Melon hybrid SVMF5196 and parents thereof

Abstract

The invention provides seed and plants of melon hybrid SVMF5196 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of melon hybrid SVMF5196 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a melon plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another melon plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

Claims

1. A melon plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of melon line HARDV10-4019MO or melon line HARDV12-4098AN, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122536 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-122540, respectively.

2. A melon seed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of melon line HARDV10-4019MO or melon line HARDV12-4098AN, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122536 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-122540, respectively.

3. The plant of claim 1, which is an inbred.

4. The plant of claim 1, which is a hybrid.

5. The seed of claim 2, which is an inbred.

6. The seed of claim 2, which is a hybrid.

7. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is melon hybrid SVMF5196, a sample of seed of said hybrid SVMF5196 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122542.

8. The seed of claim 6, defined as a seed of melon hybrid SVMF5196, a sample of seed of said hybrid SVMF5196 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122542.

9. The seed of claim 2, defined as a seed of line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN.

10. A plant part of the plant of claim 1.

11. The plant part of claim 10, further defined as a leaf, an ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.

12. A melon plant having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the melon plant of claim 7.

13. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim 1.

14. The tissue culture according to claim 13, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.

15. A melon plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 13, wherein said plant comprises all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the melon plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of melon line HARDV10-4019MO or melon line HARDV12-4098AN, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122536 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-122540, respectively.

16. A method of vegetatively propagating the melon plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from the plant according to claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising growing at least a first melon plant from said rooted plantlets.

18. A method of introducing a desired trait into a melon line comprising: (a) utilizing as a recurrent parent a plant of either melon line HARDV10-4019MO or melon line HARDV12-4098AN, by crossing a plant of melon line HARDV10-4019MO or melon line HARDV12-4098AN with a second donor melon plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122536, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-122540, respectively; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of the same melon line used as the recurrent parent in step (a), to produce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired trait; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise the desired trait, and otherwise comprise essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent melon line used in step (a).

19. A melon plant produced by the method of claim 18.

20. A method of producing a melon plant comprising an added trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into a plant of melon hybrid SVMF5196, melon line HARDV10-4019MO or melon line HARDV12-4098AN, a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122542, ATCC Accession Number PTA-122536, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-122540, respectively.

21. A melon plant produced by the method of claim 20.

22. The plant of claim 1, further comprising a transgene.

23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.

24. The plant of claim 1, further comprising a single locus conversion.

25. The plant of claim 24, wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.

26. A method for producing a seed of a melon plant derived from at least one of melon hybrid SVMF5196, melon line HARDV10-4019MO or melon line HARDV12-4098AN comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a melon plant of hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN with itself or a second melon plant; a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122542, ATCC Accession Number PTA-122536, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-122540, respectively; and (b) allowing seed of a hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN-derived melon plant to form.

27. A method of producing a seed of a hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN-derived melon plant comprising the steps of: (a) producing a hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN-derived melon plant from a seed produced by crossing a melon plant of hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN with itself or a second melon plant, a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-122542, ATCC Accession Number PTA-122536, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-122540, respectively; and (b) crossing the hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN-derived melon plant with itself or a different melon plant to obtain a seed of a further hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN-derived melon plant.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising repeating said producing and crossing steps of (a) and (b) using a seed from said step (b) for producing a plant according to step (a) for at least one generation to produce a seed of an additional hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO or line HARDV12-4098AN-derived melon plant.

29. A plant part of the plant of claim 7.

30. The plant part of claim 29, further defined as a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or a cell.

31. A method of producing a melon seed comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second melon plant and allowing seed to form.

32. A method of producing a melon fruit comprising: (a) obtaining the plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting a melon from the plant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 Performance characteristics of hybrid SVMF5196 and comparative varieties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(2) The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants, seeds and derivatives of melon hybrid SVMF5196, melon line HARDV10-4019MO and melon line HARDV12-4098AN. The hybrid SVMF5196 was produced by the cross of parent lines HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN. The parent lines show uniformity and stability within the limits of environmental influence. By crossing the parent lines, uniform seed hybrid SVMF5196 can be obtained.

