Yield improvement through female homosexual hybrids and sex genetics of sweet gourd (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.)

Abstract

The present research aimed to evaluate the effect of silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) on sex modification in sweet gourd (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng.), and to explore the possibility of sexual crossing between two genetically female plants. Spray applications of AgNO 3 on 30 days' old female plants induced hermaphrodite flowers. Male plants were insensitive to the AgNO 3 sprays. Application of 500 mg/l AgNO 3 on female plants produced the maximum proportion of induced hermaphrodite flowers. Hermaphrodite flowers appeared 17-21 days after AgNO 3 spray and continued up to 8-17 days, depending upon the concentration of AgNO 3 . Pollen grain viability of induced hermaphrodite flowers (93.5%) was similar to pollen grain viability of normal male (95.0%) flowers. Because of higher fruit weight, progenies from female homosexual cross recorded higher yield. The hybrids from such crosses produced only female plants while the hybrids between female and normal male segregated into male and female in an equal proportion, indicating that sex in sweet gourd is controlled by a single factor, male being heterozygous and female being homozygous recessive. Through this technique, elite characters of female genotypes could be combined into a single plant.

Hermaphrodite Flower Induction by Silver Nitrate (AgNO₃) Application and Possibility of Crossbreeding in Pointed Gourd (<i>Trichosanthes dioica</i> Roxb.)

“…In that case, crossing among female genotypes (homosexual crossing) produced better fruit size and weight than selfing and heterosexual crosses. A similar observation has also been made for sweet gourd (Sanwal et al, 2011) while disputes for kakrol (Hossain et al, 1996).…”

“…Thus, treatments with inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis and controlling ethylene action, such as aminoethoxyvinylglycine or silver nitrate or silver thiosulphate have been reported as to increase the number of male flowers per plant and converted sex expression from female flowers into hermaphrodites (Beyer, 1976;Byers et al, 1972;Den Nijs and Visser, 1980;Payan et al, 2006;Rudich, 1990). Ali et al (1991) and Sanwal et al (2011) worked on Momordica dioica and Momordica cochinchinensis as dioecious species and reported that crossing between two female genotypes is possible through the induction of hermaphrodite flowers in one or both of the female plants by application of silver nitrate. Hoque et al (2002) first reported that the success of the conversion of female flowers to hermaphrodite flower by application of 800 or 1000 mg•L −1 AgNO 3 treatment in pointed gourd.…”

Momordica cochinchinensis Seed Extracts Suppress Migration and Invasion of Human Breast Cancer ZR-75-30 Cells Via Down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9

“…Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng., a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, has been highly valued for its nutritional and medicinal qualities and wide range of adaptability. It has been used as an indigenous food and traditional medicine throughout East and Southeast Asia for a long time (Ishida et al, 2004;Tsoi et al, 2006;Sanwal et al, 2011;Parks et al, 2012). As a medicinal plant, the seeds of the fruit, used as traditional Chinese medicine (Mubiezi in Chinese, Figure 1 A), have anti-cancer actions (Wong et al, 2004;Kubola and Siriamornpun, 2011;Lin et al, 2012).…”

PROPAGATION AND PRODUCTION OF GAC (MOMORDICA COCHINCHINENSIS SPRENG.), A GREENHOUSE CASE STUDY

“…However, with male seed being about 40% of that which is available (Joseph and Bharathi, 2008), production from seed yields unwanted male plants. Some research is aimed at developing varieties with bisexual flowers (Sanwal et al ., 2011); however, these varieties are not yet available and would be beyond the reach of poorly resourced growers. Further, the production of plants from seed allows growers to select plants that suit local conditions and markets.…”