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Crop Improvement

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Momordica genus in Asia - An Overview

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Abstract

Among the Asiatic Momordica, the majority are dioecious (M. dioica, M. subangulata, M. sahyadrica, M. cochinchinensis, M. denticulata, M. denudata, M. rumphii and M. clarkeana) and a few are monoecious, which are otherwise considered to be of African origin (M. balsamina, M. charantia and M. cymbalaria). Anthesis takes place early in the morning in all Momordica spp. except M. dioica in which anthesis takes place during the evening hours. Polylectic bees and oil bees are the major pollinators of Momordica species. Exogenous application of plant growth regulators like MH, ethrel, etc., can alter the sex ratio and sequence while chemical treatment with silver nitrate can modify the sex. Exogenous application of 2, 4-D (100 ppm), α-NAA (100 ppm) and physical stimulus provided by false pollination also induced parthenocarpic fruit development in Momordica spp. The first genetic linkage map of bitter gourd was developed using a set of 146 F2 progenies derived from an inter-botanical variety cross and 7 Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) were identified for different traits like fruit number and yield, fruit length, fruit diameter and weight. The wild species of Momordica offer great resources for improvement of cultivated bitter gourd for desirable edible/quality traits, biotic and abiotic stress. An efficient protocol for Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation of bitter gourd using leaf disc as explants was reported and this optimised transformation system could be used for the genetic improvement of bitter gourd. Microsatellite markers were isolated and characterised from the genome of M. charantia and these markers will have potential utility for applications in genetic diversity evaluation, molecular fingerprinting, identification, comparative genomics analysis and genetic mapping in Momordica. Yield and quality are the major focus of Momordica species improvement and methods like selection, heterosis, mutation and polyploidy breeding have been utilised to develop high yielding varieties. There are about 300 varieties of bitter gourd found around the world and some of the popular varieties have been described in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Horticulture, Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Aiginia, Bhubaneswar, 751019, Orissa, India

    L. K. Bharathi

  2. Economic Botany, Natl Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Regional Station, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, 680656, Kerala, India

    K. Joseph John

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  1. L. K. Bharathi
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  2. K. Joseph John
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Bharathi, L.K., John, K.J. (2013). Crop Improvement. In: Momordica genus in Asia - An Overview. Springer, India. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1032-0_8

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