(3) Hybrid SVMF5196, also known as 14-DV-HAR-5196, is melon with full netting and orange flesh. The fruit of SVMF5196 is non-sutured, has creamy or tan colored skin, firm flesh, and can be picked at or before full slip. SVMF5196 has a deep orange flesh color, and a small seed cavity. SVMF5196 shows broad adaptation to many melon growing regions.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Melon Hybrid SVMF5196

(4) The parents of hybrid SVMF5196 are HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN. The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid produced therefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Melon Hybrid SVMF5196, Melon Line HARDV10-4019MO and Melon Line HARDV12-4098AN

(5) In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant having the physiological and morphological characteristics of melon hybrid SVMF5196 and the parent lines thereof. A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

(6) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid SVMF5196 Comparison Variety- CHARACTERISTIC SVMF5196 Olympic Gold 1. Type Other: Western Other: Western Shipper Shipper 3. Seedling length of hypocotyl (just before short very short development of the first true leaf) size of cotyledon medium large intensity of green color of medium medium cotyledon 4. Leaf (mature blade of third leaf) shape reniform reniform lobes not lobed not lobed color dark green dark green RHS Color Chart value 147A 137A length 177.0 mm 162.9 mm width 178.7 mm 162.1 mm surface pubescent pubescent 5. Leaf Blade (fully developed but not old leaves, preferably between the 5.sup.th and 8.sup.th node when the plant has at least 11 nodes) size large large intensity of green color dark dark development of lobes weak weak length of terminal lobe short short dentation of margin weak weak blistering medium medium 6. Petiole attitude erect erect length long long 7. Plant fertility - sex expression (at full Monoecious andromonoecious flowering) habit vine vine 8. Young fruit (green, unripe fruit before color change) hue of green color of skin greyish green green intensity of green color of skin light medium density of dots absent or very sparse very dense contrast of dot color/ground color weak weak conspicuousness of groove coloring absent or very weak absent or very weak length of peduncle long short thickness of peduncle 1 cm from medium medium fruit extension of darker area around medium medium peduncle change of skin color from young late in fruit late in fruit fruit to maturity development development 9. Fruit length long long length (at edible maturity) 19.0 cm 17.2 cm diameter medium medium diameter (at edible maturity) 15.9 cm 14.3 cm ratio length/diameter small small weight (at edible maturity) 2436.0 gm 1802.8 gm position of maximum diameter at middle at middle shape round oval shape in longitudinal section broad elliptic broad elliptic surface (at edible maturity) netted netted blossom scar (at edible maturity) conspicuous conspicuous rib presence (at edible maturity) absent absent suture depth (at edible maturity) medium medium suture surface (at edible maturity) netted netted shipping quality (at edible maturity) excellent excellent abscission (at edible maturity) when overripe when ripe maturity (number of days from 93 93 seeding to harvest) Rind Net net presence abundant abundant distribution covers entire fruit covers entire fruit coarseness medium coarse medium coarse interlacing complete complete interstices medium deep medium deep Rind texture: hard hard thickness at medial 3.1 mm 5.2 mm Rind Color Primary Color (at edible maturity) yellow/orange yellow/orange RHS Color Chart value 20C 23A Net Color (at edible maturity) cream cream RHS Color Chart value 19D 19D Furrow (Suture) Color (at edible yellow/orange yellow/orange maturity) RHS Color Chart value 20C 23A Primary Color (at full maturity) cream orange RHS Color Chart value 164D N167A Net Color (at full maturity cream cream RHS Color Chart value 165D 165D Fruit: ground color of skin yellow yellow intensity of ground color of skin light light hue of ground color of skin orange yellowish density of dots absent or very sparse absent or very sparse density of patches absent or very sparse absent or very sparse warts absent absent strength of attachment of peduncle medium very weak at maturity shape of base rounded rounded shape of apex rounded rounded size of pistil scar medium large grooves weakly expressed weakly expressed width of grooves medium medium depth of grooves medium medium color of grooves yellow yellow creasing of surface absent or very weak absent or very weak cork formation absent absent rate of change of skin color from fast fast maturity to over maturity width of flesh in longitudinal thick medium section (at position of maximum fruit diameter) main color of flesh orange orange intensity of orange color of flesh medium medium (only varieties with main color of flesh orange) firmness of flesh firm firm at over maturity: hue of color of orangish/yelow orangish/yellow skin (only varieties with change of skin color from maturity to over maturity) at over maturity: intensity of yellow medium dark color of skin (only varieties with change of skin color from maturity to over maturity and with yellow or orangish yellow color of skin) 10. Flesh Color Near Cavity (at edible orange orange maturity) RHS Color Chart value 24B 24B Color in Center (at edible maturity) orange orange RHS Color Chart value 24B 24B Color Near Rind (at edible orange orange maturity) RHS Color Chart value 24A 24B Flesh: refractometer % soluable 13.30% 12.80% solids (center of flesh) aroma (at edible maturity) faint strong flavor (at edible maturity) very spicy very spicy 12. Seed length of the seed cavity 126.0 mm 108.3 mm width of seed cavity 70.7 mm 61.3 mm shape in cross section circular triangular length (made on fully developed medium long and dry seeds, after washing and drying in the shade) width broad medium shape pine-nut shape pine-nut shape color cream yellow cream yellow intensity of color (only varieties light dark with cream yellow seed color) Time of male flowering early early Time of female flowering early medium Time of ripening medium medium Shelf life of fruit long long Seeds: measurements (number of 851.8 597.1 seeds per fruit) Seeds: measurements (grams per 26.0 gm 30.0 gm 1,000 seeds) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

