High Competence for Adventitious Regeneration in the BU-21/3 Melon Genotype Is Controlled by a Single Dominant Locus

BU-21/3 is an inbred melon (Cucumis melo L.) genotype that exhibits superior in vitro capabilities for adventitious organogenesis. In order to characterize the inheritance of the regeneration competence in BU-21/3, this line was crossed with PMR45 or 'Ananas-Yokneam' - two reticulatus cultivars virtually incompetent for organogenesis. F1, F2, and backcross generations were produced and evaluated for adventitious regeneration competence. Our results indicate that the regeneration trait in BU-21/3 is controlled by a single dominant locus, without cytoplasmic interactions. This locus may become a valuable tool for imperative improvements in future protocols for transgenic breeding of commercial melon genotypes.