Melon fruit sugar and amino acid contents are affected by fruit setting method under protected cultivation

- Artificial and honey bee pollination improved melon fruit sugar and amino acid contents compared with CPPU treatment.
- Higher sucrose phosphate synthase activity is responsible for the improved sucrose content in the artificial and honey bee pollination treatments.
- Honey bee pollination increased fruit taste compared with artificial pollination.
- Honey bee provides a better pollination service for the fruit quality of melons.

This study investigated the effect of different fruit setting methods on fruit quality of melon (Cucumis melo L.) under protected cultivation. The results showed that artificial and honey bee pollination decreased single fruit weight compared with 1-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU) treatment, whereas the lowest value was observed in artificial pollination. Artificial and honey bee pollination apparently increased sucrose content, and the increased activity of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) was the key reason. In addition, total content of amino acids (17 kinds) were increased by 31% and 28% in artificial and honey bee-pollinated fruits compared with CPPU treatment, respectively. Honey bee pollination also improved single fruit weight and taste compared with artificial pollination. Therefore, we can conclude that artificial and honey bee pollination can improve the quality of melon fruits. In addition, honey bee can provide a better pollination service compared with artificial pollination for melons grown under protected cultivation systems.