(7) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line HARDV10-4019MO Comparison Variety- CHARACTERISTIC HARDV10-4019MO Caribbean Gold 1. Type other: Harper other: Western Shipper 3. Seedling length of hypocotyl (just before medium short development of the first true leaf) size of cotyledon medium medium intensity of green color of medium medium cotyledon 4. Leaf (mature blade of third leaf) shape reniform reniform lobes not lobed not lobed color dark green dark green RHS Color Chart value 147A 147A length 156.0 mm 138.1 mm width 159.4 mm 142.5 mm surface pubescent pubescent 5. Leaf Blade (fully developed but not old leaves, preferably between the 5.sup.th and 8.sup.th node when the plant has at least 11 nodes) size large medium intensity of green color dark dark development of lobes weak medium length of terminal lobe short medium dentation of margin weak weak blistering medium medium 6. Petiole attitude erect erect length long long 7. Plant fertility - sex expression (at full monoecious monoecious flowering) habit vine vine 8. Young fruit (green, unripe fruit before color change) hue of green color of skin greyish green greyish green intensity of green color of skin light light density of dots absent or very sparse absent or very sparse size of dots small contrast of dot color/ground color weak conspicuousness of groove coloring absent or very weak absent or very weak length of peduncle long short thickness of peduncle 1 cm from thin thin fruit extension of darker area around small small peduncle change of skin color from young late in fruit late in fruit fruit to maturity development development 9. Fruit length long medium length (at edible maturity) 19.6 cm 15.1 cm diameter medium medium diameter (at edible maturity) 15.1 cm 12.8 cm ratio length/diameter small to medium small to medium weight (at edible maturity) 2262.5 gm 1320.1 gm position of maximum diameter at middle at middle shape oval round shape in longitudinal section obovate circular surface (at edible maturity) netted netted blossom scar (at edible maturity) conspicuous obscure rib presence (at edible maturity) absent absent shipping quality (at edible maturity) fair excellent abscission (at edible maturity) when overripe when overripe maturity (number of days from 93 102 seeding to harvest) Rind Net net presence abundant abundant distribution covers entire fruit covers entire fruit coarseness fine very coarse interlacing complete complete interstices shallow medium deep Rind texture: firm hard thickness at medial 1.9 mm 1.6 mm Rind Color Primary Color (at edible maturity) gray/orange gray/green RHS Color Chart value 165D 194B Net Color (at edible maturity) orange/white orange/white RHS Color Chart value 1659B 159C Primary Color (at full maturity) cream/yellow yellow/green RHS Color Chart value 148B Net Color (at full maturity cream white/green RHS Color Chart value 27C 157C Fruit: ground color of skin yellow yellow intensity of ground color of skin light light hue of ground color of skin orange yellowish density of dots absent or very sparse absent or very sparse density of patches absent or very sparse absent or very sparse warts absent absent strength of attachment of peduncle medium medium at maturity shape of base pointed rounded shape of apex rounded rounded size of pistil scar medium small grooves absent or very weakly absent or very weakly expressed expressed creasing of surface absent or very weak absent or very weak cork formation absent absent rate of change of skin color from fast absent or very slow maturity to over maturity width of flesh in longitudinal medium medium section (at position of maximum fruit diameter) main color of flesh orange orange intensity of orange color of flesh medium medium (only varieties with main color of flesh orange) firmness of flesh firm firm at over maturity: hue of color of creamish creamish skin (only varieties with change of skin color from maturity to over maturity) at over maturity: intensity of yellow medium medium color of skin (only varieties with change of skin color from maturity to over maturity and with yellow or orangish yellow color of skin) 10. Flesh Color Near Cavity (at edible orange orange maturity) RHS Color Chart value 24B 24C Color in Center (at edible maturity) orange orange RHS Color Chart value 24B 24C Color Near Rind (at edible orange orange maturity) RHS Color Chart value 24C 24C Flesh: refractometer % soluable 10.30% 12.80% solids (center of flesh) aroma (at edible maturity) strong faint flavor (at edible maturity) somewhat spicy somewhat spicy 12. Seed length of the seed cavity 129.7 mm 101.6 mm width of seed cavity 56.3 mm 56.7 mm shape in cross section triangular circular length (made on fully developed medium short and dry seeds, after washing and drying in the shade) width medium medium shape pine-nut shape pine-nut shape color cream yellow cream yellow intensity of color (only varieties light light with cream yellow seed color) Time of male flowering early early Time of female flowering medium medium Time of ripening early medium Shelf life of fruit long long Seeds: measurements (number of 523.3 621.3 seeds per fruit) Seeds: measurements (grams per 28.0 gm 21.0 gm 1,000 seeds) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

