Abstract
Fruits of six muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars were collected at four stages of development and ripening: young, premature, mature and ripened from Dabuleni, Dolj County, Romania and analyzed in terms of physical properties and chemical
compounds. Several analyses were performed as dry matter, soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C content, content of
pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, ß-carotene and lycopene), the content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity. The
accumulation of various compounds in muskmelon fruits varied during the stage of growth and maturation, following
different pattern for each compound. Significant differences were found concerning the content in β-carotene among the six
cultivars. Vitamin C was high in young fruits than in ripened fruits. There were differences among cultivars in vitamin C
content that varied between 106.82 mg/kg fw (Kemer cultivar) and 297.21 mg/kg fw (Raymond cultivar). Total polyphenols
content varied between 184.33 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) kg-1fw (Hybrid F1 cultivar) and 117.66 mg of gallic acid
equivalents (GAE) kg-1fw (Kemer cultivar). Significant diferences were found among cultivars concerning all determined
compounds and physical properties.
