• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.492-496
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• 2012

Fertigation with drip irrigation provides effective and cost-efficient way to supply both nutrient and water to crop. However, inappropriate management of fertigation systems may cause inefficient nutrient and water use, thereby diminishing expected yield benefits as well as contributing to deterioration of soil properties. In this study, greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the optimal concentration of N, P and K fertigation solution for maximum production of oriental melon (Cucumis melo L.) using a response surface methodology, to evaluate an efficiency of nutrients uptake and an effect on soil chemical properties. Canonical analysis of response surface and contour plot interpretation revealed that $108.3mg\;L^{-1}$ of nitrogen (N), $54.8mg\;L^{-1}$ of phosphorous (P) and $158.3mg\;L^{-1}$ of potassium (K) resulted in maximim yield of oriental melon ($2,966kg\;10a^{-1}$). Compared to conventional practice, fertigation increased fruit yield up to 23.0% (p<0.001), uptake of N and K by plant also up to 33.3% (p<0.001) and 15.7% (p<0.01), respectively. These results suggest that fertigation has the advantage of the increase in yield and fertilizer use efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.536-540
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to develop a method to prolong the freshness and maintain the quality of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). The rate of weight loss increased with storage time for all samples, but the rates were lower in the 1-MCP treated samples than in the control samples. The hardness of muskmelons treated with 1-MCP differed significantly from that of the controls. The soluble solid contents in the control were highest on day 4 at 15.1%, and evidenced a decreasing trend as the storage period elapsed. Conversely, the soluble solid contents of the 1-MCP-treated samples remained steady at 14% until day 16. The acidity of 1-MCP-treated samples was higher than that of the control over 10 days of storage. The respiration rate of the 1-MCP-treated samples increased less and was lower than that of the controls. Based on the results of our sensory evaluation, muskmelon treated with 1-MCP gas remained fresh for more than 25 days, whereas the control samples remained fresh for only 13 days.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.338-341
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• 2001

A new passive nutrient supplying system (PNS) was designed. The experiment was conducted to compare PNS with automatic hydroponic system (AHS) by investigating the growth characteristics of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) in spring and summer. No significant differences in growth characteristics of leaf area and shoot dry weight were observed between PNS and AHS. However, better netting of melon fruit was shown in PNS. Sugar content of melon fruit was also $1.0-2.0Brix^{\circ}$ higher in PNS than in AHS. The suitable substrate for melon culture with PNS was the mixture of perlite 70% and rice hull 30%. These results suggested that new PNS could be introduced to growers without any loss of fruit yield and quality of muskmelon.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.200-204
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• 2009

The change of biological activities of melon were investigated during frozen storage. The total phenolic concentrations in melon juice and water extract were 296.25 and $433.25\;{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The total flavonoid contents in melon juice and water extract were 20.83 and $53.58\;{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Antioxidant activities of melon juice and water extract were determined. The DPPH of water extract of melon (85.84%) was higher than the melon juice (60.58%). ABTS of melon juice and water extract were 94.50 and 99.30%, respectively. SOD-like activity and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of melon of water extracts were higher than those of melon juice. $\alpha$-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of melon juice and water extract were 22.42 and 23.43%, respectively. The changes in the antioxidant activity of melon was insignificant until 6 months of frozen storage. Therefore, it was expected that frozen storage of melon was useful preservation expedient for consistent supply of raw materials.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.273-279
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• 2009

This study was conducted to identify optimal concentrations of N (nitrogen) and K (Potassium) fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of melon (Cucumis melo. L) when they were grown with a fertigation culture in a greenhouse. Three strength (S) levels of fertilizers, including 1 S, 1/2S, and 1/4S were supplied N and K nutrients as using a trickle irrigation system. When the strength level of fertilizers was increased from 1/4S to 1 S, the level of EC (electronic conductivity) in soil was increased. Soil-water tension was ranged between -15 and -20kPa until fruit setting stage, whereas it was ranged between -45 and -50kPa in the later growth stages. In results, N fertilizer had effects on fruit yield and quality. A higher fruit yield was observed when plants were supplied with 1 S and 1/2S level of N fertilizer. The highest yield of marketable fruit, about 5,086kg/10a, was also observed when plants were supplied with 1/2S N fertilizer. A higher net index and sugar content of fruit was observed in the treatments of 1/2S and 1/4S level of N fertilizer compared to 1 S level. In contrast, there was no statistic difference in the yield and quality with three levels of K fertilizer. Results indicate that the 1/2S level for N and 1/4S level for K fertilizer are effective and optimal for the melon plants grown under the fertigation culture in terms of increasing fruit yield and quality and reducing the cost of fertilizers.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.902-911
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• 2010

