<![CDATA[Fruit ripening in melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a complex developmental process that is characterized by the coexistence of climacteric and non-climacteric varieties within the same species. This study characterized the ripening behavior of four local Indonesian melon cultivars (“Melona”, “GMP”, “Tacapa Gold”, and “Kinaya”) by integrating morphophysio-logical traits with transcriptional expression analysis of ethylene biosynthesis (CmACS, CmACO) and signaling (CmATH, CmEREBP) genes. The results revealed a strong agreement between the phenotypic traits and molecular regulation. “Melona” and “GMP” exhibited a strong climacteric profile, which was characterized by natural fruit abscission, sweet aroma production, and dramatic upregulation of CmACS. Conversely, “Tacapa Gold” aligned with a non-climacteric pro-file, exhibiting neither abscission nor aroma. Notably, “Kinaya” displayed a unique intermediate phenotype, combining a transient peak in CmACO expression and an enhanced softening rate with the absence of typical ethylene-dependent traits. Flesh softening and sugar accumulation progressed across all cultivars, thus confirming the presence of ethylene-independent pathways. Classifying these cultivars based on their specific position along the ripening continuum presents a robust framework for optimizing targeted harvest timing and tailored postharvest management strategies]]>
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