(8) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line HARDV12-4098AN Comparison Variety- CHARACTERISTIC HARDV12-4098AN Caribbean Gold 1. Type other: Harper other: Western Shipper 3. Seedling length of hypocotyl (just before short short development of the first true leaf) size of cotyledon medium medium intensity of green color of medium medium cotyledon 4. Leaf (mature blade of third leaf) shape reniform reniform lobes not lobed not lobed color dark green dark green RHS Color Chart value 147A 147A length 165.5 mm 138.1 mm width 173.7 mm 142.5 mm surface pubescent pubescent 5. Leaf Blade (fully developed but not old leaves, preferably between the 5.sup.th and 8.sup.th node when the plant has at least 11 nodes) size large medium intensity of green color dark dark development of lobes weak medium length of terminal lobe short medium dentation of margin weak weak blistering medium medium 6. Petiole attitude erect erect length long long 7. Plant fertility - sex expression (at full andromonoecious monoecious flowering) habit vine vine 8. Young fruit (green, unripe fruit before color change) hue of green color of skin green greyish green intensity of green color of skin light light density of dots absent or very sparse absent or very sparse contrast of dot color/ground color weak conspicuousness of groove coloring medium absent or very weak intensity of groove coloring medium length of peduncle short short thickness of peduncle 1 cm from medium thin fruit extension of darker area around absent or very small small peduncle change of skin color from young late in fruit late in fruit fruit to maturity development development 9. Fruit length short medium length (at edible maturity) 10.0 cm 15.1 cm diameter narrow narrow diameter (at edible maturity) 11.1 cm 12.8 cm ratio length/diameter very small to small small weight (at edible maturity) 699.2 gm 1320.1 gm position of maximum diameter at middle at middle shape oblate round shape in longitudinal section oblate circular surface (at edible maturity) netted netted blossom scar (at edible maturity) obscure obscure rib presence (at edible maturity) present absent number of ribs per fruit (at edible 9.5 maturity) rib width at medial (at edible 34.4 mm maturity) ribs surface (at edible maturity) netted suture depth (at edible maturity) shallow suture surface (at edible maturity) netted shipping quality (at edible maturity) excellent excellent abscission (at edible maturity) when ripe when overripe maturity (number of days from 91 102 seeding to harvest) Rind Net net presence abundant abundant distribution covers entire fruit covers entire fruit coarseness very coarse very coarse interlacing complete complete interstices medium deep medium deep Rind texture: hard hard thickness at medial 3.7 mm 1.6 mm Rind Color Primary Color (at edible maturity) yellow/gray gray/green RHS Color Chart value 160A 194B Net Color (at edible maturity) green/gray orange/white RHS Color Chart value 161C 159C Furrow (Suture) Color (at edible green/gray maturity) RHS Color Chart value 194B Primary Color (at full maturity) yellow/green yellow/green RHS Color Chart value 160B 148B Net Color (at full maturity yellow/green white/green RHS Color Chart value 165D 157C Furrow (Suture) Color (at full yellow/green maturity) RHS Color Chart value 160B Fruit: ground color of skin yellow yellow intensity of ground color of skin medium light hue of ground color of skin yellowish yellowish density of dots absent or very sparse absent or very sparse density of patches absent or very sparse absent or very sparse warts absent absent strength of attachment of peduncle very weak medium at maturity shape of base truncate rounded shape of apex truncate rounded size of pistil scar large small grooves weakly expressed absent or very weakly expressed width of grooves narrow depth of grooves very shallow color of grooves green creasing of surface absent or very weak absent or very weak cork formation absent absent rate of change of skin color from slow absent or very slow maturity to over maturity width of flesh in longitudinal medium medium section (at position of maximum fruit diameter) main color of flesh orange orange intensity of orange color of flesh dark medium (only varieties with main color of flesh orange) firmness of flesh firm firm at over maturity: hue of color of yellow creamish skin (only varieties with change of skin color from maturity to over maturity) at over maturity: intensity of yellow medium medium color of skin (only varieties with change of skin color from maturity to over maturity and with yellow or orangish yellow color of skin) 10. Flesh Color Near Cavity (at edible orange orange maturity) RHS Color Chart value 26A 24C Color in Center (at edible maturity) orange orange RHS Color Chart value 26A 24C Color Near Rind (at edible orange orange maturity) RHS Color Chart value 26A 24C Flesh: refractometer % soluable 16.00% 12.80% solids (center of flesh) aroma (at edible maturity) strong faint flavor (at edible maturity) very spicy somewhat spicy 12. Seed length of the seed cavity 68.4 mm 101.6 mm width of seed cavity 50.7 mm 56.7 mm shape in cross section circular circular length (made on fully developed medium short and dry seeds, after washing and drying in the shade) width medium medium shape pine-nut shape pine-nut shape color cream yellow cream yellow intensity of color (only varieties medium light with cream yellow seed color) Time of male flowering medium early Time of female flowering late medium Time of ripening early medium Shelf life of fruit long long Seeds: measurements (number of 381.9 621.3 seeds per fruit) Seeds: measurements (grams per 24.0 gm 21.0 gm 1,000 seeds) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Melon Plants

