Moderate and severe water stress effects on morphological and biochemical traits in a set of pepino (Solanum muricatum) cultivars

•Water stress effects on growth and biochemical responses in seven pepino cultivars were evaluated.•A moderate water deficit stress did not affect most of the biochemical and growth parameters.•Photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde and flavonoids decreased under severe water stress.•Proline, Na+ and K+ contents generally increased under severe stress.•Two cultivars, Mur2 and Mur4, were identified as relatively more tolerant to severe water stress.