The aim of this study was to evaluate the fruit quality of five net melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars, grown in a greenhouse, in function of production system. The study was carried out in a greenhouse at UNESP-FCAV, Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil, during the period of November, 2005 to February, 2006. The study was carried out using a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, in randomized complete block design with four repetitions. The treatments resulted the combination of five net melon hybrids: Maxim, Bônus 2, Shinju 200, Fantasy and Louis and two cultivations systems: in soil and in coconut fiber substrate. The characters evaluated were: fresh weight of fruit, mesocarp thickness, fruit shape index, pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, maturation index (RATIO); and vitamin C. No interactions were observed between cultivated system and cultivars for characteristics examined. The melon cultivation in substrate provided in fruits with better performance when compared to cultivation in soil. The hybrids Louis and Fantasy show the best performance quality of fruits.
Cucumis melo; cultivars; postharvest
