The effects of genotypes and irradiation doses on haploid embryo induction and plant production in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria(Malign) Stanley

Abstract

Cultivated Legenaria siceraria (Malign) Stanley is commonly known as the white-flowered gourd. It has been grown annually and it is a monocious, vigorous climber species. The mature fruit is often scooped out and the skin is used as containers, music instrument, decorative purposes or in some cases, fishing floats. Shoots, tendrils and leaves are also cooked and the seeds are removed for oil extraction or for use in cooking. Furthermore, L. siceraria is used as rootstocks conferring the watermelon grafted plant resistance to soil-borne diseases and adverse soil conditions. The objective of this study was to optimize bottle gourd haploid plants. Haploid plants are an invaluable source to rapidly produce new homozygous inbred lines. We analyzed the effect of various pollen irradiation doses (50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 Gray gamma rays of 60Co) on the induction of parthenogenetic haploid embryos after pollination with the irradiated pollen in four bottle gourd landraces (Adana, Birecik, Spain and Cyprus). Our results indicate that pollination with irradiated pollens at 50 and 75 Gy had a positive effect on haploid embryo induction. After pollination with irradiated pollens, embryos with different shape were rescued, cultured and converted to intact plants under tissue culture conditions. The genotypes had important effect on induction of haploid embryo by irradiated pollen technique. Seventy five plants from Adana genotype, 10 plants from Birecik genotype, 121 plants from Spain genotype, 141 plants from Cyprus genotype and totally 347 plants were produced from this research.