CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF SOME LOCAL ALBANIAN MELON (Cucumis melo L.) CULTIVARS

Sakupljanje, proučavanje, vrednovanje, svrstavanje i čuvanje biljnih genetskih izvora s nakanom trajnog očuvanja od propadanja ili njihove upotrebe za proizvodnju prioritet je mnogih institucija u svijetu. Ovim se bavi i Istraživački institut za povrće i krumpir u Tirani i Albanska gen banka. Albanija je bogata biljnim genetskim izvorima gdje se posebno među povrćem ističe dinja. Upoznavanje i proučavanje pojedinih genetskih osobina autohtonih sorti dinje veoma je važno za poboljšanje osobina postojećih i stvaranje novih sorti za uvjete suvremene proizvodnje. Za uspješnu sakupljenu genetsku raznolikost treba dobro prepoznati osobine koje nosi biljna germplazma. Ovo je moguće smo nakon preciznog vrednovanja, što omogućava pronalaženje razlika među primkama i upotrebljivo je za genetsko poboljšanje osobina biljaka. Ovoj svrsi služi i proučavanje prezentirano u ovom radu.This study has been carried out in Vegetables and Potato Research Institute of Tirana. 19 autochthon accessions of melon, which are collected for some years in different regions of our country (Tirana, Gjirokastra, Korça, Fier, Shkodra, etc.) have been studied. This study, on morphological characters of plants and fruits, resistance to disease and pests spread in Albania, biometric and organoleptic characters of fruit and flesh and agro economic features as well, have been studied according to International descriptors requests (IPBGR, Roma, 1983). Results obtained, have contributed in determination of morphological, biometric, agro economic characters of melon germoplasm, for evaluating them, with the goal for a further breeding work. Most of these genotypes have good morphological and agro economic parameters. In the end, 12 accessions have a netted skin, 10 orange flesh, 8 a medium flesh consistence. Also, most of these autochthon cultivars are distinguished for some special features as, high productivity, thick flesh, good resistance to disease and pest, etc. Thus, we can mention such old local cultivars as “Qarres of Tirana”, “Bajza of Shkodra”, “Myselimi” and “Dhoksati” which are with much interest for the nearest future in breeding work