(9) One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seed of melon hybrid SVMF5196 involving crossing melon lines HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention, hybrid SVMF5196, line HARDV10-4019MO, or line HARDV12-4098AN may be crossed with itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used for propagation of hybrid SVMF5196 and/or the melon lines HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN, or can be used to produce plants that are derived from hybrid SVMF5196 and/or the melon lines HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN. Plants derived from hybrid SVMF5196 and/or the melon lines HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN may be used, in certain embodiments, for the development of new melon varieties.

(10) The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties is well known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varieties may be created by crossing hybrid SVMF5196 followed by multiple generations of breeding according to such well known methods. New varieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selecting such a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines, it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initial crosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to produce new varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or more generations of selfing and selection are involved.

(11) Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way of double-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breeding lines without the need for multiple generations of selfing and selection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in as little as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced from microspores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploid embryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments (e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be grown into haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In either case, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with the invention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plant of the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

(12) Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossing transfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbred source to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locus or loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are then mated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection in the resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristic being transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almost all other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

(13) The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for the development of new lines based on the elite nature of the genetic background of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with SVMF5196 and/or melon lines HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN for the purpose of developing novel melon lines, it will typically be preferred to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable traits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seed germination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance or resistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and taste are other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines of melon plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

(14) As described above, hybrid SVMF5196 exhibits desirable agronomic traits. The performance characteristics of hybrid SVMF5196 were the subject of an objective analysis of the performance traits relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis are presented in FIG. 1.

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

(15) In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein are provided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait. Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant via the backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant as used herein refers to those melon plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristics of a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in the same environment, other than an occasional variant trait that might arise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

(16) Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parental melon plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. The parental melon plant to which the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

(17) In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a melon plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrent parent.

