Download Study of Momordica charantia L. species grown on the specific

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Study of Momordica charantia L. species grown on the specific conditions
of Romania’s western part
Simona Crisan1, Gheorghe Campeanu2, Lucian Halmagean1
“Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad, Faculty of Food Engineering, Tourism and Environmental
Protection, 2 Elena Dragoi street, Arad, Romania (email: [email protected])
2
University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, Faculty of
Biotehnologies, 59 Marasti Bd., Bucharest, Romania
1
Abstract
Momordica charantia L. is a plant native to Asia, used since ancient times for treatments in
traditional medicine. The aim of present study is plant‘s characterization by watching its
behavior on the specific pedoclimatical features of Romania‘s western part. Obtained
results imply some observations for all vegetative parts: characteristics, evolution of
plant‘s leaf area (LAI) and height, fruits‘ growing rate. Our researches point out the fact
that studied species adopts well to research location features, presenting a good evolving
which lend to large areas cultivation with profitable yields getting of immature fruits.
Key words: bitter melon, morpho-physiological parameters
Introduction
Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is a tropical or subtropical vine in the cucumber
and melon family (Cucurbitaceae). The plant is cultivated throughout the tropics,
especially in China, India, East Africa, Central and South America. It has a long history of
medicinal use especially in diabetes treament - fresh or dried fruit, dried leaves, vine,
whole plant, diarrhea - leaves, fevers - stem, vine, whole plant, fungal infections of the skin
- fresh leaves, hypertension - vines, fresh juice. (Raman A., Lau C., 1996; Khan B. et al.,
2005; Abascal K., Yarnell E., 2008).
Bitter melon it‘s a herbaceous, climbing annual and rapidly growing vine which needs to
be trellised. Leaves are broadly ovate to orbicular in outline, cordate, depply palmately 3-7
lobed, apiculate. Flowers are yellow, solitary male and female borne on the same plant in
leaves axils. The fruit looks like a warty gourd, usually oblong and resembling a small
cucumber. The immature fruit is emerald green, turning to orange-yellow when ripe. At
maturity, the fruit splits into three irregular valves that curl backwards and release brown
seeds encased in scarlet arils (Taylor L., 2002; www.tropen.uni_bonn.de).
Because Momordica charantia L. has been recently introduced for research purposes in
Romania, in 2006 we have started a series of experiments in the western part of the
country. Thus, present study has aimed to perform some definitive observations on the
main morpho-physiological parameters and growing rate of fruits and to quantize all
measurements carried out during vegetation period.
Material and methods
Researches were carried out during 2008 in Arad agro-ecological area, a representative
location for the western part of Romania.
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Vegetable Growing
Foundation of Momordica charantia L. crop was realised by planting, when the
temperature at a 5 cm soil depth overtook 12˚C. Used transplant was produced in
nourishing cubes in protected spaces where the average temperature registered was
about 22˚C. Germination took place about 10 days after seeding moment, while
planting was carried out 21 days later, at the beginning of May, taking care not to
disturb radicular system. Used spacings were 1,4 m between rows and 0,5 m in-row,
providing a density of 14.286 plants/ha. For supporting the climbing vine of the plant
during vegetation was used a 2 m high trellis. Irrigation was done manually, in order to
maintain moisture in the soil upper layers. Weeds control was realised by manual practices,
against pests and diseases being carried out identical procedures as in cucumber case.
As regards pedological features, type of soil was typical eutricambosoil, moderate
gleyzated, bathycalcaric, medium clay/medium loamy clay on middle carbonatic fluviatile
materials, a loose soil in the 0-22 cm layer and characterized by: pH 7,15, no CaCO3
content, moderate humus content – 2,05%, moderate nitrogen supply – nitrogen index
2,05, suitable phosphorus supply – 57,2 ppm and moderate potassium supply – 120 ppm;
field capacity 25,3%, plant-available water holding capacity 15%, total water holding
capacity 42,5%.
