High frequency shoot regeneration from leaf explants of muskmelon

Efficient in vitro plant regeneration systems are critical for many purposes including plant transformation. Current regeneration systems for melon (Cucumis melo L.) plants generally utilize cotyledon explants; regeneration from melon leaves has received limited attention. We investigated several factors that influence regeneration from melon leaves including: genotype growth conditions and age of the source plant, leaf age, explant orientation, gelling agent, and the addition of silver nitrate and sulfonylurea herbicide to the culture media. Critical factors that influenced regeneration were preculture conditions of the donor plants, leaf size, and the use of silver nitrate and Phytagel in the medium. The best results were obtained with 3–4 cm diam leaves excised from pot grown greenhouse or growth chamber plants cultured on MS medium with 5 M IAA, 5 M BA, 1 M ABA, 30 M silver nitrate and 2.6 g l^-1 Phytagel. Low concentratons of sulfonylurea herbicide (0.25 mg l^-1 DPX-M 6316) also enhanced regeneration. Under optimized conditions 80–100% of the explants regenerated, with 10–100 shoots per explantAbbreviations ABA abscisic acid - BA benzyladenine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog medium - NAA naphthalene acetic acid