(18) The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the original variety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety is modified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological constitution of the original variety. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one of the major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrent and nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive and dominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

(19) In one embodiment, progeny melon plants of a backcross in which a plant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired trait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of melon the recurrent parent as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

(20) New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. The technique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrent parents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used to replace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain more desirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtain different desirable characteristics from each.

(21) With the development of molecular markers associated with particular traits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germ line, such as represented here, with the end result being substantially the same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits. Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (Plant Physiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides a mechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an elite line. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traits into an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomic fragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the elite line by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomic fragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In the embodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, for example, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. When this elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed with another parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possible to then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into the hybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as a disease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, each locus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may need to be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in the hybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined to confer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

(22) Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not be transgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to, herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, and altered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inherited through the nucleus.

(23) Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as a dominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initial cross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of the corresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates any plants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and only those plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross. This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

(24) Selection of melon plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent on the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on genetic investigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic marker which is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of these markers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait in the offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection of progeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred to as marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or other assay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of a trait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes. Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Such methods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traits and variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be more expensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of genetic markers which could be used in accordance with the invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

(25) Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well as directly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetic transformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be used to insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may, alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can be introduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plants that are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to many crop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation, microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and direct DNA uptake by protoplasts.

(26) To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ either friable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogenic callus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or other organized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partially degrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them to pectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues in a controlled manner.

(27) An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plant cells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles are coated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propelling force. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten, platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspension are concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively, immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culture medium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriate distance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

(28) An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plant cells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, which can be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through a screen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surface covered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so that they are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates. Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may be used to transform virtually any plant species.

(29) Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system for introducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique is that DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassing the need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. Modern Agrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E. coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations (Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

(30) In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is efficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and defined nature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediated plant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is well known in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

(31) Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methods based on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment, electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g., Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature, 312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986; Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants and expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al. (Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl. Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

(32) A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for any gene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers, scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance, nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest. Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expression include, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression in most plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985), including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591, 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter (P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNA virus promoters known to express in plant cells.

(33) A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response to environmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can also be used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells, including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter, Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It may also be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal et al., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988; Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

(34) Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of this invention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from another species, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are present in the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells by genetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction or breeding techniques. However, the term exogenous is also intended to refer to genes that are not normally present in the cell being transformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc., as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which are normally present and that one desires to express in a manner that differs from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express. Thus, the term exogenous gene or DNA is intended to refer to any gene or DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless of whether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The type of DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is already present in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a different organism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequence containing an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding a synthetic or modified version of a gene.

(35) Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and could potentially be introduced into a melon plant according to the invention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and corresponding phenotypes one may choose to introduce into a melon plant include one or more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control, herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, and genes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements, environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plant physiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). For example, structural genes would include any gene that confers insect tolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control protein gene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, the structural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate as conferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strain CP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, or glyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

(36) Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes by encoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targeted inhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example via antisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Bird et al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol. Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

(37) In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

(38) Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all of which alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

(39) Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F.sub.1), back to one of the parents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce one or more single locus conversions from one genetic background into another.

(40) Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

(41) Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes from different plants.

(42) Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

(43) Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation of the organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemical agent conferring male sterility.

(44) Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

(45) F.sub.1 Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenic plants.

(46) Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

(47) Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets of chromosomes in a diploid.

(48) Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend to segregate together more often than expected by chance if their transmission was independent.

(49) Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited in codominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygote are readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e., heritability of 1.

(50) Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, which characteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

(51) Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.

(52) Resistance: As used herein, the terms resistance and tolerance are used interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to a specified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmental condition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing some symptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with an acceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant or tolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop, even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

(53) Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

(54) Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same plant.

(55) Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a melon variety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the single locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/or by genetic transformation.

(56) Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does not show a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from the mean.

(57) Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant.

(58) Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has been introduced into the genome of a melon plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

(59) A deposit of melon hybrid SVMF5196 and inbred parent lines HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of the deposit was Sep. 30, 2015. The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of melon hybrid SVMF5196 and inbred parent lines HARDV10-4019MO and HARDV12-4098AN are ATCC Accession Number PTA-122542, ATCC Accession Number PTA-122536, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-122540, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits are intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. 1.801-1.809. The deposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary during that period.

(60) Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

(61) All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.