Muskmelon : Economic importance and uses

Economic importance and uses

    Muskmelon
    Botanical Name : Cucumis melo L.
    Family : Cucurbitaceae
    Chromosome No. : 2n=24
    Origin : Tropical Africa
    Common name : Kharbuza
  • Musk Melon is valued as a summer fruit. It is stated to have a cooling effect on the body system. Further, it is a demulscent, diuretic and aphrodisiac. It is applied as a lotion in several skin conditions. The roots have emetic and purgative properties. Mature fruits of muskmelon are round in shape and 8-16 cm in diameter. Nevertheless some oblong, flat and oval fruit shaped varieties are also available. Immature fruits are used as vegetable and seeds are edible.
  • The fruits of C. angaria(West Indian gherkin) is mostly used in pickles and also as a cooked vegetable. There is another form called snap melon (Cucumis melo var. momordica) found throughout India.It is consumed at full ripened stage.The flesh is crispy and sour in taste. There is a tremendous intra specific variability in C. melo. Some botanical varieties are widely grown in certain regions for the purpose of fresh salad or for pickling. These include C. melo var. utilissimus (Long or serpent melon). This is very popular in Indo-gangetic plains as a summer salad.
  • River beds of India it is commonly grown and it occupies an area of 28484 ha with annual production of 625414 tonnes having the average productivity of 21.95 t/ha.
  • The fruits are sweet and musky in flavour and are relished by millions. The fruits contain 0.6% protein, 0.2% fat, 3.5% CHOs, 32 mg Ca, 14 mg phosphorous, 1.4 mg iron, 16mg carotene and 26 mg Vitamin C per 100 g fresh weight of the fruit.
  • There is no proper survey of the foreign markets taken up about the quality requirements and surpluses that the country is exporting. Further no new market has been explored. There is a need to have research and development activities of export oriented types in each crop. In 1997-98 the melons are exported in quanity of 3593 mt which is valued at Rs.160 lakhs. The fruits exported should have good keeping quality.
Last modified: Wednesday, 15 February 2012, 6:44 AM