Abstract

Information about the correlation and linkage among different horticultural characteristics is of primary importance in the field of crop improvement. In order to determine a morphologic variation of eleven native melon cultivars, a field trial conducted in completely randomized design at Torbat-e-Jam, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, during 2010 and 2011 was carried out. Statistical parameters used included; mean traits, correlation and cluster traits analysis. The results showed that there was a wide diversity in melon cultivars. Correlation analysis between traits showed a significant positive relation between fruit length with sugar content and positive relation between fruit weight with fruit length, fruit diameter, flesh thickness, skin thickness, and sugar content. A negative relation that was observed was between fruit length with fruit diameter, flesh thickness and skin thickness. Significant negative relation was observed between fruit length and seed cavity width. Based on quantitative data, genotypes were divided into six groups. The sixth, fourth and third clusters had maximum flesh thickness, and the third cluster had the highest content sugar than other clusters. The sixth cluster had the strongest period of germination to ripening. Cluster four, and cluster three had less skin thickness than other clusters.

Key words: Cluster analysis, correlation, sugar content.