Assessment of Phenotypic Variability in Snapmelon Landraces and Inbred Lines of Karnataka, India

Abstract

Aims: The study aimed to collect and evaluate snapmelon (momordica sp.) landraces and inbred lines from Karnataka to assess phenotypic variability for important morphological and quality traits, to identify promising lines for snapmelon improvement and conservation. Study Design: The experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Bengaluru, using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 22 accessions of snapmelon collected from different regions of Karnataka. Methodology: Thirteen landraces and nine inbred lines were grown under recommended agronomic practices. Observations were recorded on flowering traits, fruit length, width, pulp thickness, pulp colour, taste, cracking tendency, and total soluble solids (TSS). The data were analysed using ANOVA to estimate variability among the accessions. Results: Wide variability was observed for each of the selected traits among 13 landraces and 9 inbred lines. Significant differences were found for flowering behaviour, fruit size, pulp quality, colour, taste, and TSS content. Some accessions showed desirable traits such as higher sweetness, better pulp thickness, and attractive colour, while others displayed resistance to cracking, a common issue due to the thin exocarp. This variability highlighted the potential of certain landraces as breeding material for improving fruit quality and stress tolerance in snapmelon. Conclusions: Evaluation also highlighted specific genotypes with superior traits that can be effectively utilized in breeding programs aimed at improving disease resistance, fruit shelf life, and nutritional quality. Notably, some accessions demonstrated tolerance to fruit cracking  a major constraint in snapmelon production, making them potential candidates for developing more resilient cultivars.