Morphological Observation on Xinjiang Wild Muskmelons and Study on Cross Compatibility between Them and Different Varieties in Cucumis melo L.

【 Objective 】 Through morphological observation, identification and cross compatibility between wild muskmelon and varieties in Cucumis melo L. this project aims to provide a support for the classification of wild muskmelons in Xinjiang and the genetic base of melon cultivars.【 Method 】Twenty-eight traits of leaf, stem, flower and fruit of Xinjiang wild melon were observed and compared with local landraces, and the disease resistance of wild melon in Xinjiang to 2 fungi diseases: gummy stem blight (GSB) and powdery mildew was identified by inoculation technique at the seedling stage. Meanwhile, cross compatibility between Xinjiang wild melon and 8 varieties, in which 5 were included in ssp. agrestis, var. agrestis, var. conomon, var. dudaim, var. chito and var. momordica, and 3 were included in ssp. melo, var. cantalupensis, var. inodorus and var. flexuosus were analyzed, by the way of recording on fruit-setting and seed-setting rate of combinations after artificial pollination.【 Result 】Results obtained showed that most morphological traits of 'Hami wild' were distinct from the local cultivated control, but traits of 'Turpan wild' were similar to the control. 'Hami wild' was highly resistant to GSB but susceptible to PM, while 'Turpan wild' was susceptible or highly susceptible to GSB and PM after inoculation at seedling stage. Infertility of hybrids and incompatibility were not observed among any combinations between Xinjiang wild melon and 8 varieties. Except var. agrestis and chito, the seed-setting rate between reciprocal crosses was found differentially among combinations between Xinjiang wild melon and 8 varieties, which higher seed-setting rate was detected when Xinjiang wild melon was used as female parent. Furthermore, the seed-setting rate between 'Hami wild' and 2 subspecies, ssp. agrestis and ssp. melo, were 79.3% and 83.4%, respectively; and the seed-setting rate between 'Turpan wild' and 2 subspecies were 76.1% and 79.4%, respectively, which indicated that seed-setting rate exhibited small differences between combinations of Xinjiang wild melon with ssp. agrestis and with ssp. melo. 【 Conclusion 】Morphological traits observed in 'Hami wild' looked like that of feral or weedy melon in ssp. agrestis, however, 'Turpan wild' showed affinities with local landraces. 'Hami wild' was highly resistant to GSB after screening in seedlings. Xinjiang wild melon could be classified into C. melo, because of fertility of hybrids and compatibility were detected between wild melon and 2 subspecies, ssp. agrestis, ssp. melo.