Taiwan, China's Momordica cochinchinensis fruit is rich in lycopene. How does this unusual plant reproduce?

What an unusual fruit! The fruit surface is spiky, and when mature it becomes a bright red-orange berry that looks like rows of lanterns from afar. Up close, the green unripe fruit looks like an oversized spiky passion fruit. It turns out that not only is its fruit shape unusual, but because its seeds look like a soft-shelled turtle, it has a special name: "Momordica cochinchinensis".

Since 2015, the seed improvement and propagation station has begun establishing a Momordica cochinchinensis germplasm nursery, continuously collecting germplasm from Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia and other regions, and using the station's existing technology for all-female breeding of cucurbits to select superior female plants, while also changing flower sex through chemical treatment to carry out all-female Momordica cochinchinensis seed production.

The seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis are covered with a layer of bright red, sweet-tasting mucilage.
The seed station points out that the fruit shape of Momordica cochinchinensis ranges from broadly elliptical to ovoid-globose. When the fruit matures, its color gradually changes from green to orange-red. The lycopene, β-carotene, lutein and other nutrients contained in the fruit pulp are much higher than in ordinary vegetables and fruits. Because it contains many nutrients needed by the human body, red glutinous rice made with Momordica cochinchinensis fruit in Southeast Asian countries is the best source of nutrition for children in rural areas. At present, Taiwan, China also has foods made from Momordica cochinchinensis fruit, such as biscuits, steamed buns, and Momordica cochinchinensis oil, with countless varieties.

The seed station also states that Momordica cochinchinensis seeds can be sown after being removed from the fruit pulp and dried in the shade, and pretreatment can increase their germination rate. Momordica cochinchinensis is a dioecious perennial vine. Its fruit has high nutritional value, and the industry is gradually paying more attention to it. If grafting technology can be used to mass-propagate female plants or produce female plant seeds, then yield can be increased and production management costs reduced.

Momordica cochinchinensis is generally cultivated by setting up trellises
At present, the seed station is also developing technologies related to grafted seedlings and the production process for healthy seedlings, while simultaneously selecting lines with different fruit shapes, thick flesh and high nutrient content (such as lycopene, β-carotene, etc.), establishing a good cultivation system, hoping to increase the economic value of Momordica cochinchinensis domestically.