Efficiency improvement of in vitro chromosome doubling in melon haploid

• Published in: Plant cell, tissue and organ culture tissue and organ culture, 2025-02, Vol.160 (2), p.47, Article 47
• Main Authors: Yan, Lelong, Zhu, Songyu, Wu, Kaimin, Huang, Yao, Zhang, Yaomei, Yang, Jiaxi, Wang, Kang, Chuntao, Qian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chromosomes; Colchicine; Efficiency; Explants; Fertility; Fruits; Genotypes; Germination; In vitro methods and tests; Life Sciences; Original Article; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Pollen; Regeneration; Seed germination; Survival; Trifluralin; Vitrification
• ISSN: 0167-6857; 1573-5044
• DOI: 10.1007/s11240-025-02995-7

In vitro chromosome doubling using colchicine is a main method for melon haploid chromosome doubling, but its doubling efficiency remains low. In this study, we aimed to increase the efficiency of melon haploid doubling. In Experiment 1, we assessed the effects of genotype and explant age on survival and chromosome doubling rates, and founded that 21-day-old haploid explants could achieve a relatively high sample doubling rate (19.04 ± 7.10%). Nonetheless, these explants also displayed low survival rate (38.76 ± 9.72%), a high incidence of vitrification (37.36 ± 9.93%), and an extended regeneration period of more than 30 days. In Experiment 2, four representative genotypes were selected to screen suitable combinations of antimicrotubular agents and hormone-treatments to enhance the survival rate and sample doubling rate, and solve the other problems above. The results indicated that treatment with trifluralin for 24 h, followed by culturing on solid MS medium containing 6-BA for 15 days, yielded the highest survival rate (72.27 ± 9.44%) and sample doubling rate (42.12 ± 9.72%), but the lowest vitrification rate (2.35 ± 4.25%) and a shortened regeneration period of 15 days. Interestingly, in Experiment 2, doubled haploid obtained from treatment with trifluralin performed better in pollen viability rate, pollen deformity rate, and seed germination rate compared to those treated with colchicine. In summary, we significantly increased the haploid chromosome doubling rate, reduced the regeneration time, and obtained doubled haploids with relatively high fertility. Key message This study improved the melon haploid doubling efficiency and shortened explant regeneration period of the in vitro chromosome doubling, and finally obtained doubled haploid with relatively high fertility.