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BackgroundThe sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is a globally important insect pest that damages crops through direct feeding and by transmitting viruses. Current B. tabaci management revolves around the use of insecticides, which are economically and environmentally costly. Host plant resistance is a sustainable option to reduce the impact of whiteflies, but progress in deploying resistance in crops has been slow. A major obstacle is the high cost and low throughput of screening plants for B. tabaci resistance. Oviposition rate is a popular metric for host plant resistance to B. tabaci because it does not require tracking insect development through the entire life cycle, but accurate quantification is still limited by difficulties in observing B. tabaci eggs, which are microscopic and translucent. The goal of our study was to improve quantification of B. tabaci eggs on several important crop species: cassava, cowpea, melon, sweet potato and tomato.ResultsWe tested a selective staining process originally developed for leafhopper eggs: submerging the leaves in McBryde's stain (acetic acid, ethanol, 0.2% aqueous acid Fuchsin, water; 20:19:2:1) for three days, followed by clearing under heat and pressure for 15 min in clearing solution (LGW; lactic acid, glycerol, water; 17:20:23). With a less experienced individual counting the eggs, B. tabaci egg counts increased after staining across all five crops. With a more experienced counter, egg counts increased after staining on melons, tomatoes, and cowpeas. For all five crops, there was significantly greater agreement on egg counts across the two counting individuals after the staining process. The staining method worked particularly well on melon, where egg counts universally increased after staining for both counting individuals.ConclusionsSelective staining aids visualization of B. tabaci eggs across multiple crop plants, particularly species where leaf morphological features obscure eggs, such as melons and tomatoes. This method is broadly applicable to research questions requiring accurate quantification of B. tabaci eggs, including phenotyping for B. tabaci resistance.

Through the integration of genomic information, transcriptome sequencing data, and bioinformatics methods, we conducted a comprehensive identification of the ALDH gene family in melon. We explored the impact of this gene family on melon growth, development, and their expression patterns in various tissues and under different stress conditions. Our study discovered a total of 17 ALDH genes spread across chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, and 12 in the melon genome. Through a phylogenetic analysis, these genes were classified into 10 distinct subfamilies. Notably, genes within the same subfamily exhibited consistent gene structures and conserved motifs. Our study discovered a pair of fragmental duplications within the melon ALDH gene. Furthermore, there was a noticeable collinearity relationship between the melon's ALDH gene and that of Arabidopsis (12 times), and rice (3 times). Transcriptome data reanalysis revealed that some ALDH genes consistently expressed highly across all tissues and developmental stages, while others were tissue- or stage-specific. We analyzed the ALDH gene's expression patterns under six stress types, namely salt, cold, waterlogged, powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt, and gummy stem blight. The results showed differential expression of CmALDH2C4 and CmALDH11A3 under all stress conditions, signifying their crucial roles in melon growth and stress response. RT-qPCR (quantitative reverse transcription PCR) analysis further corroborated these findings. This study paves the way for future genetic improvements in melon molecular breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melon is an important cash crop grown worldwide, with China leading the world in melon acreage. Melon wilt is becoming more common as the area under melon cultivation gradually increases. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the resistance pattern of Fusarium wilt in melons. In this work, among the four test melon cultivars, YG was highly resistant to Fusarium wilt and 1455 was disease‐resistant. However, 5657 was susceptible, while 5455 was highly susceptible to the disease. We detected 71,852 differentially expressed genes in 16 combinations, including 37,382 with up‐regulation and 3470 with down‐regulation, and we investigated 11 genes associated with resistance to Fusarium wilt through bioinformatics and transcriptome analysis. We identified two differentially expressed cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases (CAD) that were down‐regulated in the susceptible melon material in contrast to the resistant variety. Nine chitinase (CHT) genes were differentially expressed, with four showing up‐regulation and four showing down‐regulation in the susceptible compared to the resistant melon material. The MeloCHT genes were located on chromosomes 2, 6, 8, 11 and 12, with four of them on chromosome 8. MeloCAD1 was located on chromosome 1 and MeloCAD2 on chromosome 8. The physicochemical properties of the encoded proteins were predicted by bioinformatics, including theoretical isoelectric point, instability coefficient, relative molecular mass, lipid solubility index and hydrophilicity index. The genes encode proteins with α‐helix, extended strand, random coils and β‐turns. This study provides fundamental knowledge on the transcriptome of melons and establishes a foundation for future research on the detection and application of Fusarium wilt‐resistant genes in melons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melon damping off, which has a negative impact on melon quality and yield, can be safely and effectively managed with Trichoderma. Melon cultivar 'Longtian No. 1' was evaluated at both the adult and seedling stages in a pot experiment. The Rs and PD liquids were utilized as CK1 and CK2, respectively. Trichoderma viride Tv286 treatments T1B, T2B, T3B, and T4B were used based on Rs at concentrations of 104, 105, 106, and 107 CFU·g−1, respectively. The impact of several treatments on the antioxidant system and seedling quality of melon were assessed at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. We examined the effects of several treatments on melon quality, yield attributes, and physiological and biochemical markers during the adult stage at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination. The effects of several treatments on melon damping off were also studied. Applying T. viride Tv286 at different rates effectively increased the activities of enzymes, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), in the leaves of melon seedlings, significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and improved the root–shoot ratio and seedling strength index. In terms of its influence on promoting the effect of antioxidant system indicators, T3B performed well. Melon seedlings treated with T3B showed higher CAT, POD, SOD, APX, and PPO activities in their leaves 35 days after sowing compared to CK1 (189.74, 169.61, 175.36, 224.20, and 477.39%, respectively). The strong seedling index and root–shoot ratio showed improvements of 130.43 and 79.71%, respectively, and the MDA content dropped by 35.66% at 35 days after sowing compared to CK1. Varying the rates at which T. viride Tv286 was applied increased the nitrate reductase (NR) activity and nitrate nitrogen, proline (Pro), chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and soluble protein contents in mature melon leaves, increasing melon quality and yield. T3B is the most effective marketing campaign. Compared to CK1, mature T3B leaves had higher NR activity, nitrate nitrogen content, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and Pro content 30 days after melon pollination (100.40, 135.17, 68.59, 93.65, 158.13, and 238.67%, respectively). The soluble solids, soluble protein, soluble sugar, vitamin C contents, and yield of melon fruit increased by 50.07, 126.82, 60.62, 70.79, and 61.45%, respectively, at 30 days after melon pollination compared to CK1. Optimal management of melon damping off can be accomplished with the application of T. viride Tv286 at different concentrations, with T3B exhibiting the best effect. The control effects reached 90.48 and 72.99% at the seedling and adult stages, respectively. Overall, T. viride Tv286 improved seedling quality, damping off control efficacy, melon yield and quality, and the antioxidant system during the seedling stage and enhanced physiological and biochemical characteristics during the adult stage. This study indicates the potential of T. viride Tv286 conidia as a biological control agent because it can prevent plant disease, increase yield, and improve quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphogenesis of higher plants requires communication among distant organs throughout vascular tissues (xylem and phloem). Numerous investigations have demonstrated that phloem also act as a distribution route for signalling molecules being observed that different macromolecules translocated by the sap, including nucleic acids and proteins, change under stress situations. The participation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this communication has been suggested, although little is known about their role. In fact, in the last decade, the presence of EVs in plants has originated a great controversy, where major concerns arose from their origin, isolation methods, and even the appropriate nomenclature for plant nanovesicles. Phloem sap exudates from melon plants, either aphid‐free or infested with Aphis gossypii, were collected by stem incision. After sap concentration (Amicon), phloem EVs (PhlEVs) were isolated by size exclusion chromatography. PhlEVs were characterised using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, Transmission electron microscopy and proteomic analysis. Here we confirm the presence of EVs in phloem sap in vivo and the detection of changes in the particles/protein ratio and composition of PhlEVs in response to insect feeding, revealing the presence of typical defence proteins in their cargo as well as components of the proteasome complex. PhlEVs from infested plants showed lower particles/protein ratio and almost two times more proteolytic activity than PhlEVs from aphid‐free plants. In both cases, such activity was inhibited in a dose‐dependent manner by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Our results suggest that plants may use this mechanism to prepare themselves to receive infectious agents and open up the possibility of an evolutionary conserved mechanism of defence against pathogens/stresses in eukaryotic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), known as the 'cancer' of cucurbits, is a seed‐borne disease of melons caused by Acidovorax citrulli. Traditional chemical treatments for BFB are ineffective and adversely affect the environment. Using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) nanosecond‐pulsed plasma technology, melon seeds were treated to promote germination and growth and to control BFB. RESULTS: Based on the evaluation parameters of seed germination, seedling growth, leaf yellowing and bacterial infection after seed plasma treatments, 9 min at 20 kV was selected as the optimal plasma discharge parameter. In this study, seedling growth was significantly improved after treating melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using this discharge parameter. The number of first true leaves measured on the eighth day was 2.3 times higher and the disease index was reduced by 60.5% compared to the control group. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared measurements show that plasma treatments penetrate the seed coat and denature polysaccharides and proteins in the seed kernel, affecting their growth and sterilization properties. CONCLUSION: Pre‐sowing treatment of melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using nanosecond‐pulsed plasma technology can effectively control seedling BFB disease and promote melon seedling growth by optimizing DBD parameters. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY The external appearance of fruit commodities is an essential trait that has profound effects on consumer preferences. A natural melon variety, characterized by an uneven and patchy arrangement of dark green streaks and spots on the white‐skinned rind, resembles shooting stars streaking across the sky; thus, this variety is called “Shooting Star” (SS). To investigate the mechanism underlying the SS melon rind pattern, we initially discovered that the variegated dark green color results from chlorophyll accumulation on the white skin. We then constructed a segregation population by crossing a SS inbred line with a white rind (WR) inbred line and used bulk segregant analysis (BSA) revealed that the SS phenotype is controlled by a single dominant gene, CmAPRR2, which has been previously confirmed to determine dark green coloration. Further genomic analysis revealed a hAT‐like transposable element (TE) inserted in CmAPRR2. This TE in CmAPRR2 is recurrently excised from rind tissues, activating the expression of CmAPRR2. This activation promotes the accumulation of chlorophyll, leading to the variegated dark green color on the rind, and ultimately resulting in the SS rind phenotype. Therefore, we propose that the SS phenotype results from the recurrent excision of the hAT‐like TE in CmAPRR2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tillage practices significantly influence crop yield and soil quality. This study investigated the impact of rotary tillage (RT) and deep tillage (DT) on soil properties, microbial diversity, and melon (Cucumis melo L.) root growth and yield. RT involved breaking up the topsoil to a depth of 15 cm using a rotary tiller, while DT employed a rotary tiller followed by a moldboard plow to turn the soil layer over to a depth of 35 cm. The melon variety "Nasimi" was used as the material. Our findings revealed a remarkable response of soil phosphorus to tillage practices. High-throughput sequencing results revealed a significant impact of tillage practices on the soil fungal composition, richness, and diversity but little impact on the bacterial communities. Compared to RT, DT markedly enhanced melon root length, root surface area, root volume, and mean root diameter by 47.42%, 56.70%, 58.83%, and 27.28%, respectively. Additionally, DT treatments significantly increased melon yield (53.46%) compared to RT. The results indicate that DT improves soil nutrient availability, affects soil fungal community characteristics, and optimizes root distribution in soil, thereby improving melon yield. The findings offer valuable theoretical insights for the implementation of effective tillage practices in open-field melon cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the plants that are widely cultivated in Indonesia is the melon plant. Commodity melon (Cucumis melo L.) is one of the horticultural crops that is spreading. Melon is a fruit that is widely consumed by Indonesian people. However, the productivity of melons in Indonesia is low when compared to other fruit crops. Utilization of high yielding varieties, managing the growing environment appropriately and applying proper cultivation techniques in order to increase or maintain melon production need to be done to overcome fluctuating production. In this study, morphological characterization of several candidate melon varieties was carried out which is useful for knowing different characters and having economic value. The research was conducted from July to October 2022 at the Glass House CV. Borneo Seed Indonesia which is located in Bocek Village, Karangploso District, Malang Regency, East Java. The design used in this study was a randomized block design with 8 treatments and 3 replications. If the calculated F results from the ANOVA table are significantly different, then proceed with further tests using the DMRT test with a level of 5%. The results showed that the candidate varieties that had the potential to have high yields and superior performance were the MO-04 and MO-07 candidates. The yield potential of the MO-04 variety candidate was on the character of fruit diameter, fruit length, percentage of fruit flesh that could be consumed, fruit weight, level of sweetness and shelf life. The yield potential of the MO07 variety candidate is on the character of fruit diameter, fruit length, percentage of fruit that can be consumed, fruit weight, productivity per hectare and level of sweetness. In addition, the candidate varieties MO-04 and MO-07 have special characteristics, namely flesh color and net density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the genetic diversity of 40 melon and cantaloupe cultivars, which were collected from the central regions of Iran and southwestern Afghanistan, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers and several morphological traits were used. The results demonstrate that 12 selected ISSR markers generated polymorphic bands with a distinct band pattern. There were a total of 150 bands created, with 95 bands exhibiting polymorphism (62.44% diversity). Based on shape and characteristics, cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) classified the cultivars into five groups: winter and late ripening, medium ripening, sweet, and early melons, including cantaloupe and melon. In the majority of instances, PCoA was consistent with cluster analysis, whereas the molecular data did not perfectly match the morphological results. The results of the analysis classified the morphological characteristics of individuals into five groups: the first group comprised nine Iranian and Afghan melon genotypes with long, thin-skinned forms and intermediate medium ripening, and the second group comprised five Afghan melon genotypes with late ripening, winter ripe, and thick skin and flesh. The third group of 11 Iranian and Afghan melon cultivars was typically medium-sized, elliptical-shaped melons with thin skin. The fourth group consists of two Iranian melons with small seeds, small fruit, rapid maturation, and no flavor. The final group possessed dense and tender flesh, a spherical shape, and large seeds. In conclusion, morphological traits and ISSR analysis could be useful tools for classifying melon germplasm for future breeding applications. The morphological and molecular similarities between Afghan and Iranian cultivars suggest their origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucumis melo is an annual dicotyledonous trailing herb. It is fruity, cool, and refreshing to eat and is widely loved by consumers worldwide. The single fruit weight is an important factor affecting the yield, and thus the income and economic benefits, of melon crops. In this study, to identify the main QTLs (quantitative trait locus) controlling the single fruit weight of melon and thereby identify candidate genes controlling this trait, specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF) analysis was performed on the offspring of female 1244 plants crossed with male MS-5 plants. A total of 115 individual plants in the melon F2 population were analyzed to construct a genetic linkage map with a total map distance of 1383.88 cM by the group in the early stages of the project, which was divided into 12 linkage groups with a total of 10,596 SLAF markers spaced at an average genetic distance of 0.13 cM. A total of six QTLs controlling single fruit weight (sfw loci) were detected. Seven pairs of markers with polymorphisms were obtained by screening candidate intervals from the SLAF data. The primary QTL sfw2.2 was further studied in 300 F2:3 family lines grown in 2020 and 2021, respectively, a positioning sfw2.2 between the markers CY Indel 11 and CY Indel 16, between 18,568,142 and 18,704,724 on chromosome 2. This interval contained 136.58 kb and included three genes with functional annotations, MELO3C029673, MELO3C029669, and MELO3C029674. Gene expression information for different fruit development stages was obtained from 1244 and MS-5 fruits on the 15d, 25d, and 35d after pollination, and qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription–PCR) indicated that the expression of the MELO3C029669 gene significantly differed between the parents during the three periods. The gene sequences between the parents of MELO3C029669 were analyzed and compared, a base mutation was found to occur in the intronic interval between the parents of the gene, from A-G. Phylogenetic evolutionary tree analysis revealed that the candidate gene MELO3C029669 is most closely related to Pisum sativum Fimbrin-5 variant 2 and most distantly related to Cucumis melo var. makuwa. Therefore, it was hypothesized that MELO3C029669 is the primary major locus controlling single fruit weight in melon. These results not only