GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF MUSKMELON (CUCUMIS MELO L.) FOR ENHANCED YIELD, FRUIT QUALITY AND RESILIENCE: CONVENTIONAL AND GENOMICS-ASSISTED STRATEGIES

Abstract

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically important horticultural crop valued for its nutritional quality, flavour, and diverse fruit characteristics. Improving yield, fruit quality, and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses remains a major breeding priority as climate changes and market demands increase. This review examines advances in conventional and genomics-assisted breeding strategies for improving muskmelons, emphasising genetic diversity, heterosis, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, marker-assisted selection, genetic transformation, and genome editing. Conventional breeding approaches, including hybridization, selection, and backcrossing, remain essential for developing high-yielding and locally adapted cultivars. Advances in genome sequencing and molecular markers have facilitated the identification of genomic regions associated with fruit size, sweetness, pigmentation, ripening, shelf life, and disease resistance. Tissue culture and regeneration techniques provide important platforms for genetic transformation, while CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing offers opportunities for functional gene validation and targeted trait improvement. However, challenges related to marker transferability, genotype-dependent regeneration, complex trait inheritance, and genotype × environment interactions continue to limit the practical application of these technologies. Integrating conventional breeding with molecular tools, validated markers, and multi-environment phenotypic evaluation is essential for translating genetic discoveries into measurable improvements in cultivar performance. Future breeding efforts should prioritize stable marketable yield, durable disease resistance, improved postharvest quality, and environmental adaptability to support sustainable muskmelon production.