Climatical features during vegetation period are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Climatogram of 2008 research year
The main morpho-physiological parameters of plant were registered for the entire
vegetation period (leaf area, height), copse number, flowers appearance and ratio
male:female flowers, increase rate of fruits number, in the meantime being also carried out
biometrical measurements of fruits.
For estimating leaf area index (LAI) and plants‘ height were carried out measurings at the
same five selected plants, several times during growing period. A non-destructive
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methodology for estimating the LAI based on linear measurements was used, which
employed a mathematical model obtained by correlating the leaf length to the actual leaf
area (LA) of a sample of leaves using regression analysis.
Results and discussion
Momordica charantia L. species presents a rapidly growing rate, final height of one plant
being of 2,5-3 m, in some cases reaching even 4-5 m. Climbing pubescent stem posseses
simple tendrils. The number of main copse varies between 2-4, of second category copse
between 25-45, of third category ones between 5-25. Forming rate of leaves is fast, their
number when reach maximum stage being of 500-700. Fruits‘ number on one plant is
about 20-30. Branchy root is propagated through superficial layer of soil, its proportion
relative to whole plant‘s weight being much lower than of the other vegetative parts.
One plant‘s weight varies between 0,9 – 1,4 kg, estimated proportions of vegetative parts
being shown in Figure 2.
1,5%
21,1%
41,6%
35,8%
fruits
leaves
copse
root
Figure 2. Estimated proportions of different vegetative parts
The evolution of both height and LAI of plants during vegetation period of 2008 research
year is represented in Figure 3, while the growing rate of fruits is showed in Figure 4.
m
3,00
2,8
2,4
2,50
2
2,00
1,6
Height (m)
1,50
Leaf Area Index
(LAI)
1,00
1,2
0,8
0,50
0,00
June
0,4
July
August
Septem ber
0
October
Figure 3. Plant’s leaf area index (LAI) and height during growing time
44. hrvatski i 4. međunarodni simpozij agronoma
427
Vegetable Growing
One can observe that the mean height of studied plants presents an important increase
during June and July, while in July time it can be noticed the highest development of leaf
area.
The ratio male:female flowers is about 20:1. Male flowers appear first, after about 21 days
after planting moment and 50-55 days since seeding time respectivelly. Female flowers
appear 20-24 days after the male ones. The fruit needs a period of 28-38 days for reaching
ripen stage (Figure 4).
cm
25
20
15
10
5
9-sep.
6-sep.
3-sep.
31-aug.
28-aug.
25-aug.
22-aug.
19-aug.
16-aug.
13-aug.
7-aug.
10-aug.
4-aug.
1-aug.
29-iul.
26-iul.
23-iul.
20-iul.
17-iul.
14-iul.
11-iul.
8-iul.
5-iul.
0
Figure 4. Growing rate of fruits
Conclusions
The proportions of vegetative parts relative to total weight of bitter melon‘s plant are
varied, being remarked a notable discrepancy for root‘s proportion relative to other parts.
Leaf area is considerable, presents a fast growing and a maximum value in August time.
Momordica charantia L. species adopts well to pedoclimatical terms of research area,
obtaining profitable yields of immature fruits which further can be used for producing
therapeutical extracts.
References
Abascal K., Yarnell E. (2008). Momordica charantia (Bitter Melon). Botanical Medicine,
Integrative Medicine. 7(1): 21-24.
Khan B. et al. (2005). Hypogylcemic activity of aqueous extract of some indigenous plants.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 18(1): 62-4.
Raman A., Lau C. (1996). Antidiabetic Properties and Phytochemistry Momordica charantia L.
(Cucurbitaceae), Review. Phytomedicine Vol. 2: 349-362.
Taylor L. (2002). Technical Data Report for Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia). Herbal
Secrets of the Rainforest. 2nd edition. Sage Press. Austin.
www.tropen.uni_bonn.de/new_website/englische_seiten/Study/CUCURBITACEAE_PAPERS_
1.pdf.
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