AN EFFICIENT IN VITRO MICROGRAFTING TECHNOLOGY OF WATERMELON

In this study, we first developed an in vitro micro-grafting technology of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum and Nakai] and in vitro culture factors were investigated to improve the survival rate. Shoot tips excised from in vitro-raised seedlings were micro-grafted onto rootstocks. We found that the survival rate was over 90% when scions (with length of 0.8 cm and 2 leaves) were grafted onto rootstocks (3 weeks old) using cleft grafting method, then the micrografted seedlings were cultivated on MS medium added with 5% sucrose for 20 days. We hope that this study would lay a foundation for the theoretical research of watermelon grafting and cultivar improvement.