Sensorial characteristics of Spanish traditional melon genotypes: has the flavor of melon changed in the last century?

Sensory profiling was applied as an effective tool in melon characterization to evaluate twenty-six melon varieties, landraces and commercial hybrids over 3 years of harvesting. The landraces were from Villaconejos, a Madrilean village historically specialized in melon cultivation. These landraces have remarkable morphological and molecular diversity according to previous studies. Individual panel results related to color, firmness, juiciness, sweetness, acidity and fibrosity, and seven different aromas of melon fruits were analyzed using a multivariate analysis. The results of these analyses showed that Villaconejos accessions were highly diverse and distinct from the reference accessions. The comparison of specific and homologous traditional and commercial varieties indicated that genetic improvement programs have had a remarkable effect on some sensorial attributes. Most Villaconejos varieties exhibited noteworthy particularities that the consumer panel considered quality marks, such as the sweetness and acidity of ‘Mochuelo Tradicional’ or the juiciness of ‘Melón Azul’. The most preferred group was composed of seven varieties. The first three preferred varieties were Villaconejos landraces, as was the fifth variety in this group. In conclusion, these results indicate that Villaconejos landraces could provide Inodorus genetic resources with priceless sensorial attributes that are appreciated by consumers and are currently unavailable in the melon market. Therefore, these landraces constitute an irreplaceable resource for farmers, breeders and seed companies.