provide a theoretical basis for further studies to find genes with functions in melon single fruit weight but also lay the foundation for accelerating breakthroughs and innovations in melon breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental cues profoundly influence the developmental processes of plants that evolve to produce specific phenotypes. However, the developmental plasticity in response to seasonal changes, particularly temperature and day length, has not been fully understood in fruit development and quality. To explore the mechanism by which the transcriptional network adapts to external environmental changes by regulating metabolism during the development of melon fruits, this study selected the fruits grown under spring and fall conditions and focused on specific phenylpropanoid pathway metabolites, including phenolic acids, lignin, and flavonoids. Significant changes in these compounds result in noticeable differences in fruit quality such as texture, flavor, and color, which are of utmost importance to consumers. Employing co-expression analysis complemented by machine learning, we identified hub genes and pathways governing the metabolic changes, highlighting the influence of temperature and photoperiod cues in mediating the transcriptional regulatory networks. These results provide valuable insights into how fruits adapt to seasonal variability, and drive us to innovate broadly adaptable melon cultivars poised for improved climate resilience in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigated nutrient and mineral compositions of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) achara soup. All ingredients used in the soup preparation were sourced from Watt Market in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted experimental design. Standard procedures were employed at all steps of the experiment. A 9-point hedonic scale was used for sensory evaluation to rate the flavor, color, appearance, texture, and general acceptability. Findings nutrient contents reveal moisture 32.10g/100g; protein 22.50 g/100g; fat 34.10g/100g; fiber 2.80 g/100g; carbohydrate 4.74 g/100g; and ash 3.40 g/100g. Mineral composition of the soup include 0.013mg/100g for potassium, calcium 21.40mg/100g, magnesium 138.30mg/100g, iron 0.82mg/100g, and phosphorus 2.84 mg/100g. It was concluded that consumption of the soup can positively impact the nutritional status of individuals. Nutrient and mineral compositions of the soup can provide essential dietary components that can help address nutrition-related conditions. Encouraging increased consumption of this soup among communities may contribute to the reduction of malnutrition and associated health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the genetic factors contributing to melon resistance against Phelipanche aegyptiaca and comprehend the role of differentially resistant materials in responding to changes in P. aegyptiaca parasitisation, we investigated the P. aegyptiaca-resistant line K16 and the susceptible line K27. The parasitism rate of P. aegyptiaca was assessed at 25 days. Results revealed significant differences in parasitisation rates between K16 (15.35%) and K27 (34.2%). We compared inoculated K16 and K27 to their respective controls through transcriptome analysis and contrasted inoculated K16 with inoculated K27. Eight hundred eighteen genes exhibited differential expression across all comparisons. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in nitrate transport and assimilation, cellular components, extracellular regions, binding and enzyme activities. KEGG pathway enrichment underscored the importance of phytohormone signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, linolenic acid and linoleic acid metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism and nitrogen metabolism in the interaction between melon and P. aegyptiaca. Nine genes potentially associated with P. aegyptiaca resistance were identified, encoding cytochrome protein P450, peroxidases, β-glucosidase, acyltransferase family proteins, histidine phosphotransfer protein, and D-type cyclins. This study aims to provide insights into the mechanism of P. aegyptiaca parasitism on melons and offers implications for breeding resistant varieties

Abstract Plant tendrils are specialized organs that can twine around other structures to facilitate climbing. They occur in a variety of plant families and have diverse ontogenic origins. In cucurbits, tendrils originate from lateral shoots. Fine mapping verified that the tendril-less ctl mutation of the melon Cucumis melo corresponds to a frameshift mutation in the CmTCP1 gene, which encodes a TCP transcription factor. A yeast two-hybrid screen for CmTCP1/CTL-interacting proteins identified a member of the plant-specific YABBY transcription factor family, which was named CmYAB1. Each of the N- and C-terminal regions of CmTCP1 interacted with CmYAB1. The ctl mutation impaired the interaction between CmTCP1 and CmYAB1. Both proteins interacted in vitro and were localized to the nucleus in plant cells. In situ expression analysis revealed the coexistence of the CmTCP1 and CmYAB1 mRNAs in the abaxial domains of developing tendrils. An RNA-seq analysis of the seven YABBY genes in the melon genome revealed relatively high expression ratios of CmYAB1 in tendrils compared with those in leaves. These results suggest a novel function of the YABBY protein through its interaction with a TCP protein in the development of cucurbit tendrils.

Seed size is an important agronomic trait in melons that directly affects seed germination and subsequent seedling growth. However, the genetic mechanism underlying seed size in melon remains unclear. In the present study, we employed Bulked-Segregant Analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) to identify a candidate region (~1.35 Mb) on chromosome 6 that corresponds to seed size. This interval was confirmed by QTL mapping of three seed size-related traits from an F2 population across three environments. This mapping region represented nine QTLs that shared an overlapping region on chromosome 6, collectively referred to as qSS6.1. New InDel markers were developed in the qSS6.1 region, narrowing it down to a 68.35 kb interval that contains eight annotated genes. Sequence variation analysis of the eight genes identified a SNP with a C to T transition mutation in the promoter region of MELO3C014002, a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK) gene. This mutation affected the promoter activity of the MELO3C014002 gene and was successfully used to differentiate the large-seeded accessions (C-allele) from the small-seeded accessions (T-allele). qRT-PCR revealed differential expression of MELO3C014002 between the two parental lines. Its predicted protein has typical LRR-RLK family domains, and phylogenetic analyses reveled its similarity with the homologs in several plant species. Altogether, these findings suggest MELO3C014002 as the most likely candidate gene involved in melon seed size regulation. Our results will be helpful for better understanding the genetic mechanism regulating seed size in melons and for genetically improving this important trait through molecular breeding pathways.

Objective: To explore the relationship between the structure and composition of melon pericarp and its storability. Methods: We observed the surface and cross-sectional ultrastructure of the pericarp of six different melon varieties with different storage characteristics using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition and antioxidant capacity of the pericarp were analyzed. Results: The wax content, the number of outer epidermis cell layers, cell arrangement and cuticle thickness of melon pericarp were closely correlated with fruit storability. There was a positive correlation between pericarp hardness and fruit storability. The polygalacturonase (PG) in the pericarp degrades the composition of the cell wall and consequently causes a decrease in the hardness of the pericarp, affecting the storability characteristics of the fruit. The antioxidant substances such as total polyphenols and flavonoids in the pericarp of different melon varieties, as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), affected their storability characteristics. Conclusion: Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that pericarp hardness, total pectin (TP) content, protopectin (PP) content, PG, pectin methylesterase (PME) and peroxidase (POD) activities had a significant impact on melon storability.

Objective: To investigate the changes of cell wall degrading enzyme activity and gene expression during the infection of postharvest melon fruit by Alternaria alternata, and to reveal the pathogenic mechanism of Alternaria alternata. Methods: Jiashi melon and 86-1 melon fruits were used as experimental materials. Alternaria alternata was inoculated and stored at room temperature (25 ℃) and relative humidity of 35%~40%. The diameter of lesions was measured, and the microstructure of lesions was observed. Pectin lyase (PL), cellulase (Cx), β-glucosidase (CB) and polygalacturonase (PG) were determined. The expression changes of AaPL, AaCx, AaPG and AaCB were analyzed by absolute quantitative method of fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the correlation between the activity of four cell wall degrading enzymes and the expression of their corresponding genes was analyzed. Results: Under the same infection days, the lesion diameter of 86-1 melon pulp and peel tissue was larger than that of Jiashi melon. The microstructure of the lesion tissue was observed. Compared with the two melons, A. alternata propagated faster in 86-1 melon cells and had a stronger ability to destroy the cell structure of 86-1 melon. The changes of activity and gene expression of four cell wall degrading enzymes on two melons were compared. Under the same number of days, the enzyme activity and gene expression were higher in the 86-1 melon inoculation group, and the number of days when the activity and expression reached the peak in the Jiashi melon inoculation group was later. Conclusion: During the infection process, due to the melon's own disease resistance mechanism, the change trend of cell wall degrading enzyme activity and gene expression fluctuated from 6 to 10 days. The infection ability of Alternaria alternata in 86-1 melon was stronger, which also reflected that Jiashi melon had stronger resistance to Alternaria alternata infection.

