Rapid in vitro clonal propagation of a hybrid muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivar from seedling explants

Abstract An investigation was undertaken to develop a reliable strategy for large scale multiplication of a hybrid cultivar of muskmelon through in vitro clonal propagation. Best in vitro seed germination was observed in MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l GA3. Two explants excised from axenic seedlings were tested for shoot proliferation and leaf node showed better shoot proliferation than shoot tip explants. Maximum shoots (8.22±0.23) per culture were produced from leaf node explants cultured on MS medium augmented with 1.0 mg/l BA. Rooting was found best on 0.1 mg/l NAA containing medium. Rooted plantlets were acclimatized gradually and transferred to the field condition and finally, 82 % plantlets were survived well.