MUSKMELON&BREADFRUIT

SEED STRUCTURE {EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL},BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS AND

PRE-SOWING SEED TREATMENT

MUSKMELON

(Cucumis melo)

INTRODUCTION

•Botanical Name: Cucumis melo L.

•Family:Cucurbitaceae
•Chromosome Number: 2n=24
•Common name: Kharbuza

Muskmelon is said to be a native of tropical Africa more specifically in

the eastern region, south of Sahara Desert, Central Asia comprising some
parts of southern Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and North-west India may be
regarded as a secondary centres of origin.
 ✓ It is important vegetable crop of India. These are mother fruits of
several better known cultivars.
✓ Muskmelon is native to Iran, Anatolia and Armenia.
✓ Musk melon is rich source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. It
contains about 90% of water and 9% Carbohydrates.
✓ In India muskmelon growing state includes Punjab, Tamil Nadu,
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
✓ Melon are the fruit specially known for their high water content
and muskmelon no exception. This is one of the many fruits which you must
consume in hot days and peculiarly in summer days.
✓ Muskmelon is one of the fruits which help you overcome
dehydration thanks to his excellent water retention capability.
 Nutrient content in the skin, stem plus heart and the pulp of very immature, immature, mature, and
very mature breadfruits (Artocarpus communis J.R. & G. Forst.) was studied. In most cases they
were found to vary widely depending on the part and the maturity of the fruit. The major
component and the principal carbohydrate in all three sections and at all stages of maturity was
starch (more than 50% of the total carbohydrates). Relatively good levels of the minerals Ca, K, and
Fe and the vitamins niacin and riboflavin were found in all parts at all stages of maturity. Protein
content varied from 4.6-5.9% in the skin, 6.0-7.6% in the stem plus heart, and 3.8-4.1% in the pulp.
Crude fat varied from 2.3-3.9% in the skin, 1.6-4.4% in the stem plus heart and 1.1-2.6% in the pulp.
Crude fiber was highest in the skin and stem plus heart and lowest in the pulp.

Pre-sowing seed treatment

Muskmelon is seed propagated and insitu sowing is

practised. .Seeds soaked in water for 12-24 hours before sowing gives better
germination. This is practiced if temperature is very low

The seeds of muskmelon should be soaked in water overnight and than

should be kept in Moist cloth or gunny bag near a warm place before
planting.Germination start within 3-4 days. Soaking of seeds in Ethephon at 480
mg/litre for 24 hours improved the germination in muskmelon. At low
temperature seed dressing with thiram controlled fungi effectively and also
enhanced seed germination.
BREADFRUIT
Seeds

Breadfruits are available with seeds and also without seeds. The
seeded types of breadfruit are available in south western Pacific, whereas
seedless types of breadfruit are common in Micronesia and Eastern islands of
Polynesia. All the breadfruit varieties elsewhere especially in topic region are
of seedless type. Seeds are brown in colour, shiny, round or ovoid in shape
and irregularly compressed. Moreover, the seeds have little or no
endosperm, no period of dormancy and they can germinate immediately.
Since they can germinate immediately, they are not able to be dried or
stored. Trees that grow with the help of seeds can produce their fruits in a
timeline of 6-10 years or sooner. On the contrary, asexually propagated trees
can start to produce their fruits in 3-6 years of time.