Long-term ploidy stability of shoot primordium cultures and produced plants of melon

The chromosome number of cells in the shoot primordium aggregates and produced plants of melon [Cucumis melo L. 'Prince' (2n=2x=24)] was examined. Shoot primordium aggregates were induced from shoot-tips cultured in liquid medium and shaken at low speed (2 rpm). They were maintained by subculturing small pieces (5mm<) every 4 weeks. Shoot primordium aggregates just after induction contained about 97% diploid and 3% tetraploid cells, which was similar to those maintained in shoot primordium cultures for 6 years. This indicates that the ploidy level was maintained stably. On the other hand, plants produced from the shoot primordium aggregates just after induction were either diploid, tetraploid or mixoploid with both diploid and tetraploid cells. These ploidies were again observed among plants produced from shoot primordium cultures that were 2, 3 or 4 years old. A majority of produced plants were diploid while the total frequency of tetraploids and mixoploids was less than 8% of plants produced from all ages. There-fore, the frequency of somaclonal variation with respect to ploidy among plants produced from shoot primordium aggregates is likely to be stable at a low level over the long term.