Review article

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5513/PJHD3356

Japanese melons: Cultivation, consumption, and cultivars

Seisuke Motonishi ; HAL GREEN Co., Ltd., 193-6 Toiso, Eniwa, 061-1405, Japan
Tetsuo Mikami orcid.org/0009-0007-5850-8893 ; HAL GREEN Co., Ltd., 193-6 Toiso, Eniwa, 061-1405, Japan

Abstract

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a commercially important horticultural crop worldwide and exhibits an impressive diversity in plant and fruit characteristics. It is divided into ssp. melo, which includes western melon cultivars, and ssp. agrestis,
including oriental melon such as the makuwa and conomon groups. The history of cultivation of oriental melon is very old in Japan, and oriental melon has been used as fresh desserts (makuwa melon) and for pickling or cooking (conomon melon). Western melon was introduced into Japan as fresh dessert fruit crop in the late 19th century. Breeding efforts were made to develop good-quality, affordable melon cultivars, and as a result, western melon became popular throughout the country in the 1960s. The cultivation area of western melon in the country reached
its peak in 1990 and has gradually decreased since. In this review, we describe the cultivation history and commercial production of Japanese melon and the agronomic characteristics of the major cultivars. This summary information may
contribute to understanding the issues and prospects of melon cultivation in Japan.

Keywords

Breeding; Cultivation history; Cultural practices; Fruit quality; Genomics

Hrčak ID:

348321

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/348321

Publication date:

27.6.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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