Indigenous melons (Cucumis melo L.) in Sudan: a review of their genetic resources and prospects for use as sources of disease and insect resistance

Many different types of melon (Cucumis melo L.) are known in Sudan including both cultivated and wild forms. Cultivated melons include sweet melon (C. melo cantalupensis), known locally as Shammam, snake melon (C. melo flexuosus), known locally as Ajjour and a local vegetable melon named Tibish. Wild melons (C. melo agrestis) are known as Humaid. Traditional cultivars of both sweet and snake melon are old introductions, while plants of Tibish and wild agrestis melons in Sudan are of truly indigenous origin. Genetic resources of such melons proved to be variable with regard to morphoagronomic traits and disease and pest resistance. Evaluation of melon genetic resources from Sudan revealed that different sources of resistance against fungal and viral diseases and insect pests can be detected. Such resistance seems to be more frequent among indigenous types of melons compared with other groups. Multiple resistance for different pests and diseases was also identifiable within the same genotypes of indigenous melons