Effects of Maleic Hydrazide Treatment on the Size and Number of Cells and Sugar Accumulation in the Fruit of Melons (Cucumis melo L.)

Abstract

The relationships between the size and the number of cells and sugar accumulation in melon fruit have been examined. Maleic hydrazide (MH) was used to investigate the relationships. Although cell size was markedly larger in MH-treated fruit than in untreated fruit in the early stages of fruit development, the number of cells in MH-treated fruit was less than in untreated fruit in latter fruit development. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose content were higher in MH-treated fruit than in untreated fruit. It is therefore suggested that sucrose accumulation in fruit subjected to MH treatment is accelerated as a result of early cell enlargement and that sucrose content increases further as a result of the decrease in the number of cells in the fruit during late development.