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Abstract This study was carried out at the gene transfer and synthetic seeds laboratory. Plant Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, (GEBRI), Menofiya university, Sadat City, through the period from 2007 to 2010.Egypt.Watermelon (Citrulus lanatus Thumb.) belonging to the family cucurbitaceae, is a popular fruit which native Central Africa, was first grown by ancient Egyptians and is believed to also have been cultured in Asia minor, Russia and the near and Middle East thousands of years ago. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, most part of South East Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the southern part of United States. Watermelon is an economically important crop and a valuable alternative source of water in desert areas. It is a good source of fiber, which help to reduce cholesterol, important for keeping our digestive tract operating properly, by preventing constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticular disease. It is a good source of vitamin C and important mineral. The nutritive value of seeds is due to their high oil and protein content. Regeneration of plants from adventitious shoots is necessary for application of gene transfer technology and for screening plants for somaclonal variation. The latter purpose would be particularly interesting in which conventional breeding programmes have had relatively little impact upon commercial production. In conventional method, watermelon is propagated by seed. But in this plant, there are some problems in their propagation. Low productivity, disease susceptibility and higher cost of production are major constraints faced by watermelon. In the recent years micropropagation techniques are being profitably used to overcome such constraints in various crops as well as ornamental and horticultural plants. Due to present demand (economic) and recover the propagation problem. |