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Different cucumber melon (Cucumis melo L.) races cultivated in Salento (Italy)

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Abstract

South Italy is still a centre of diversity for melons but new cultivars progressively replace its traditional landraces. The area of Salento is important for several typical old crops as the cucumber melon ‘Meloncella’ (Cucumis melo L. var. chate (Hasselq.) Filov) traditionally cultivated for its unripe fruits. Information on cultivation, quality and variation of this Apulian landrace (probably the last relic of a wider cultivation in Europe) is reported. A strategy for its characterization and safeguarding is in progress at the genebank of IGV of Bari (Italy).

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Acknowledgements

We wish to express our gratitude to Mr. Fernando Martignano (technician of IGV, native of Salento) and Mr. Cosimo Stanca expert farmer of Soleto. Only thanks to their extraordinary helpful was it possible to obtain good seed material and information on ‘Meloncella’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Genetics (IGV), C.N.R, 70126, Bari, Italy

    G. Laghetti

  2. Botanical Garden, University of Lecce, Lecce, Italy

    R. Accogli

  3. Institute of Crop Science, University of Kassel, 37213, Witzenhausen, Germany

    K. Hammer

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  1. G. Laghetti
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  2. R. Accogli
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  3. K. Hammer
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Correspondence to G. Laghetti.

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Laghetti, G., Accogli, R. & Hammer, K. Different cucumber melon (Cucumis melo L.) races cultivated in Salento (Italy). Genet Resour Crop Evol 55, 619–623 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-008-9341-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-008-9341-y

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