Heterosis breeding in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.): A review

Abstract

Bitter gourd (syn. Bitter cucumber; Momordica charantia L.) is an important Cucurbitaceae vegetable crop. Bitter gourd particularly originated from the Indo Burma region. Bitter gourd fruits and seeds are eaten together at an immature stage, and both have medicinal properties. Poor genetic potential of improved varieties, poor crop management, lack of good quality seeds, and high yielding early hybrids, biotic and abiotic stresses are maximum constraints to bitter gourd productivity. Heterosis has been widely studied and used by plant breeders to improve yield rates in bitter gourd (cross-pollinated crop). The degree to which hybrid vigour can be manipulated depends on the path and magnitude of heterosis and biological utility. Hence, for varied characters, a significant degree of heterosis has been reported in bitter gourd reviewed here.