In order to evaluate fruit yield and quality of yellow melon, an assay was carried out at EMBRAPA/ Tropical Agroindustry Research Station, in Pacajus-CE, in the period from September to December, 2000. Nine melon hybrids were screened under field conditions at the east coast of Ceará State. The experimental layout was a randomized complete block design with nine treatments and five replicates. The treatments were comprised of the following commercial hybrids: Gold Pride, Gold Star, TSX 32096, Yellow Queen, PX 4910606, AF 682, XPH 13021, AF 646 and Gold Mine. Fruit yield, average fruit weight at the first harvest, total soluble solids (SS) content, pulp firmness and fruit classification were evaluated. Significant differences between hybrids were observed for all the analyzed variables, except for SS content. The hybrids Gold Pride, Gold Star, XPH 13021 and Gold Mine presented the largest yields, 32 t/ha in average. Gold Mine had the largest average fruit weight (1.5 kg), statistically differing from those of Gold Pride (1.14 kg), AF 646 (1.02 kg), AF 682 (1.09 kg) and PX 4910606 (1.11 kg). Regarding to fruit total SS content and pulp firmness, Gold Mine, TSX 32096, PX 4910606, XPH 13021 and AF 682 had the best results, different from the Yellow Queen and AF 646 which showed the lowest values. The hybrids Gold Mine, Gold Star, XPH 13021 and Gold Pride had high marketable yield.
Cucumis melo; productivity; fruit quality
