Production of cucumber fruits from the culture of ?Marketmore-76? plantlets

Abstract

A procedure to produce fruits from cultured shoot tips of Cucumis sativus L. cultivar 'Marketmore-76' in vitro is described. Four-week-old shoot tips, derived from sterile germinated seedlings on a MS medium, were cultured in a 3.8-1 Mason jar using an automated plant culture system. Tips readily generated roots, leaves and flowers after another 4 to 8 weeks in culture. Administration of compressed air at a 300 ml/min flow rate for 30 min 10 or 15 times a day induced the development of parthenocarpic fruits from flowers. Fruits, up to 170 mm long by 35 mm diameter, were obtained within 30 to 45 d after flower opening.

Parameters Necessary for In Vitro Hydroponic Pea Plantlet Flowering and Fruiting

“…In this study, considerably larger vessels and medium volumes were employed and they enhanced flowering and culture growth. In prior studies, Tisserat & Galletta (1993;1995) found that an APCS employing large culture chambers (e.g.  ½-gallon Mason jars) allowed for flowering and fruiting from cucumbers and pepper plantlets.…”

“…In prior studies, the production of fruits from flowers in vitro was achieved with a great degree of cultural manipulation (AlJuboory et al, 1991;Dickens & Van Staden 1985;1988;Ishioka et al, 1991;Pasqua et al, 1991;Rastogi & Sawhney 1986;Tisserat & Galletta 1993;1995). This study will investigate a number of the parameters which have been identified as considered important factors to promote flowering and fruiting reports.…”

“…A sterile hydroponics culture system, termed the automated plant culture system (APCS) has been employed to obtain reproductive activity (i.e. flowering and fruiting) from cucumber and pepper plantlets (Tisserat & Galletta 1993;1995). The APCS mimics the hydroponic system by employing a large plant growth culture vessel and immersing and draining the plant periodically with nutrient medium kept in a larger medium reservoir (e.g.…”

“…The very fact that plantlets grown in the APCS can obtain larger sizes than plantlets grown in smaller culture vessels may in it self be the prerequisite to obtain subsequent reproductive activities in vitro compared to plantlets grown in the tissue culture vessel (Tisserat & Galletta, 1993;1995). Further, intermittent forced ventilation of the culture vessel www.intechopen.com with sterile air greatly aided in the formation of flowers and fruits from cucumbers in the APCS (Tisserat & Galletta, 1993).…”

“…Further, intermittent forced ventilation of the culture vessel www.intechopen.com with sterile air greatly aided in the formation of flowers and fruits from cucumbers in the APCS (Tisserat & Galletta, 1993).…”