351 Pesquisa / Research Hortic. bras., v. 31, n. 3, jul. - set. 2013 M elon (Cucumis melo) is a very popular species all over the world. During the year 2008, Brazil produced 340,000 tons of this fruit (FAO, 2011) in an area of 16,000 hectares (Embrapa, 2011). Beyond the economic importance, melon production also has great social character, considering the generation of employment (Embrapa, 2011) of around 142,000. Considering its nutritional value, melon is also very important due to its high content of pro-vitamins A (β-carotene), vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid and several nutrients (Gal et al., 2008). Melon cultivation in Brazil is increasing steadily in recent years due to the growing acquisitive power of the Brazilian people and also because the export of melons from Brazil to countries in the northern hemisphere is favored due to the harvest season in Brazil takes place during the between- harvests period of those countries. Among the noble classifed melons, the net melon is one of the most outstanding because of its external appearance and its exquisite flavor. Paduan et al. (2007), in an analysis of several melon genotypes, found out the net melon to be superior to the others in terms of soluble solids and titratable acidity. Despite the good perspectives, melon production chain is vulnerable VARGAS PF; GALATTI FS; SOUZA JO; CASTOLDI R; CHARLO HCO; BRAZ LT. 2013. Physicochemical characteristics of experimental net melon hybrids developed in Brazil. Horticultura Brasileira 31: 351-355. Physicochemical characteristics of experimental net melon hybrids developed in Brazil Pablo F Vargas 1 ; Francine de S Galatti 2 ; Jean de O Souza 2 ; Renata Castoldi 2 ; Hamilton Cesar de O Charlo 3 ; Leila T Braz 2 1 UNESP, Campus Registro, R. Nelson Brihi-Badur 430, Vila Tupy, 11900-000 Registro-SP; pablo@registro.unesp.br; 2 UNESP-FCAV, Rod. Prof. Paulo D. Castellane s/n, 14884-900 Jaboticabal-SP; 3 Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Triangulo Mineiro, R. João Batista Ribeiro 4000, Distrito Industrial II, 38064-790 Uberaba-MG ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of parents and experimental hybrids of net melon improvement program developed in the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), in Jaboticabal, São Paulo state, Brazil. Six net melon lineages (Jab-3, Jab-7, Jab-11, Jab-18, Jab-9, and Jab-20), belonging to the breeding program of melon from the UNESP were used and all their hybrid combinations as well as their reciprocal crosses. We used the randomized blocks design, with three replications and 38 treatments. From these 38 treatments [six lines, 15 hybrids, 15 reciprocal crosses and two commercial cultivars (Bônus nº2 and Louis)] we evaluated following physicochemical characteristics: fruit mass, pulp thickness, fruit coat thickness, netting degree of the coat, seed looseness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, maturation index, pulp frmness, and Vitamin C. The minimum mass of 0.8 kg per fruit of net melon and the minimum of 10°Brix soluble solids allowed to identify the genotypes: Jab-9 x Jab-3, Jab-18 x Jab-20, Jab-18 x Jab-11, Jab-7 x Jab-20, Jab-7 x Jab-11, Jab-20 x Jab-7, and, Jab-3 x Jab-20, as promising. These genotypes are therefore suitable for participating in assessment tests in the main net melon producing areas of Brazil and on different planting dates. Keywords: Cucumis melo, plant breeding, fruit quality. RESUMO Características físico-químicas de frutos de híbridos experimentais de melão rendilhado Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar as características físico- -químicas de parentais e híbridos experimentais de melão rendilhado, desenvolvidos na Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), em Jaboticabal. Foram utilizadas seis linhagens (Jab-3; Jab-7; Jab-11; Jab-18; Jab-9 e Jab-20) pertencentes ao programa de melhoramento genético do meloeiro rendilhado da UNESP em Jaboticabal e, todas as combinações híbridas possíveis entre essas, inclusive os recíprocos. Foi utilizado o delineamento em blocos casualizados com três repeti- ções. Dos 38 tratamentos, fzeram parte seis linhagens, 15 híbridos, 15 híbridos recíprocos e duas cultivares comerciais (Bônus nº2 e Louis). Foram avaliadas massa do fruto, espessura da polpa, espes- sura da casca, rendilhamento da casca, desprendimento de semente, sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, pH, índice de maturação, frmeza da polpa, e, Vitamina C. A massa mínima de 0,8 kg por fruto de melão rendilhado e, sólidos solúveis de no mínimo 10°Brix subsidiaram a identifcação dos genótipos Jab-9 x Jab-3, Jab-18 x Jab-20, Jab-18 x Jab-11, Jab-7 x Jab-20, Jab-7 x Jab-11, Jab-20 x Jab-7, e Jab-3 x Jab-20 como promissores, devendo os mesmos serem avaliados nas principais regiões produtoras de melão rendilhado e em diferentes épocas de cultivo. Palavras-chave: Cucumis melo, melhoramento de plantas, qualidade de fruto. (Recebido para publicação em 28 de maio de 2012; aceito em 5 de junho de 2013) (Received on May 28, 2012; accepted on June 5, 2013)