All issues

Observation of Fruit Anatomy and Development of Bitter Gourd
I. Fruit Anatomy and Fertilization of Bitter Gourd
Female flower and fruit antomy of bitter gourds A, Three-lobed stigma(TLS) on a colummar style. (bar=1.6mm), B, Stigmatic cell and pollen tube canals (PTC). (bar=0.4mm), C, Pollen tube canal (PTC) in the style and staminodia (St). (bar=0.63mm), D, Tricarpellate ovary and septum (Se) structure (red area). (bar=1.5mm), E, Dehiscence (De) between basic area of platenta (PI) and ovary inner wall (OIW), and anatropus ovules (Ov) of irregular arrangement. (bar=1.0mm), F, Aril of covered ovule connected with pollen tube pathway (PTP). (bar=0.81mm), G, Erect (Er) and pendulous (Pe) immature seeds. (bar=1.25cm), H, Seven to nine ovules (Ov) per row in a female flower. (bar=5 mm)
Female flower and fruit antomy of bitter gourds A, Three-lobed stigma(TLS) on a colummar style. (bar=1.6mm), B, Stigmatic cell and pollen tube canals (PTC). (bar=0.4mm), C, Pollen tube canal (PTC) in the style and staminodia (St). (bar=0.63mm), D, Tricarpellate ovary and septum (Se) structure (red area). (bar=1.5mm), E, Dehiscence (De) between basic area of platenta (PI) and ovary inner wall (OIW), and anatropus ovules (Ov) of irregular arrangement. (bar=1.0mm), F, Aril of covered ovule connected with pollen tube pathway (PTP). (bar=0.81mm), G, Erect (Er) and pendulous (Pe) immature seeds. (bar=1.25cm), H, Seven to nine ovules (Ov) per row in a female flower. (bar=5 mm)

Author:You-Ming Chang, Pan-Chi Liou, Chi-Hsiung Hsiao and Chou-Tou Shii

Abstract:

    The female flower of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) consists of an inferior ovary and a three-lobed and wet stigma on a columnar style which is hollow. The ovary contains three carpels, each with 14-18 ovules, surrounded by ovary wall. Anatropous ovules attach to “parietal placenta”. Two row of ovules in each carpel are aligned irregularly in either erect or pendulous, but not in horizontal position. Unlike other cucurbits, at each cross-section in bitter gourd ovary, no more than 4 ovules, can be seen. Although the number of ovule in an ovary can be up to 60, the average in around 40. The lobed stigma is aligned in “U” shape on the top of style. One hour after pollination, the pollen tubes penetrated into papillae tissue in this study. All pollen tubes from 3 lobed stigma, joining in style, arrived to ovary cavity 6 hours after pollination. Fertilization first occurred during the next 6 hrs and finished during 18~24 hrs after pollination. The number of pollen tubes rapidly decreased along with time course of elongation. Hardly any pollen tubes could be seen at the basal end of the ovary. One hour after pollen germination, the generative nucleus entered the pollen tube.

Key words:Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), Fruit anatomy, Pollen tube, Fertilization

Download:Download PDF PDF Links

  • Back
  • Top
Journal of
Taiwan Agricultural Research
Vol. 73, No.1 (2024) ISSN: 2790-086X Vol. 73, No.1 (2024)
Submit your manuscript Guide for authors
Most Viewed
  • Back
  • Top