ANALYSIS OF MUSK MELON PLANTS (CUCUMIS-MELO L) OBTAINED AFTER POLLINATION WITH GAMMA-IRRADIATED POLLEN - EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DOSES

In musk melon, the effects of gamma-irradiation applied to pollen, on haploid embryos and plantlet production have been evaluated after autopollinization or hybridization. The use of nuclear genetic markers confirmed the parthenogenetic origin of these embryos. The disruption of the double fertilization process seemed to be better accepted by the genotype F1.G1 (3.4% of embryos) than by Vedrantais (2% of embryos). Whatever the irradiation dose between 0.15 and 2.5 kGy, the parthenogenetical response was always present For the Vedrantais genotype, embryo induction was higher during summer than in autumn. A maximum of 70% of those embryos placed on a specific culture medium developed into haploid plants. Plantlet ploidy was determined from leaves using flow cytometry. Routine use of this method allows an early screened of plantlets and efficient elimination of diploids obtained from accidental fertilization. No aneuploid was detected. All the plants obtained showed the normal expected phenotypes.