In vitro morphogenesis of Cucumis melo var. inodorus

In vitro morphogenesis of C. melo L. var. inodorus was studied by the induc tion of adventitious buds and somatic embryos. Organogenesis was obtained f rom cotyledon segments and leaf discs in culture medium supplemented with b enzylaminopurine (1 mg l(-1)) and somatic embryogenesis was induced in medi um containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (5 mg l(-1)) + thidiazuron (1 mg l(-1)). Through histological analysis it was possible to verify that in cotyledonary explants, protuberances that do not develop into well-formed s hoot buds and leaf primordia are more frequently formed than complete shoot buds, resulting in a low frequency of plant recovery in the organogenic pr ocess. A high percentage of explants responded with the formation of somati c embryos; the microscopical analysis showed that the somatic embryos lacki ng well developed apical meristems had a low conversion rate into plants. P lant recovery was not obtained from leaf-disc explants, with high rates of contamination and formation of protuberances which did not develop into sho ot buds. Histological sections showed the development of epidermis and leaf hairs, indicating those structures could be leaf primordia; however, these were not associated with a shoot apical meristem.