THE PEPINO (SOLANUM-MURICATUM AIT) - AN ALTERNATIVE CROP FOR AREAS AFFECTED BY MODERATE SALINITY

Three clonal hybrids of pepino and their six parental clones were grow n in a greenhouse at two salinity levels, 3 and 8 dS.m(-1), and two K levels, 246 and 492 mg.L-1. Nearly all the clones maintained high yiel ds even at 8 dS.m(-1). Hybrids were highly productive and were more sa lt-tolerant than their parental clones, In the majority of clones, sal inity shortened mean time to harvest by more than 10 days. Salinity al so increased organoleptic quality of pepino fruit, mainly due to the i ncrease in soluble solids concentration (SSC). Potassium had little ef fect on yield and on organoleptic characteristics, although the yield of the less-productive clones appears to be affected by the high level of K (492 mg.L-1). Our results suggest that the pepino could be an al ternative crop in areas where only moderately saline water is availabl e, since it is possible to maintain crop productivity while improving its organoleptic quality-the latter being a key issue for its acceptab ility in European and U.S. markets.