Effect of Different Cucurbit Rootstocks on some Morphological and Yield Indices of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Momordica charantia L., a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and commonly known as bitter gourd and bitter melon, thrives in humid and subtropical regions around the world. Bitter gourd is a common herb usually consumed as a vegetable for medicinal purposes in different parts of the world, including Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and Africa. It is a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals such as iron and calcium, vitamins, especially vitamin C, and dietary fibers. Grafting is a connection of two plant tissues, which are forced to develop vascular connections and grow as a single plant. Grafting has become imperative for vegetable production. Grafting of herbaceous seedlings is a unique horticultural technology practiced for many years in East Asia to overcome issues associated with intensive cultivation using limited arable land for vegetable production. In the study effect of different cucurbit rootstocks on some morphological and yield indices of bitter gourd.

In order to evaluate the effect of commercial cucurbit rootstocks: Marvel, Tetsukabuto, Sentinel (Takii Seed Company, Japan), and scion: bitter gourd Preeti variety (Kian Darou Zagros company, Iran) on qualitative and quantitative bitter gourd an experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design under hydroponic with three replicates in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, in greenhouse conditions at 2019. In this experiment, in addition to pH of xylem sap, EC of xylem sap, water absorption (ml/day), and growth indices including day to first female flowering (Day), green and ripe fruit shape, green and ripe fruit weight (g), water content green and ripe fruit (ml), dry matter green and ripe fruit weight (%), number of fruits per plant, rootstock diameter (cm), graft site diameter (cm), and scion diameter (cm).

The results showed that rootstocks and grafting caused an increase in first female flowering, green and ripe fruit shape, green and ripe fruit weight, dry matter green and ripe fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, and pH, EC xylem sap, water absorption. The highest weight of green and ripe fruit weight, dry matter green and ripe fruit weight were observed in Marvel rootstock and the lowest was observed in Sentinel rootstock. The highest water absorption was observed in the Tetsukabuto rootstock and the lowest was observed in the Sentinel rootstock. Also, the highest green fruit diameter (6.87 cm), green fruit length (18.48 cm), and ripe fruit length (18.57 cm) were observed in the Tetsukabuto rootstock and the lowest was observed in Sentinel rootstock (green fruit diameter (3.19 cm), green fruit length (12.43 cm), and ripe fruit length (13.12 cm)). But the highest green and ripe fruit shape (4.09), graft site diameter (3.8 cm), day to first female flowering (33.53 days), and water content green fruit (91.89%) were observed in Sentinel rootstock.

According to the obtained results, Marvel and Tetsukabuto rootstocks were better compatible with bitter gourd and showed a significant difference with other treatments in terms of measured indices (green fruit diameter, green fruit length, ripe fruit length, green and ripe fruit weight, dry matter green and ripe fruit weight). Also, Sentinel rootstock showed a decrease in morphological and yield indicators in most cases (green fruit diameter, green fruit length, ripe fruit length, green and ripe fruit weight, dry matter green and ripe fruit weight). According to the results of Sentinel rootstock, it showed incompatibility with bitter gourd.