Production of haploid lines from parthenogenetic Iranian melon plants obtained of irradiated pollen (Cucumis melo L.)

Abstract:Haploid and doubled haploid plants are valuable materials for genetic and cytogenetic studies as well as for plant breeding purposes such as resistance to many fungal and viral diseases that affect this crop. This technology can aid plant breeding programs by accelerating production of homozygous lines, provided enough viable too. In this research, we attempted to using ?-irradiated pollen technique to induced haploid embryo and producing haploid melon plants. In this study six field cultivars, one hybrid and one alien cultivar used as genotype materials. Male flowers collected for 14 times and exposed to gamma radiation at 250, 350, 450 and 550 Gray. Then the following day pollination were performed with those irradiated pollen, these pollen caused fruit set naturally with empty seeds. . Because of the whole seeds in fruits that obtained from dose of 550 Gray was hollow therefore it was the best dose for pollen sterility in melon. Only a few numbers of seeds arisen by irradiated pollen include haploid embryos. From 203 rescued embryos, 48 parthenogenetic plants were obtained. The number of embryos varied according to genotype of donor (0.73 to 1.5). Ploidy level determined with chromosome counting and pollen counting and proved haploidy of partenogenetic plants.