TENDRILS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TISSUE SOURCE FOR CHROMOSOME VISUALIZATION

Tendrils were used as an alternate tissue source to determine the ploi dy level of transgenic melon (Cucumis melo L.) plants. Young tendril t ips were prepared for chromosome visualization using standard root tip preparation techniques. Well-spread chromosome preparations were obta ined. Tendrils were found to be as amenable to chromosome visualizatio n as root tips. The transformed melon plants, representing three trans genic melon lines, were tetraploid. The tendril technique also was app lied successfully to several other tendril-producing species: cucumber (C. sativus L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and grape (Vitis vinifera L. ). This technique can be very useful for chromosome visualization in t endril-producing species, and can be especially valuable when root tip s or anthers cannot be obtained easily.