Collection and Electrophoretic Characterization of Genetic Diversity in Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

Seed storage protein protiles of muskmelon genotypes were analysed on single seed basis by Sodium Dodecyl-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing condition. The seed protein of 32 germplasm lines could be resolved into 18 bands distributed in 3 zones A, Band C zone. In general there was very high similarity between genotypes of muskmelon, apart from some minor differences in the B region while the seed proteins of different cucurbit species show polymorphism. This shows that SDS-PAGE is not very effective for distinguishing muskmelon genotypes and it will be desirable to use DNA-based markers.