Anatomical Investigations on Momordica Charantia L. Plants, Newly Acclimated in Romania

Abstract

Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae family), medicinal and nutraceutical plant known from Asia, South Africa, South America, the Caribbean region, has been acclimatized in Romania since 1990 until now. This plant, cultivated in the open greenhouses belonging to S.C. HOFIGAL Import Export S.A. has been studied in several projects, among which “Project 160/2014-2017 – MAIA – Multifunctional and innovative products for safe and bioenhanced functional food from newly cultivated plants in Romania”, coordinated by ICECHIM/ INCDCP Bucharest. Starting from this project, a documentary study was carried out on the Momordica charantia plants acclimatized in different countries, and a morpho-anatomical research was initiated on the specimens grown in Romania, in the greenhouses belonging to S.C. HOFIGAL (Voucher BUC 408946-408950). The anatomical observations concerned the organization of the stem, petiole, and leaf lamina, using sets of cross-sectional and paradermal sections, treated with identification substances (IIK) and differential and successive stains (Iodine Green and Carmine Alum). Structural characteristics have been investigated under optical microscopy and documented through original photographic images and a set of dimensional data, data which are only partially found in the specialised literature. The results of our research are generally within the existent anatomical patterns. However, certain particular aspects have been noticed, regarding the epidermal cells, mechanical tissues, conducting tissues and mesophyll, completing the knowledge regarding the anatomy of acclimatized Momordica charantia plants.

STRUCTURAL EFFECTS INDUCED BY CULTIVATION CONDITIONS IN Momordica charantia L. PLANTS

“…In most of the mature leaves of the Momordica charantia plants grown in the experimental version, a bistratification tendency in the palisade tissue and a reduction in the share of spongy tissue have been observed. The existence of a structural plasticity of the mesophile of the Momordica charantia plants, in relation to environmental and crop conditions, was also reported in the case of research on specimens acclimatized in Romania (Sârbu et al, 2022), in Brazil (Sá et al, 2018), in Bangladesh (Shethi et al, 2018) or in Turkey (Eröz Poyraz & Derdovski, 2016). The plants acclimatized in Brazil, Bangladesh and Romania showed a unistratified palisade tissue, while in the specimens acclimatized in Turkey it was bistratified.…”

“…Cross sections and paradermal sections were performed manually in the median area of the stem internodes, in the median area of the petiole, the central foliar lobe of the leaves and of the tendrils. Section coloring was achieved with two differential dyes, applied successively (Iodine Green and Carmin Alum), and IIK was used to highlight the starch (Sârbu et al, 2022). The microscopic slides were analyzed in optical microscopy (DOCUVAL optical microscope) in both normal and polarized light.…”

“…Presentation of data. The results from the analysis of the vegetative organs of the Momordica charantia plants grown on ceramic substrate (experiment plants) were presented in comparison to the data of the Momordica charantia plants grown without the addition of ceramic granules (control plants) and published by Sârbu et al (2022). The values of the dimensional evaluations of the organs and component structures were compared and the increases were reported in percentages (Table 1).…”

“…Originally present in certain hot climates in Asia, South Africa, South America, and the Caribbean region, Momordica charantia, due to its valued nutraceutical properties, was, over time, acclimatized and cultivated in many countries of the world. Morpho-anatomical studies carried out on specimens of Momordica charantia, acclimatized in countries with different conditions, such as Nigeria (Aguoru & Okoli, 2012), Turkey (Eröz Poyraz & Derdovski, 2016), Brazil (Sá et al, 2018), Bangladesh (Shethi et al, 2018), Romania (Săvulescu & Hoza, 2010;Sârbu et al, 2022), highlighted the existence of a similar organization, but also structural variations, as possible expression of this plant's ability to adapt to different existing conditions (Sârbu et al, 2022). The growing food and medicinal importance of this taxon has led to the need to identify innovative strategies and technologies that stimulate seed germination and plant growth.…”

Influence of Foliar Treatment with Suspensions Rich in Trichoderma Chlamydospores on Momordica charantia Physiology, Yield, and Quality

“…The Trichoderma consortium treatments were applied on bitter gourd, M. charantia. Bitter gourd (M. charantia), acclimated in Romania in the past decade due its economic value [41], was chosen as a test plant due to its nutraceutical value, owing to a high accumulation of bioactive compounds in the leaves and fruits following secondary metabolism activation [42,43].…”