Abstract
Plant growth as well as the morphological and physiological traits of ‘Wasadauri’ a native melon variety grown in Yamagata were compared with those of ‘Prince’ melon cultivar.
1. ‘Wasadauri’ had shorter vines but bigger leaves than ‘Prince’.
2. The chlorophyll concentration in ‘Wasadauri’ leaves was lower than that in ‘Prince’ leaves but there was no significant difference detected on photosynthetic rates between the two plants.
3. ‘Wasadauri’ blooms consisted of male and complete flowers on the same vine.
4. ‘Wasadauri’ fruit grew spherically or somewhat elliptically.
5. Approximately 70 % of ‘Wasadauri’ fruit had five carpels.
6. Edible part of ‘Wasadauri’ fruit was less than that of ‘Prince’.
7. ‘Wasadauri’ fruit had a larger number of seeds than ‘Prince’, but the mean weight per seed was lighter than that of ‘Prince’.
8. Fructose concentration in ‘Wasadauri’ flesh was lower than that of ‘Prince’.
