Tuber morphology, germination behaviour and propagation efficiency in three edible Momordica (Cucurbitaceae) species of India

Tuber morphology and propagation efficiency in three dioecious, tuber bearing Momordica species of India were investigated. Tuber morphology of M. dioica and M. sahyadrica is different from that of M. subangulata ssp. renigera. M. dioica and M. sahyadrica develop taproot tuber with shoot sprouts onl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genetic resources and crop evolution 2009-09, Vol.56 (6), p.861-868
Main Authors: Joseph John, K, Antony, V. T, Marydas, Jose, Karuppaiyan, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Dormancy
Germination
Life Sciences
Meristems
Momordica
Morphology
Multiplication
Plant Genetics and Genomics
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Propagation
Research Article
Tubers
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Tuber morphology and propagation efficiency in three dioecious, tuber bearing Momordica species of India were investigated. Tuber morphology of M. dioica and M. sahyadrica is different from that of M. subangulata ssp. renigera. M. dioica and M. sahyadrica develop taproot tuber with shoot sprouts only at caudex region, whereas M. subangulata ssp. renigera has both taproot and adventitious tubers with shoot sprouts all over tuber surface. Tubers of M. dioica and M. sahyadrica are perennating whereas, in M. subangulata ssp. renigera they serve as both perennating and propagation structures. M. dioica and M. sahyadrica had prolonged tuber dormancy of 4-5 months whereas, M. subangulata ssp. renigera had short dormancy period of about 2 months. Cutting of tuberous roots is a highly efficient method for multiplication in M. subangulata spp. renigera, whereas whole tubers or longitudinal splits in to two or at best four equal halves with a portion of the apical meristem may work in the case of M. dioica and M. sahyadrica.
ISSN:0925-9864
1573-5109
DOI:10.1007/s10722-009-9407-5