Abstract Background Ripeness is a phenotype that significantly impacts the quality of fruits, constituting a crucial factor in the cultivation and harvesting processes. Manual detection methods and experimental analysis, however, are inefficient and costly. Results In this study, we propose a lightweight and efficient melon ripeness detection method, MRD-YOLO, based on an improved object detection algorithm. The method combines a lightweight backbone network, MobileNetV3, a design paradigm Slim-neck, and a Coordinate Attention mechanism. Additionally, we have created a large-scale melon dataset sourced from a greenhouse based on ripeness. This dataset contains common complexities encountered in the field environment, such as occlusions, overlapping, and varying light intensities. MRD-YOLO achieves a mean Average Precision of 97.4% on this dataset, achieving accurate and reliable melon ripeness detection. Moreover, the method demands only 4.8 G FLOPs and 2.06 M parameters, representing 58.5% and 68.4% of the baseline YOLOv8n model, respectively. It comprehensively outperforms existing methods in terms of balanced accuracy and computational efficiency. Furthermore, it maintains real-time inference capability in GPU environments and demonstrates exceptional inference speed in CPU environments. The lightweight design of MRD-YOLO is anticipated to be deployed in various resource constrained mobile and edge devices, such as picking robots. Particularly noteworthy is its performance when tested on two melon datasets obtained from the Roboflow platform, achieving a mean Average Precision of 85.9%. This underscores its excellent generalization ability on untrained data. Conclusions This study presents an efficient method for melon ripeness detection, and the dataset utilized in this study, alongside the detection method, will provide a valuable reference for ripeness detection across various types of fruits.

Abstract The constant changes experienced in agricultural activities due to climate change pose a great challenge to melon production. Hence, this research examined the determinants of melon farmers’ adaptation strategies to cope with climate change hazards in southern–southern Nigeria. The research ultimately depended on primary data collected by using a set of questionnaires and interviews. The data were obtained from 260 samples retrieved from melon farmers by using multistage sampling techniques. The data were analyzed using the multivariate probit (MVP) model and partial eta squared test. The results of the MVP model showed that age (− 0.009), marital status (0.200), access to information on climate change (0.567) and crop insurance (0.214) were significant at the 0.01 level, while household size (− 0.030) was significant at the 0.05 level and determined the adoption of crop diversification. Educational level (0.012), extension contact (0.138) and access to credit (0.122) were significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.415) was significant at the 0.01 level and determined the adoption of change in planting dates. Age (− 0.010) and access to information on climate change (0.381) were significant at the 0.01 level, while sex (− 0.139), marital status (0.158) and off-farm income (− 2.3E-7) were significant at the 0.05 level and determined the adoption of mixed farming. Farming experience (0.005) is significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.529) and crop insurance (0.272) are significant at the 0.01 level and determine the adoption of drought-tolerant crop species. Access to information on climate change (0.536) is significant at the 0.01 level, indicating the adoption of improved crop species. Age (− 0.010), farm size (− 0.085) and crop insurance (0.206) were significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.353) was significant at the 0.01 level and determined the adoption of off-farm job opportunities. The study recommends the availability and accessibility of credit, climate-smart agricultural practices, and the establishment of public‒private partnerships, among others.

Abstract Background Studies have shown that plant endophytic microbial communities are ubiquitous and closely related to plant growth and health. To clarify the mechanism of the melon varieties with high resistant to wilt, the endophytic microbial compositions and metabolites in roots of melon varieties with high resistant ability to wilt were analyzed. Results The results showed that the abundances of Firmicutes, Ascomycota, Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Amycolatopsis, Actinospica, and Catenulispora all increased in roots of wilt high resistant melon varieties (MT) which compared to wilt susceptible melon varieties (MS). Meanwhile, Ochrobactrum, Bordetella, Roseateles, Staphylococcus, Acidovorax, Amycolatopsis, Catenulispora, Promicromonospora, and Gymnopilus were the unique endophytic microbes in roots of MT. Moreover, in comparison with the MS varieties, the functions of Defense mechanisms, Secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport and catabolism, Nucleotide transport and metabolism, Signal transduction mechanisms, Coenzyme transport and metabolism, Carbohydrate transport and metabolism and Amino acid transport and metabolism all increased in roots of MT varieties. Additionally, the nucleotide metabolism and biosynthesis of cofactors metabolic pathways were also significantly increased in roots of MT varieties. On the other hand, the untargeted metabolome results showed that Biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites, Nucleotide metabolism and Biosynthesis of cofactors metabolic pathways were significantly increased in the expression of MT varieties; and the content of metabolic compounds such as flavonoids, Cinnamic acid compounds, Organic acid compounds, and Nucleotides were increased. In addition, the correlation between microbiome and metabolome indicates a significant correlation between the two. Conclusions All above results suggested that higher abundant antagonistic microbes and metabolic functions of endophytes in roots of wilt high resistant melon varieties (MT) were the important mechanisms for their high resistance to wilt. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Phosphorus (P) deficiency, a major nutrient stress, greatly hinders plant growth. Phosphate (Pi) uptake in plant roots relies on PHT1 family transporters. However, melon (Cucumis melo L.) lacks comprehensive identification and characterization of PHT1 genes, particularly their response patterns under diverse stresses. Results This study identified and analyzed seven putative CmPHT1 genes on chromosomes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 using the melon genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed shared motifs, domain compositions, and evolutionary relationships among genes with close histories. Exon number varied from 1 to 3. Collinearity analysis suggested segmental and tandem duplications as the primary mechanisms for CmPHT1 gene family expansion. CmPHT1;4 and CmPHT1;5 emerged as a tandemly duplicated pair. Analysis of cis-elements in CmPHT1 promoters identified 14 functional categories, including putative PHR1-binding sites (P1BS) in CmPHT1;4, CmPHT1;6, and CmPHT1;7. We identified that three WRKY transcription factors regulated CmPHT1;5 expression by binding to its W-box element. Notably, CmPHT1 promoters harbored cis-elements responsive to hormones and abiotic factors. Different stresses regulated CmPHT1 expression differently, suggesting that the adjusted expression patterns might contribute to plant adaptation. Conclusions This study unveils the characteristics, evolutionary diversity, and stress responsiveness of CmPHT1 genes in melon. These findings lay the foundation for in-depth investigations into their functional mechanisms in Cucurbitaceae crops.

Relevance. Due to climate change on the planet, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain high yields of melons and melons in rain-fed conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop modern methods of growing them. Accordingly, the use of new water-soluble fertilizers for the cultivation of melon in hot climates is a relevant work at the moment.Material and methodology. Objects of research: medium-ripening melon variety GP 599f and watersoluble fertilizers Lignohumate, Energen Extra, Zinc Sulfate. We have carefully studied options using these fertilizers for double foliar treatment of plants during the growing season.Results. As a result of studying new types of water-soluble fertilizers on increasing the vegetative mass of plants, yield and biochemical parameters of the variety sample, a positive effect was revealed. As a result of a comparative analysis of data on plant development after double treatment with the studied preparations, an increase in canes in all variants was noted in relation to the control by 4.3-18.7%. When calculating the yield in all studied options, an increase in these indicators was noted in relation to the option without treatments. After treating the plants with new types of fertilizers, the yield was 13.4-15.9 t/ha. The average fetal weight varied from 1.7 kg. up to 1.8 kg with maximum values in the Lignohumate and Energen Extra options. An analysis of the comparison of the biochemical composition of fruits showed that new types of fertilizers did not affect the taste and purity of the products. The dry matter content was noted to be 0.8-1% higher than the control variant. Nitrate levels in fruits did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (90 mg/kg) and amounted to 24-28 mg/kg.

