Melons with improved shelf life

Abstract

The present invention relates to an incRNA gene from Cucumis melo according to SEC ID NO: 1, or according to a sequence having at least 50 sequence identity with SEC ID NO: 1, having a modification, wherein the modification comprises an insertion, deletion, or substitution of at least one nucleotide. The incRNA gene modified in this way has a changed function, a reduced function, or is non-functional. The modification is suitably in the second exon and comprises, for example, a G1571A mutation at position 1571 in SEC ID NO: 1. The invention further relates to a Cucumis melo plant comprising the modified incRNA gene, the modified gene leading to improved fruit shelf life compared to an isogenic melon plant lacking the modification.Appropriately, the improved shelf life of the fruit is characterized by prolonged firmness of the fruit pulp, and / or by a delay of the ethylene peak during fruit ripening.