Correlation and path coefficient analysis of quantitative characters in spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.).

Fifty genotypes of spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) were evaluated in a randomized block design with two replications at the Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India during kharif, 2012. Correlation and path coefficient analysis were carried out to study the character association and contribution, respectively for twelve quantitative characters namely vine length (m), number of stems per plant, days to first female flower appearance, first female flowering node, days to first fruit harvest, days to last fruit harvest, fruiting period (days), fruit length (cm), fruit width (cm), fruit weight (g), number of fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant (kg) for identification of the potential selection indices. Correlation and path coefficient analyses revealed that fruiting period and number of fruits per plant not only had positively significant correlation with fruit yield but also had positively high direct effect on it and are regarded as the main determinants of fruit yield. Days to first fruit harvest had positively moderate direct effect on fruit yield and its association was negatively significant, days to last fruit harvest had negatively high direct effect on fruit yield and its association was significant positively, hence restricted simultaneous selection can be made for days to first fruit harvest and days to last fruit harvest. The improvement in fruit yield can be effective if selection is based on days to first fruit harvest, days to last fruit harvest, fruiting period and number of fruits per plant.

Alkanes in flower surface waxes of Momordica cochinchinensis influence attraction to Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Extraction, thin-layer chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry analyses revealed 15 alkanes representing 97.14% of the total alkanes in the surface waxes of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng flowers. Nonacosane was the prevailing alkane followed by hexatriacontane, nonadecane, heptacosane, and hentriacontane, accounting for 39.08%, 24.24%, 13.52%, 6.32%, and 5.12%, respectively. The alkanes from flower surface waxes followed by a synthetic mixture of alkanes mimicking alkanes of flower surface waxes elicited attraction of the female insect, Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) between 2 and 10-µg/mL concentrations in a Y-shaped glass tube olfactometer bioassay under laboratory conditions. Synthetic nonadecane from 178.28-891.37 ng, heptacosane from 118.14-590.72 ng, and nonacosane at 784.73 ng showed attraction of the insect. A synthetic mixture of 534.82 ng nonadecane, 354.43 ng heptacosane, and 2,354.18 ng nonacosane elicited highest attraction of A. foveicollis.

Momordica balsamina: a medicinal and neutraceutical plant for health care management.

Momordica balsamina, African pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae), is a tendril-bearing, wild climber containing wide spectrum of medicinal and nutritional values and has been used as a traditional folk medicine in many countries. The leaves, fruits, seeds, and bark of the plant contains resins, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, terpenes, cardiac glycoside, saponins having various medicinal importance viz. anti-HIV, anti-plasmodial, shigellocidal, anti-diarrheal, anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, analgesic and hepatoprotective properties. The therapeutic agent 'Momordin' is capable of inhibiting the growth of HIV and other viruses. The leaves are also important source of nutrients having 17 amino acids with adequate mineral composition like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, zinc, manganese and iron. It also helps to combat the problem of micronutrient deficiencies in soil and high value of protein and fat with low fibre content. High potassium content is a good source for the management of hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. This plant is being promoted as a protein supplement for cereal-based diets in poor rural communities. The commercial exploitation of this plant for biopharmaceuticals and neutraceuticals are some of the prospective future potential of this wild herb. This review discusses the potential of medicinal and nutritional importance of this wild herb for health care management.

Inheritance of gynoecism in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.).

The inheritance of sex expression in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and other cucurbits is well documented; however, the genetics of female sex (gynoecism) expression in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) has not been described. Inheritance of gynoecism in bitter gourd was studied in a 100% gynoecious line (Gy263B). The F(2) and testcross segregation data revealed that gynoecism in Gy263B is under the control of a single, recessive gene. Following the gene nomenclature of cucurbits, it is proposed that the gene symbol, gy-1, be assigned for the expression of gynoecism in bitter gourd.