Objective: Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) is an important agricultural crop cultivated across many regions of Iran and holds a significant share in the Iranian household food basket. As part of a comprehensive breeding program at Aburaihan Campus, cantaloupe seed breeding has been ongoing for years with the aim of improving the agronomic and qualitative characteristics of this crop. This study sought to establish an identity card and determine the differentiation of 16 domestically produced hybrid cultivars along with their 14 parental lines through a detailed examination of morphological and phenotypic traits based on UPOV (International Union for the Protection of Plant Varieties) guidelines.
Methods: In this study, hybrid cantaloupes and their parental lines, together with six commercial control cultivars, were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications and evaluated according to the DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability) test protocol. Quantitative data were analyzed and ranked using cluster analysis, while qualitative data were analyzed and ranked using the Kruskal–Wallis test to determine genotypic differences and genetic diversity among the lines and hybrids.
Results: The lines and hybrids studied differed significantly from one another in terms of the evaluated traits, including flesh firmness, flesh color, cork density of the skin surface, groove depth, inflorescence location, fruit separation from the peduncle, and fruit shape. Cluster analysis revealed a strong parental effect on hybrid characteristics, and substantial genetic diversity was observed among cultivars and hybrids. Regarding fruit weight, hybrids H165, H148, and H152—with fruit weights exceeding 1.5 kg—outperformed all control cultivars and achieved a superior marketability position. In terms of soluble solids content, which indicates fruit sweetness, hybrids H167, H82, and H70 recorded values above 14°Brix, outperforming native control cultivars such as Samsuri and Saveh.
Conclusion: Hybrids H148 and H153 were identified as superior in terms of the combination of quantitative and qualitative characteristics. In addition to high yield, these hybrids exhibited desirable traits such as resistance to viral infections and excellent appearance and quality characteristics. These findings, along with the detailed description of the studied hybrids and lines, can serve as a foundation for future decisions regarding the development of new varieties and the breeding of cantaloupe in Iran and other similar regions