INFLUENCE OF STORAGE PERIOD AND TEMPERATURE ON THE POSTHARVEST CHARACTERISTICS OF 6 MELON (CUCUMIS-MELO L, INODORUS GROUP) CULTIVARS

Six inodorus melon cultivars (Cucumis melo L., Inodorus Group, Naud., cv. Amarelo, Golden Casaba, Honeydew, Honey Loupe, Juan Canary, and Pa ceco) were harvested at horticultural maturity and evaluated for quali ty traits during three weeks of storage at 7, 12 and 15 degrees C plus three days at 20 degrees C. The soluble solids content did not change significantly during storage. Firmness of the pulp tissue declined du ring storage for all cultivars, but there were no significant differen ces among storage temperatures within a cultivar. Carbon dioxide produ ction decreased during storage for all cultivars. Ethylene increased d uring storage, but at different rates for each cultivar. Weight loss w as under 3% after three weeks of storage at 7 or 12 degrees C, but it was around 4% for melons stored at 15 degrees C. Storage temperature h ad no significant effect on the external appearance of 'Honeydew' and 'Golden Casaba', but other cultivars developed symptoms of chilling in jury either during storage or during the subsequent three days at 20 d egrees C. Fitting and increased decay appeared first in susceptible fr uit stored at 7 degrees C and later for fruit stored at 12 and 15 degr ees C.