Oriental melon ($Cucumis$ $melo$ var. $makuwa$) is a popular and high-value market fruit cultivated in Korea. Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in oriental melon as a healthy diet over the past few years. However, the melons have relatively high quality loss because the fruit are mainly produced for a limited period of time in the summer season. Lack of the proper postharvest treatments and high temperature exposure at harvest or during distribution are the most critical environmental factors limiting postharvest life of fruit. This review focuses on the overview of current research studies for postharvest treatment and functional packaging technology of oriental melon in Korea. Major physiological problems of the harvest fruit include the ripening process in quality changes of the produce such as loss of weight, firmness, flavor, and decay during the storage periods. Low temperature at 7 to $10^{\circ}C$ with high relative humidity of 90 to 95% is the suitable environmental condition used to maintain the quality of fresh oriental melon. Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage or modified atmosphere (MA) packaging can be used as supplemental treatments to extend postharvest-life. For oriental melon, an optimum CA is currently recommended to be 2-3% oxygen and 5-10% carbon dioxide atmosphere. Precooling, pretreatments of ethylene action and functional packaging system can be applied to oriental melon after harvest in order to extend storage life. Major active packaging technologies are concerned with a selectively gas permeable film related to respiration of produce and the packaging applications of ethylene removal, antimicrobial, and antifogging substances to keep the effective freshness of fruit.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.157-162
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• 2002

The efficient timer-controlled irrigation and the favorable fruiting position were investigated far highly quality melon fruits from Feb.18 to July Si 1999. The nutrient solution was supplied either at every hour from 6：00 to 18：00 (T-1) or at 6：00, 8：00, 10：00, 11：00, 12：00, 12：30, 13：00, 13：30, 14：00, 14：30, IS：00,16：00, and 17：00 (T-2). A fruit was set at the first node of the fruit bearing branch from the 10, 12, or 13th node of the main stem. Pot weight was maintained at almost n constant level, regardless of the daily integrated solar radiation in T-2. Soluble solids content (SSC) and fresh weight of fruit were not significantly different among the irrigation treatments at each harvesting time. At the first harvest, SSC and fresh weight of fruit were not significantly different between the fruiting positions within the irrigation treatment. At the second harvest, SSC was higher in T-2 than T-1. The SSC was low in the fruit of the loth node in T-1, while it was not significantly different between fruiting positions in T-2. Fruit fresh weight was the highest at the 12 and 13th nodes in T-1, and the 13th node in T-2. Fresh and dry weights of leaf except petiole, regardless of harvesting time, increased as the node position was higher, The higher the fruiting position was, the lower the leaf weight was. Therefore, it is recommended to irrigate more frequently during the mid-noon. Fruits can be harvested earlier at the lower nodes in the spring crop production.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.481-490
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• 2000

Modified atmosphere packaging was applied to oriental melon(Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Mak.) to extend its freshness during distribution. Gas composition and ethylene content in the film bags changed rapidly at the early stage of storage. Within 10 days, weight loss of the unpackaged increased upto 7.68% while those of the packaged remained less than 1.0% except LDPE film modified by addition of 5%(w/w) zeolite with $20\;{\mu}m$ thickness(20CK, 2.38%). Firmness was effectively maintained in the LDPE film modified by addition of 5%(w/w) zeolite with $40\;{\mu}m$ thickness(40CK) and the LDPE film with $40\;{\mu}m$ thickness containing ethylene absorber sachet(40LP). Peel color of the fruit changed rapidly in control and a little in 40CK. Oriental melon packages using 40CK provided better visual and sensory quality retention compared with others. Results suggested that packaging treatment such as 40CK could be used for extending freshness of oriental melon during transport period at ambient temperature.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.636-642
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• 2011

The chemical components of four muskmelons (Thankyou, Beauty, Picnic, and Symphony), according to the cultivars, were investigated during storage at $7^{\circ}C$ for 28 days. After the storage period, the Picnic cultivar indicated a weight decrease of up to 4.70% whereas the Symphony cultivar showed the best weight maintenance during storage (1.02%). The Thankyou and Symphony cultivars had higher sugar content and acidity levels than the Beauty and Picnic cultivars during storage. While the Symphony and Beauty cultivars showed high hardness at the start of their storage, their hardness decreased much during storage while the Thankyou and Picnic cultivars showed little change in hardness during storage. Further, the Thankyou cultivar not only maintained its unique muskmelon yellow color but also showed lower microorganism growth than the other cultivars. The stem water loss seen in this cultivar, however, tends to be the first thing seen by the consumers and may thus determine its merchantable quality. In addition, as the Thankyou cultivar showed the least quality change during storage, it will be useful for the development of a technology for minimizing the moisture content of a muskmelon's stem.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.4 s.91
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• pp.280-282
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• 1999

A new disease on mask melon grown under plastic film houses was found in Namhae area in May of 1999. Gray to dark brown mold were grown on the surface of matured fruits and infected inside tissues were discolored and rotten. Basal part of the fruit and blossom-end were frequently infected and colonized by fungi. About 2.2% of matured fruits were infected in the surveyed plastic film houses. The causal organism was isolated from the lesion and identified as Botrytis cinerea. The conidia in mass were hyaline or gray, 1-celled, mostly ellipsoid or ovoid and sized $8.8{\sim}21.2{\times}6.5{\sim}13.1\;{\mu}m$. Hyaline or pigmented conidiophores were tall, slender and determinated and, sometimes branched irregularly in upper part. Enlarged or rounded apical cells bear conidial cluster and sized $18.4{\sim}81.1{\times}4.3{\sim}11.4\;{\mu}m$. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth was recorded at $15{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. This is the first report on gray mold of melon caused by Botrytis cineria in Korea.