Studies on the induction of polyploidy in some cucurbits and its utilization. : II. On polyploid plants of Bitter Gourd.

Abstract

The Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia L.) is known as a kind of vegetables for fruits and, also, of decorative climbing plants for curiousiyshaped and -colored fruits and shading materials, . It is native in the tropical regions properly and then is grown widely in the home gardens of the temperate dis.tricts for long times. In 1954 the original autotetraploid plants (2n=44) were produced by colchicine treatment and then triploid plants (2le=33) were obtained easily by cross.ing between the tetraploid and the diploid (2le=22). The tetraploid plants have larger, shalply se rrated leaves, dicker s, tems and more enlarged flower organs, andseeds than the diploid. However, they are dlstmctly later flowerlng and the fruits are more shortened with very smaller number of seeds. And their fruits have almos, t the s.ame or sometimes smaller quantity of sugars in the deepred endocarp as those of diploids.. The triploid plants can hardly bear fruits although the s.tamens contain a few qu.antity of viable pollen.