This study assessed the utility of netted melon ‘Top Earl’s’ and cantaloupe melon ‘Alex’ as functional fruits by analysing their moisture content, vitreous sugar, folic acid, citric acid, and beta-carotene levels. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyse the free sugar, folic acid, citric acid, and beta-carotene levels. The moisture content was not significantly different between ‘Top Earl’s’ and ‘Alex.’ The glucose, sucrose, and fructose contents were three, two, and one-and-a-half fold higher in ‘Alex’ than in ‘Top Earl’s.’ Moreover, citric acid was approximately three times higher in ‘Alex’ than that in Top Earl’s.’ However, the folic acid content was higher in ‘Top ‘Earl’s’ than ‘Alex,’ and the amount was 124 μg / 100 g FW and 112 μg / 100 g FW respectively. ‘Beta-carotene was undetectable in ‘Top Earl’s,’ whereas it was 1000 μg / 100 g FW in ‘Alex.’ β-carotene, a substance that is converted in the body into vitamin A and acts as an antioxidant, is an important component in healthy food. These results suggested that the cantaloupe melon ‘Alex’ has a higher free sugar content and functional ingredients, such as antioxidants, including citric acid and beta carotene, than the netted melon ‘Top Earl’s.’

The purpose of the study is to assess morphological and chromosomal comparison of Mini type Phalanopsis ‘KS Little Gem’ and four domestic market available cultivars (‘Queen Beer’, ‘Tony Pink’, ‘Vaviche’ and ‘Rorens’). ‘KS Little Gem’ had the highest number of leaves (14.9), while the other four types had fewer than ten. The longest leaf length was 21.5㎝ for ‘Tony Pink’, followed by 16.2㎝, 18.0㎝ and 17.5㎝ for ‘Queen Beer’, ‘Rorens’ and ‘Vaviche’ respectively. The length and width of the petals of ‘KS Little Gem’ were 29.5㎜ and 25.6㎜ respectively indicating a round shape flower compared to other cultivars. When the flower lifespan of ‘KS Little Gem’ was compared to four cultivars of the domestic market, it was found that it had a 123-day shelf life, which was twice longer than that of the four cultivars. According to chromosome analysis ‘KS Little Gem’, ‘Rorens’, ‘Tony Pink,' and ‘Vaviche’ were tetraploid (2n = 4x = 76) while ‘Queen Beer’ was diploid (2n = 2x = 38). The estimated DNA content of ‘KS Little Gem’, ‘Rorens’, ‘Tony Pink’ and ‘Vaviche’ had 4918.4, 4794.2, 4705.2 and 4964.3 Mbp respectively, which were roughly double than that of P. cornu-cervi (control, 2n = 2x = 38). However, ‘Queen Beer’, had an estimated DNA content of 2802.2Mbp, similar to that of P. cornu-cervi. The morphological features, genome size and chromosomal data reported in these studies can be used by breeders to create more efficient Phalaenopsis breeding programs.