examined seventeen germplasm accessions of “Vellari” collected from five districts representing diverse climatic zones for their fruit morphology and phenotypic variability. Organoleptic assessments based on consumer preferences were also conducted. A total of 29 quantitative and 27 qualitative descriptors were used to estimate phenotypic diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to assess variability between the collections. The analysis identified several defining characteristics that differentiate the snap melon accessions, including leaf pubescence, flower earliness, flowering time, peduncle length, fruit shape and size, and days to maturity. The first five components explained 84.29% of the cumulative percentage of variation. A wild taxon called “Sukkangai” (Cucumis melo ssp agrestis var agrestis) was also reported for local use in the surveyed area.