Outstanding new melon hybrid introduced soon
Anewly developed melon hybrid with outstanding characteristics will be introduced in the Philippines soon, it was learned during the 50th anniversary celebration of KnownYou Seed of Taiwan recently. The company’s melon breeder is En-Tzu Pan who has been with the company for more than 20 years.
The new hybrid is called Aurora which has short oblong fruits with thick light orange flesh that is sweet, crispy and juicy. Weighing 1.6 to 2.2 kilos per fruit, the size is just right for the market.
The new variety could be a very good addition to the varieties being grown by farmers in Luzon like Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Laguna and some other places. Sowing to harvest is 75 to 90 days.
Aside from Aurora, Known-You has several other new melon varieties. One of them is Golden Aroma which is bigger than Aurora, each fruit weighing 2.8 to 3.5 kilos. It takes longer than Aurora to mature – 85-100 days from sowing. The flesh is thick and is good for fruit cutting. It also has good shipping quality.
Jady is another new variety, an apple type with white rind that can also be eaten. The flesh is whitish green. The fruit weighs only 500 to 600 grams, and can be harvested in 65 to 75 days from planting.
Also an apple type that weighs 500 to 600 grams is Jade Apple which also matures in 65 to 75 days. The skin is edible, has good aroma and good fruit setting. It has wide adaptability.
Another new variety is Orange Melody, a honey dew with white skin and orange flesh. Then there is Silver Dream with white skin and whitish green flesh. Yuki Lady is another honey dew hybrid with whitish green flesh, a vigorous plant with good fruit setting and leaf coverage. This means the leaves protect the fruit from scalding.
Joyride is a new variety of cantaloupe with fruits that are deep globe in shape, 2 to 2.5 kilos each, with stable net formation, shipping tolerance and color change when ripe.
A netted new variety is called Rumba, deep globe in shape, each fruit weighing 1.5 to 2 kilos. It is a vigorous plant, heat and shipping tolerant, with color change when maturing.
Then there is Puma, a yellow canary melon, short oblong in shape, weighing 2 to 2.5 kilos per fruit, white flesh, maturing in 75 to 85 days.
OLD FAVORITES –
In the Philippines, farmers have been making money from melons by planting tested old varieties, according to Aubregyn Ancheta of KY Philippines. One of the favorites is Sweet Flavor which is aromatic, each fruit weighing 1.2 to 1.5 kilos. It is a slicing type that is good for dessert. Three to four fruits are allowed to develop per plant.
A favorite honey dew variety is called Brilliant. This has yellow skin with white flesh that is sweet and crunchy, weighing 1.5 to 2 kilos per fruit. Another honey dew is Jade Lady with white skin and green flesh that is soft, sweet and juicy.
AWARD WINNER –
One special variety that was bred by En-Tzu Pan is called Prity, otherwise known as Pomelon. This was a winner of the All America Selection (AAS) award because of its unique flavor. It is a little bit sour that somehow has the pleasing flavor of pomelo. It has thick flesh that is very crunchy and juicy. The AAS is a very prestigious award. The variety was tested all over the United States to find out if it is really good.