Tetraploid muskmelon alters morphological characteristics and improves fruit quality

Tetraploid muskmelon plants were induced successfully from diploid Cucumis melo inbred M01-3 (2n = 24) by colchicine. The morphological characteristics and fruit qualities of diploid and tetraploid muskmelons were investigated. The results showed that the leaves and flowers of the tetraploid plants were markedly larger, the plants were obviously higher, and the stems were thicker than those of the diploid plants. Transmission electron microscope observation revealed that the numbers of chloroplast, granule and grana, and the length of chloroplast and granule of the tetraploid plant leaves were significantly more or longer than those of the diploid plants. The soluble solid, soluble sugar and vitamin C contents in the tetraploid fruit were distinctly higher than those in the diploid fruit. The weight of the tetraploid fruit was 30% heavier than that of the diploid fruit. And the seeds from the tetraploid plants were broader and thicker than those from the diploid plants. Together, our results suggest that the tetraploid muskmelon exhibited better agronomical characteristics than the diploid muskmelon and the tetraploid muskmelon could be used as the improved variety and a potential germplasm for the development of triploid fruit.