Evolution of some physical and chemical characteristics during growth and development of muskmelon (Cllclimis melo L.)

Fruits of six muskmelon (cucumis melo l.) cultivars were collected at four stages of development and ripening: young,premature,mature and ripened from dabuleni,dolj county,romania and analyzed in terms of physical properties and chemical compounds. several analyses were performed as dry matter,soluble solids,titratable acidity,vitamin c content,content of pigments (chlorophyll a,chlorophyll b,β-carotene and lycopene),the content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity. the accumulation of various compounds in muskmelon fruits varied during the stage of growth and maturation,following different pattern for each compound. significant differences were found concerning the content in β-carotene among the six cultivars. vitamin c was high in young fruits than in ripened fruits. there were differences among cultivars in vitamin c content that varied between 106.82 mg/kg fw (kemer cultivar) and 297.21 mg/kg fw (raymond cultivar). total polyphenols content varied between 184.33 mg of gallic acid equivalents (gae) kg-1fw (hybrid fl cultivar) and 117.66 mg of gallic acid equivalents (gae) kg-1fw (kemer cultivar). significant diferences were found among cultivars concerning all determined compounds and physical properties. © 2015 university of agriculture. all rights reserved.