Assessment of stability of expression of various male-sterile genes in muskmelon in sub-tropical field conditions

Five melon (Cucumis melo L.) progenies segregating for five male-sterile genes (ms-1, ms-2, ms-3, ms-4, and ms-5) along with two male-fertile cultivars were evaluated for phenotypic variation in expression of fertility in sub-tropical field conditions, for two years. Male-fertile plants of three progenies of ms-1, ms-2, and ms-3 were phenotypically unstable and produced more male-sterile flowers than plants of normal male-fertile cultivars. Progenies of ms-4 and ms-5 were stable for the expression of male-fertile plants.Cucurbitaceae 2008. IX EUCARPIA Meeting. Avignon (France), May 21-24th, 200