Induction of somatic embryogenesis and caulogenesis from cotyledon and leaf protoplast-derived colonies of melon (Cucumis melo L.).

A procedure leading to the regeneration of whole plants from protoplasts of melon is described. Protoplasts were isolated from cotyledons and leaves of plants grown in vitro. After 14 days of culture, average viability and division rates were respectively 60% and 30% for the two organs, considering total initial protoplasts plated. The manipulation of the exogenous auxin / cytokinin balance in regeneration media enabled to direct morphogenesis towards somatic embryogenesis (1 mg·l(-1) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.1 mg·l(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine) or caulogenesis (0.5 mg·l(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.5 mg·l(-1) kinetin). Contrary to division ability, regeneration capacity was genotype-dependent under our conditions, but the two organs expressed similar division and regeneration capacities. Maltose was superior to sucrose for the development of caulogenic nodules into buds. Some plants were transplanted to soil, where they appeared to be fertile and produced seeds.