An experiment was conducted in Polytunnel house at Longitude 43.30, latitude 33.410 the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, during the spring season of 2023. The experiment was designed to investigate the effects of spraying with potassium, a combination of alcohol sugar (sorbitol), and boron on the vegetative traits and chemical content of melon leaves under protected cultivation conditions. The study included two factors: the first factor was spraying with potassium at three concentrations: 0, 4, and 8 gm L-1, and it was coded as K0, K1, and K2, respectively. The second factor was spraying with a combination of sorbitol and boron at five concentrations: the first treatment was the comparison (0 boron and 0 sorbitol), the second (20 milligrams liter-1 boron + 25 grams liter-1 sorbitol), the third (20 milligrams/liter boron + 50 grams liter-1 sorbitol), the fourth (40 milligrams liter-1 boron + 25 grams liter-1 sorbitol), and the fifth (40 milligrams liter-1 boron + 50 grams liter-1 sorbitol To obtain the best growth and yield from it ), and it was coded where to T0, T1, T3, , and T4, respectively. Potassium was sprayed when 50% of the flowers appeared and until the fruit ripened at a rate of one spray per week. As for the combination of boron and sorbitol, it was sprayed after the appearance of 6-8 true leaves at a rate of three sprays between sprays every two weeks. The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment within a complete randomized block design with three replicates. The study showed that the second potassium concentration (K1) achieved the highest vegetative growth traits (plant height, leaf area, number of nodes, and dry weight of the total vegetation, which were 311.98 cm, 95.05 dam2, 33.71 nodes plant-1, and 138.8 g plant-1,) compared to the lowest values achieved by K0 comparison plants, which were 297.34 cm, 82.64 cm2, 30.04 nodes plant-1, and 118.4 g plant-1, respectively. The combination of boron and sorbitol had a significant effect on vegetative growth traits, as treatment T4 significantly outperformed and achieved the highest plant height, leaf area, number of nodes, and dry weight of the total vegetation, which were 317.91 cm, 99.12 dam2 plant, 35.032 nodes -plant-1, and 146.7 g plant-1, respectively, compared to the lowest values for vegetative growth traits, which were given by the plants of treatment T0, which were 285.32 cm, 76.95 cm2, 28.60 nodes plant-1, and 107.6 g plant-1, respectively.

Background: Ripeness is a phenotype that significantly impacts the quality of fruits, constituting a crucial factor in the cultivation and harvesting processes. Manual detection methods and experimental analysis, however, are inefficient and costly. Results: In this study, we propose a lightweight and efficient melon ripeness detection method, MRD-YOLO, based on an improved object detection algorithm. The method combines a lightweight backbone network, MobileNetV3, a design paradigm Slim-neck, and a Coordinate Attention mechanism. Additionally, we have created a large-scale melon dataset sourced from a greenhouse based on ripeness. This dataset contains common complexities encountered in the field environment, such as occlusions, overlapping, and varying light intensities. MRD-YOLO achieves a mean Average Precision of 97.4% on this dataset, achieving accurate and reliable melon ripeness detection. Moreover, the method demands only 4.8 G FLOPs and 2.06 M parameters, representing 58.5% and 68.4% of the baseline YOLOv8n model, respectively. It comprehensively outperforms existing methods in terms of balanced accuracy and computational efficiency. Furthermore, it maintains real-time inference capability in GPU environments and demonstrates exceptional inference speed in CPU environments. The lightweight design of MRD-YOLO is anticipated to be deployed in various resource constrained mobile and edge devices, such as picking robots. Particularly noteworthy is its performance when tested on two melon datasets obtained from the Roboflow platform, achieving a mean Average Precision of 85.9%. This underscores its excellent generalization ability on untrained data. Conclusions: This study presents an efficient method for melon ripeness detection, and the dataset utilized in this study, alongside the detection method, will provide a valuable reference for ripeness detection across various types of fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: FLAGELLIN SENSING 2 (FLS2) encodes a pattern recognition receptor that perceives bacterial flagellin. While putative FLS2 orthologs are broadly conserved in plants, their functional characterization remains limited. Here, we report the identification of orthologs in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and melon (C. melo), named CsFLS2 and CmFLS2, respectively. Homology searching identified CsFLS2, and virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) demonstrated that CsFLS2 is required for flg22‐triggered ROS generation. Interestingly, genome re‐sequencing of melon cv. Lennon and subsequent genomic PCR revealed that Lennon has two CmFLS2 haplotypes, haplotype I encoding full‐length CmFLS2 and haplotype II encoding a truncated form. We show that VIGS‐mediated knockdown of CmFLS2 haplotype I resulted in a significant reduction in both flg22‐triggered ROS generation and immunity to a bacterial pathogen in melon cv. Lennon. Remarkably, genomic PCR of CmFLS2 revealed that 68% of tested commercial melon cultivars possess only CmFLS2 haplotype II: these cultivars thus lack functional CmFLS2. To explore evolutionary aspects of CmFLS2 haplotype II occurrence, we genotyped the CmFLS2 locus in 142 melon accessions by genomic PCR and analyzed 437 released sequences. The results suggest that CmFLS2 haplotype II is derived from C. melo subsp. melo. Furthermore, we suggest that the proportion of CmFLS2 haplotype II increased among the improved melo group compared with the primitive melo group. Collectively, these findings suggest that the deleted FLS2 locus generated in the primitive melo subspecies expanded after domestication, resulting in the spread of commercial melon cultivars defective in flagellin recognition, which is critical for bacterial immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) is a begomovirus causing significant melon (Cucumis melo) crop losses globally. This study aims to map the ToLCNDV resistance in the PI 414723 melon accession, previously identified and characterized through phenotypic studies, thereby exploring shared genomic regions with the established resistant source WM-7. In the present study, WM-7 and PI 414723 were crossed with the susceptible accessions 'Rochet' and 'Blanco' respectively, to generate F1 hybrids. These hybrids were self-pollinated to generate the populations for mapping the ToLCNDV resistance region and designing markers for marker-assisted selection. Disease evaluation included visual symptom scoring, viral-load quantification and tissue printing. Genotyping-by-sequencing and SNP markers were used for quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping. For genetic analysis, qPCR and bulked segregant RNA-seq (BSR-seq) were performed. Gene expression was assessed using RNA-seq, and qRT-PCR was used for confirmation. The research narrows the candidate region for resistance in WM-7 and identifies overlapping QTLs on chromosome 11 in PI 414723, found in the region of the DNA primase large subunit. BSR-seq and expression analyses highlight potential regulatory roles of chromosome 2 in conferring resistance. Differential expression was confirmed for six genes in the candidate region on chromosome 2. This study confirms the existence of common resistance genes in PI 414723 and WM-7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen is the primary nutrient for plants. Low nitrogen generally affects plant growth and fruit quality. Melon, as an economic crop, is highly dependent on nitrogen. However, the response mechanism of its self-rooted and grafted seedlings to low-nitrogen stress has not been reported previously. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the transcriptional differences between self-rooted and grafted seedlings under low-nitrogen stress using fluorescence characterization and RNA-Seq analysis. It was shown that low-nitrogen stress significantly inhibited the fluorescence characteristics of melon self-rooted seedlings. Analysis of differentially expressed genes showed that the synthesis of genes related to hormone signaling, such as auxin and brassinolide, was delayed under low-nitrogen stress. Oxidative stress response, involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and secondary metabolite-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly down-regulated. It can be seen that low-nitrogen stress causes changes in many hormonal signals in plants, and grafting can alleviate the damage caused by low-nitrogen stress on plants, ameliorate the adverse effects of nitrogen stress on plants, and help them better cope with environmental stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begomoviral diseases in cucurbits have been observed in Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico recurrently since the 2017 detection of the Squash leaf curl virus (SLCuV) in squash. Two years later, samples of symptomatic plants were collected in three arid agricultural regions, where the most frequently observed symptoms were chlorosis, reduced leaf size, stunting and severe leaf deformation, observed mainly on squash and cantaloupe. The mean incidence of begomovirus-like symptoms differed among cucurbits, with 20% in cucumber, 28% in cantaloupe, 30% in watermelon and 50% in squash. Samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction for begomovirus infection with degenerate primers, and later the virus identities were confirmed by specific primer pairs. All symptomatic cucurbit samples tested positive for SLCuV, and in a second analysis of these previously tested samples, squash, and cantaloupe samples tested positive for Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV). Thus, these samples showed a mixed CuLCrV/SLCuV infection. Pairwise identity analysis of the DNA-A component of the viruses indicated the presence of CuLCrV at 99%, and SLCuV at 99.1%. Recombination analyses between these viruses were negative, indicating that they belong to well-defined phylogenetic groups. Additionally, the 5´-TGGTGTCC-3´ iteron was consistently observed in all SLCuV and CuLCrV variants, including in other close species of the SLCuV clade. However, an additional iteron was observed in CuLCrV-BCS that is not in the Arizona and California variants, indicating that more studies are needed to elucidate the role of the additional iteron and the importance of CuLCrV/SLCuVSLCV mixed infection in emerging viruses in Mexico and other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The quality of melon is often associated to physicochemical properties and phytonutrient accumulation. The determination of optimum harvest time and selection of genotype are important for maximising the health benefits for melon consumers. The goal of the present work was to study the changes of physicochemical, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of five muskmelon cultivars (Maazoun, Galaoui, Stambouli, Trabelsi, and Asli) at three ripening stages (unripe, ripe, and overripe). The main antioxidant compounds namely carotenoid, total phenol, flavonoid, and vitamin C content were measured. The hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity (HAA and LAA, respectively) analyses and their correlation with functional compounds were also performed. The result showed that the ripening stage significantly influenced the melon fruit quality depending on cultivars. The transition from the unripe to the overripe melon led to an increase in pH, °Brix, carotenoids, and phenols in all cultivars, except for Stambouli and Trabelsi, where the °Brix value decreased. The levels of flavonoids (except Maazoun, Stambouli, and Asli), vitamin C, HAA, and LAA (except Stambouli) reached a peak at the ripe stage, and decreased thereafter. At the ripe stage, the orange flesh colour melon Galaoui was distinguished by a higher level of carotenoid (54.28 mg/kg fw), phenolic (1290 mg GAE/kg fw), flavonoid (400.12 mg RE/kg fw), vitamin C contents (197.56 mg/kg fw), as well as a higher hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity (296.77 and 155.82 μM Trolox/100 g fw, respectively). A significant correlation between hydrophilic antioxidant activity and phenolic contents was found (r = 0.98, p < 0.01), suggesting that phenolics were the major contributors to the hydrophilic antioxidant capacity. These findings highlighted the effect of genetic factor and ripeness in determining the physicochemical properties, phytonutrient accumulation, and antioxidant potential of melon fruit. Melon fruits examined can be considered a promising source of functional compounds and antioxidant potential, in both ripe and overripe stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial agents such as the Bacillus species are recognized for their role as biocontrol agents against various phytopathogens through the production of diverse bioactive compounds. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Bacillus subtilis PE7 in inhibiting the growth of Didymella bryoniae, the pathogen responsible for gummy stem blight (GSB) in cucurbits. Dual culture assays demonstrate significant antifungal activity of strain PE7 against D. bryoniae. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by strain PE7 effectively impede mycelial formation in D. bryoniae, resulting in a high inhibition rate. Light microscopy revealed that D. bryoniae hyphae exposed to VOCs exhibited abnormal morphology, including swelling and excessive branching. Supplementing a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium with a 30% B. subtilis PE7 culture filtrate significantly decreased mycelial growth. Moreover, combining a 30% culture filtrate with half the recommended concentration of a chemical fungicide yielded a more potent antifungal effect than using the full fungicide concentration alone, inducing dense mycelial formation and irregular hyphal morphology in D. bryoniae. Strain PE7 was highly resilient and was able to survive in fungicide solutions. Additionally, B. subtilis PE7 enhanced the nutrient content, growth, and development of melon plants while mitigating the severity of GSB compared to fungicide and fertilizer treatments. These findings highlight B. subtilis PE7 as a promising biocontrol candidate for integrated disease management in crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As an important global agricultural cash crop, melon has a long history of cultivation and a wide planting area. The physiological metabolism of melon after harvest is relatively strong; if not properly stored, melon is easily invaded by external pathogens during transportation, resulting in economic losses and greatly limiting its production, development and market supply. Therefore, the storage and freshness of melon are the main challenges in realizing the annual supply of melon, so postharvest storage has received increasing amounts of attention from researchers. Methods: This study used academic, PubMed, and Web of Science resources to retrieve keywords related to postharvest storage and melon quality; read, refined, classified, and sorted the retrieved literature; sorted and summarized the relevant research results; and finally completed this article. Results: This article reviews the mechanism and effects of physical, chemical and biological preservation techniques on the sensory quality, compound contents and respiratory physiological activities of different varieties of melon fruits. When maintaining normal metabolism and not producing physiological disorders, melon inhibits cell wall metabolism, reactive oxygen species metabolism and the ethylene biosynthesis pathway, etc., to the greatest extent during postharvest storage, thereby reducing the material consumption of fruits, delaying the ripening and senescence process, and prolonging the postharvest life and shelf life. Conclusion: The literature provides a theoretical basis for postharvest preservation technology in the melon industry in the future and provides corresponding guidance for the development of the melon industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constant changes experienced in agricultural activities due to climate change pose a great challenge to melon production. Hence, this research examined the determinants of melon farmers' adaptation strategies to cope with climate change hazards in southern–southern Nigeria. The research ultimately depended on primary data collected by using a set of questionnaires and interviews. The data were obtained from 260 samples retrieved from melon farmers by using multistage sampling techniques. The data were analyzed using the multivariate probit (MVP) model and partial eta squared test. The results of the MVP model showed that age (− 0.009), marital status (0.200), access to information on climate change (0.567) and crop insurance (0.214) were significant at the 0.01 level, while household size (− 0.030) was significant at the 0.05 level and determined the adoption of crop diversification. Educational level (0.012), extension contact (0.138) and access to credit (0.122) were significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.415) was significant at the 0.01 level and determined the adoption of change in planting dates. Age (− 0.010) and access to information on climate change (0.381) were significant at the 0.01 level, while sex (− 0.139), marital status (0.158) and off-farm income (− 2.3E-7) were significant at the 0.05 level and determined the adoption of mixed farming. Farming experience (0.005) is significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.529) and crop insurance (0.272) are significant at the 0.01 level and determine the adoption of drought-tolerant crop species. Access to information on climate change (0.536) is significant at the 0.01 level, indicating the adoption of improved crop species. Age (− 0.010), farm size (− 0.085) and crop insurance (0.206) were significant at the 0.05 level, while access to information on climate change (0.353) was significant at the 0.01 level and determined the adoption of off-farm job opportunities. The study recommends the availability and accessibility of credit, climate-smart agricultural practices, and the establishment of public‒private partnerships, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have shown that plant endophytic microbial communities are ubiquitous and closely related to plant growth and health. To clarify the mechanism of the melon varieties with high resistant to wilt, the endophytic microbial compositions and metabolites in roots of melon varieties with high resistant ability to wilt were analyzed. Results: The results showed that the abundances of Firmicutes, Ascomycota, Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Amycolatopsis, Actinospica, and Catenulispora all increased in roots of wilt high resistant melon varieties (MT) which compared to wilt susceptible melon varieties (MS). Meanwhile, Ochrobactrum, Bordetella, Roseateles, Staphylococcus, Acidovorax, Amycolatopsis, Catenulispora, Promicromonospora, and Gymnopilus were the unique endophytic microbes in roots of MT. Moreover, in comparison with the MS varieties, the functions of Defense mechanisms, Secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport and catabolism, Nucleotide transport and metabolism, Signal transduction mechanisms, Coenzyme transport and metabolism, Carbohydrate transport and metabolism and Amino acid transport and metabolism all increased in roots of MT varieties. Additionally, the nucleotide metabolism and biosynthesis of cofactors metabolic pathways were also significantly increased in roots of MT varieties. On the other hand, the untargeted metabolome results showed that Biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites, Nucleotide metabolism and Biosynthesis of cofactors metabolic pathways were significantly increased in the expression of MT varieties; and the content of metabolic compounds such as flavonoids, Cinnamic acid compounds, Organic acid compounds, and Nucleotides were increased. In addition, the correlation between microbiome and metabolome indicates a significant correlation between the two. Conclusions: All above results suggested that higher abundant antagonistic microbes and metabolic functions of endophytes in roots of wilt high resistant melon varieties (MT) were the important mechanisms for their high resistance to wilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phosphorus (P) deficiency, a major nutrient stress, greatly hinders plant growth. Phosphate (Pi) uptake in plant roots relies on PHT1 family transporters. However, melon (Cucumis melo L.) lacks comprehensive identification and characterization of PHT1 genes, particularly their response patterns under diverse stresses. Results: This study identified and analyzed seven putative CmPHT1 genes on chromosomes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 using the melon genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed shared motifs, domain compositions, and evolutionary relationships among genes with close histories. Exon number varied from 1 to 3. Collinearity analysis suggested segmental and tandem duplications as the primary mechanisms for CmPHT1 gene family expansion. CmPHT1;4 and CmPHT1;5 emerged as a tandemly duplicated pair. Analysis of cis-elements in CmPHT1 promoters identified 14 functional categories, including putative PHR1-binding sites (P1BS) in CmPHT1;4, CmPHT1;6, and CmPHT1;7. We identified that three WRKY transcription factors regulated CmPHT1;5 expression by binding to its W-box element. Notably, CmPHT1 promoters harbored cis-elements responsive to hormones and abiotic factors. Different stresses regulated CmPHT1 expression differently, suggesting that the adjusted expression patterns might contribute to plant adaptation. Conclusions: This study unveils the characteristics, evolutionary diversity, and stress responsiveness of CmPHT1 genes in melon. These findings lay the foundation for in-depth investigations into their functional mechanisms in Cucurbitaceae crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-stimulants, such as selenium nanoparticles and melatonin, regulate melon growth. However, the effects of individual and combined applications of selenium nanoparticles and melatonin on the growth of melon seedlings have not been reported. Here, two melon cultivars were sprayed with selenium nanoparticles, melatonin, and a combined treatment, and physiological and biochemical properties were analyzed. The independent applications of selenium nanoparticles, melatonin, and their combination had no significant effects on the plant heights and stem diameters of Jiashi and Huangmengcui melons. Compared with the controls, both selenium nanoparticle and melatonin treatments increased soluble sugars (6–63%) and sucrose (11–88%) levels, as well as the activity of sucrose phosphate synthase (171–237%) in melon leaves. The phenylalanine ammonia lyase (29–95%), trans cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (32–100%), and 4-coumaric acid CoA ligase (26–113%), as well as mRNA levels, also increased in the phenylpropanoid metabolism pathway. Combining the selenium nanoparticles and melatonin was more effective than either of the single treatments. In addition, the levels of superoxide dismutase (43–130%), catalase (14–43%), ascorbate peroxidase (44–79%), peroxidase (25–149%), and mRNA in melon leaves treated with combined selenium nanoparticles and melatonin were higher than in controls. The results contribute to our understanding of selenium nanoparticles and melatonin as bio-stimulants that improve the melon seedlings' growth by regulating carbohydrate, polyamine, and antioxidant capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canary melon has been widely consumed as a dessert fruit due to its fragrance, sweetness, and flavorful taste. However, the cultivation of this cultivar has been challenged in Vietnam because of its weak growth performance and high susceptibility to local pathogens. In this study, we aim to generate the hybrid melon lines between the Canary melon and a local non-sweet melon that are expected to produce good quality fruits as well as to show better growth performance in the local cultivation conditions. Two crossing pairs including (1) MS hybrid (♂ non-sweet melon × ♀ Canary melon) and (2) MN-S hybrid (♂ Canary melon × ♀ non-sweet melon) were carried out and two hybrid lines were subsequently obtained. Next, different phenotypic and physiological parameters such as stem length, stem diameter, 10th leaf diameter, fruit size, fruit weight, and fruit sweetness (pH, °Brix, and soluble sugar contents) were examined and compared between the parental lines (Canary melon and non-sweet melon) and the hybrid lines (MS and MN-S). The results showed that the stem length and fruit size and weight of MS and MN-S hybrids were higher than those of Canary melon. Basically, the content of sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) is a primary and important factor in determining the sweetness of the melon. The pH, °Brix, sucrose and glucose contents of MS hybrid and Canary melon fruits were higher in comparison to MN-S and non-sweet melon fruits. Accordingly, the transcript levels of different sugar metabolism-related genes including SUCROSE SYNTHASE 1 (SUS1), SUS2, UDPGLC EPIMERASE 3 (UGE3), and SUCROSE-P SYNTHASE 2 (SPS2) were examined in all studied lines. In the fruits, the expression levels of these genes were found to be highest in the Canary melon, average in the MS hybrid, and relatively low in the MN-S hybrid and non-sweet melons. Taken together, the heterosis in terms of plant and fruit size was obviously observed in this crossing approach. The relatively high fruit sweetness in the MS hybrid (the mother is Canary melon) also implies that the choice of the mother for crossing is very important since it can determine the fruit quality of the offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of soil conditioners on the growth and development of melons and the rhizosphere soil environment were explored. The optimal amount of added soil conditioner was screened to solve the practical production problems of high-quality and high-yield thin-skinned melon. The melon variety "Da Shetou" was used as the material. Under the conditions of conventional fertilization and cultivation technology management, different soil conditioners were set up for potted melons. The effects of Pastoral soil (CK), 95% Pastoral soil + 5% volcanic ash soil conditioner (KT1), 85% Pastoral soil + 15% volcanic ash soil conditioner (KT2), 75% Pastoral soil + 25% volcanic ash soil conditioner (KT3), 65% Pastoral soil + 35% volcanic ash soil conditioner (KT4), and 55% Pastoral soil + 45% volcanic ash soil conditioner (KT5) on melon yield, quality, and rhizosphere soil characteristics were investigated. The soil microbial community was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq technology. Compared to CK, KT1, KT3, KT4, and KT5, the KT2 treatment could improve the single fruit yield of melon, increasing it by 4.35%, 2.48%, 2.31%, 5.92%, and 2.92%. Meanwhile, the highest contents of soluble protein, soluble solid, and soluble sugar in the KT2 treatment were 1.89 mg·100 g−1, 16.35%, and 46.44 mg·g−1, which were significantly higher than those in the control treatment. The contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, alkali-soluble nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus in melon rhizosphere soil were the highest in the KT2 treatment. Through Alpha diversity analysis, it was found that the Chao1 index, Shannon index, and ACE index were significantly higher in the KT1 treatment than in the control, while, among all groups, the Simpson index and coverage were not significantly different. The dominant bacteria in the six treated samples were mainly Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Myxomycota, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadota, Verrucomicrobia, and Planctomycetes, which accounted for 96.59~97.63% of the relative abundance of all bacterial groups. Through redundancy analysis (RDA), it was found that the organic matter, electrical conductivity, available phosphorus, and nitrate nitrogen of melon rhizosphere soil were the dominant factors of bacterial community change at the dominant genus level. In summary, 15% ash soil conditioner applied on melon was the selected treatment to provide a theoretical reference for the application of soil conditioner in facility cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melon (Cucumis melo) is considered a valuable agricultural crop in terms of nutrition and economy. However, viral diseases pose a serious threat to melon production. This study investigates the importance of using defense activator to reduce the impact of viruses on melon yield and quality. Elicitors and polyethylene mulch were used as defense activator to increase plant tolerance to viruses. Agricultural plots in the Abravan region of Mashhad were prepared, and treatments included the use of mulch and elicitors at different stages of melon plant growth. Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic plants, and RNA was extracted from the leaf tissues. Duplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (dRT-PCR) was used to simultaneously identify Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) and Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV). The percentage of viral symptoms in the plants across the treatment groups was analyzed. The results showed the presence of CABYV and CYSDV in different treatments. Treatment with elicitors and polyethylene mulch significantly reduced the severity of mosaic and yellowing symptoms in melon plants at the seedling and 2-4 leaf stages. Additionally, this treatment increased crop yield per hectare and prevented infection by CABYV and CYSDV. The findings suggest that the combination of elicitors and polyethylene mulch can be an effective strategy to reduce viral symptoms and increase crop yield in melon cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this study was to explore the fungistatic mechanism of fig leaf extract against Fusarium and to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new plant-derived fungicides. Methods: The fungistaticity of fig leaf extract were analyzed by the ring of inhibition method. Fusarium equiseti was selected as the target for analyzing its fungistatic mechanism in terms of mycelial morphology, ultrastructure, cell membrane permeability, membrane plasma peroxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and changes in the activity of protective enzymes. The effect of this extract was verified in melon, and its components were determined by metabolite analysis using ultraperformance liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS). Results: Fig leaf extract had an obvious inhibitory effect on Fusarium, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05) or highly significant (P < 0.01). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that F. equiseti hyphae exhibited obvious folding, twisting and puckering phenomena, resulting in an increase in the cytoplasmic leakage of spores, interstitial plasma, and the concentration of the nucleus, which seriously damaged the integrity of the fungal cell membrane. This phenomenon was confirmed by propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescein diacetate (FAD) staining, cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Fig leaf extract also induced the mycelium to produce excessive H2O2,which led to lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane, promoted the accumulation of MDA, accelerated protein hydrolysis, induced an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, and disrupted the balance of ROS metabolism; these findings showed that fungal growth was inhibited, which was verified in melons. A total of 1,540 secondary metabolites were detected by broad-targeted metabolomics, among which the fungistatic active substances flavonoids (15.45%), phenolic acids (15%), and alkaloids (10.71%) accounted for a high percentage and the highest relative content of these substances 1,3,7,8-tetrahydroxy-2- prenylxanthone, 8-hydroxyquinoline and Azelaic acid were analysed for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, preventive effects against plant diseases and acquisition of resistance by plants. This confirms the reason for the fungicidal properties of fig leaf extracts. Conclusion: Fig leaf extract has the potential to be developed into a plant-derived fungicide as a new means of postharvest pathogen prevention and control in melon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To explore the appropriate formula and concentration of nutrient solution for floating seedling cultivation in facility melon and improve the quality and efficiency of melon seedlings. [Method] Yinsheng' was used as the test material. The Japanese garden test formula, Yamazaki formula, Huanong fruit and vegetable formula were used as the test nutrient solution formula. The general formula was used as the formula trace elements. A two-factor 3×5 completely randomized trial was used. This study setted 5 levels (0 times, 0.5 times, 1.0 times, 1.5 times, and 2.0 times), that 1.0 times was the base concentration. Respectively, The plant height, stem diameter, soluble protein content and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured. [Result] The results showed that there were differences among melon seedlings treated with different nutrient solution formulations and concentrations. The stem diameter, leaf area and petiole length of melon seedlings treated with 0.5 times concentration of Huannong fruit and vegetable formula were significantly higher than other treatments, with average values of 2.87 mm, 13.45 cm² and 4.17 cm, respectively. Plant height, petiole thickness, root length and root-shoot ratio were higher than those of other treatments, and the mean values were 8.1 cm, 2.31 mm, 6.57 cm and 0.22, respectively. The results showed that the seedlings cultivated with 0.5 times concentration of Huanong fruit and vegetable formula had the highest comprehensive score. [Conclusion] When melon seedlings are growed by float breeding, 0.5 times concentration of Huanong fruit and vegetable formula can be preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Melon (Cucumis melo L.), being under intensive domestication and selective breeding, displays an abundant phenotypic diversity. Wild germplasm with tolerance to stress represents an untapped genetic resource for discovery of disease‐resistance genes. To comprehensively characterize resistance genes in melon, we generate a telomere‐to‐telomere (T2T) and gap‐free genome of wild melon accession PI511890 (C. melo var. chito) with a total length of 375.0 Mb and a contig N50 of 31.24 Mb. The complete genome allows us to dissect genome architecture and identify resistance gene analogs. We construct a pan‐NLRome using seven melon genomes, which include 208 variable and 18 core nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat receptors (NLRs). Multiple disease‐related transcriptome analyses indicate that most up‐regulated NLRs induced by pathogens are shell or cloud NLRs. The T2T gap‐free assembly and the pan‐NLRome not only serve as essential resources for genomic studies and molecular breeding of melon but also provide insights into the genome architecture and NLR diversity. Significance Statement: We report a complete genome of wild melon accession PI 511809 (Cucumis melo var. chito) and comprehensively dissect its genome architecture, and further accurately re‐annotate the NLR genes in PI 511890 and the other six published melon genomes and construct a pan‐NLRome for melon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, six melon varieties were compared in Hainan open field cultivation, Jilin open field and greenhouse cultivation mode, and the indexes of leaf longitudinal diameter, leaf transverse diameter, leaf area, weight of single melon,soluble solids and pulp thickness were determined. The experimental study showed that the longitudinal diameter, leaf transverse diameter, petiole length, leaf area, pulp thickness and single melon weight of melon cultivated in open land in Hainan were less than that in northern greenhouse and open field, while soluble solids were opposite. Certain differences, among which DG-2014-93, MX10 showed the best performance. The results showed that the main characters of melon, such as pulp thickness, soluble solids, weight of single melon and leaf area, were greatly influenced by the variety heredity and ecological environment, which had certain theoretical basis for the cross region introduction of melon in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit rind patterns are vital commercial quality traits in melon, in which the spotted or striped fruit rinds contribute to the commercial value of melon and can directly affect the choice of consumers. Although the spotted or non-spotted fruit rind pattern was studied in several cultivated melon accessions, the inheritance and regulating locus of this trait in wild melons are still unknown. Therefore, in this study, the inheritance and regulating loci of the green spotted fruit rind in a wild melon accession XNM020 were explored with F2 segregating populations derived from crossing between XNM020 and a cultivated melon XNM125. Segregating ratios of phenotypic data indicated that the green spotted fruit rind in XNM020 has a monogenic dominant inheritance. BSA-Seq showed that two potential genomic regions on chromosomes 4 (from 0.00 to 2.97 Mb) and 5 (from 0.00 to 2.34 Mb) regulate the formation of the green spotted fruit rind in wild melon XNM020. According to the annotations of polymorphic SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) and small InDels (insertions and deletions) in target genomic regions and the predicted gene functions, four genes MELO3C003316, MELO3C003375, MELO3C003388, and MELO3C014660 regulating chloroplast development or chlorophyll biosynthesis may be the best candidate genes. The results of this study enriched the inheritances of spotted fruit rinds in melon and also provided target genomic regions for marker-assisted selection breeding of melon focusing on fruit rinds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythm is defined biochemical, physiological, metabolic and behavioral responses of all living organisms such as bacteria, mammals, fungi and plants within a 24-hour light and dark photoperiod. In plants, circadian rhythm regulates multiple physiological, metabolic and behavioral processes such as stomatal and leaf movements, stem elongation, enzyme activity and aging. Circadian clock genes are known to play a role in regulating the biosynthesis of phytohormones which are involved in many crucial processes such as seed germination, hypocotyl elongation and photosynthesis. Circadian rhythm regulates and optimizes physiological and molecular mechanisms in a diurnal cycle, anticipating seasonal changes and preparing the plant for different environmental conditions in plant. Circadian rhythm also plays a crucial role in the regulation of plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Melon is a diploid species and one of the most important Cucurbitaceae family members. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between different developmental processes and circadian rhythm in melon. The relationship between circadian rhythm and growth, development and resistance in melon a detailed understanding of the relationship will help to improve future agricultural production and ground for further research on tolerance to environmental stresses will be created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]