Linkage of Virescent Foliage and Plant Growth Habit in Muskmelon1

Abstract

Abstract Data for the inheritance and linkage of virescent foliage and plant growth habit in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) were obtained from 4 F2 progenies of crosses between parents with a virescent-foliage vine habit and green-foliage short-internode “bush” habit. The F1 progeny were green foliage and vine in habit. Of 1,376 F2 plants observed, 1,044 were green-foliage and 332 virescent; 1,019 were normal vine plants, and 357 were short-internode bush plants. Virescent foliage and short internodes are each controlled by a single recessive allele, respectively designated yv and b. The foliage-color gene + yv is linked with the plant-growth habit gene + b. In the repulsion phase, the crossover value was 19.5 ± 1.7.