Breeding Process and Characteristics of the Early-Maturing Bitter Gourd Variety Puhang Bitter Gourd No. 1
Bitter gourd is one of the important vegetable types in the region south of the Yangtze River in China, with a long history of cultivation. Its ascorbic acid content stands out among cucurbits, being 14 times that of cucumber, 5 times that of winter melon, and 7 times that of tomato. Sometimes bitter gourd yields are low. Let us now learn about Puhang bitter gourd
Bitter gourd is one of the important vegetable types in the region south of the Yangtze River in China, with a long history of cultivation. Its ascorbic acid content stands out among cucurbits, being 14 times that of cucumber, 5 times that of winter melon, and 7 times that of tomato. Sometimesbitter gourd yieldsare low. Let us now learn about the Puhang Bitter Gourd No. 1 variety!
Bitter gourd is a vegetable we commonly eat. Putian City has a tradition of cultivating bitter gourd and rich experience, with meticulous management and high yield levels. Among these, the spring double-film cultivation model for bitter gourd is uniquely distinctive, with output value per hectare reaching 12 to 15 wan yuan. Most specialized growers choose local varieties they have selected and saved themselves, and plant varieties such as ‘Minyan No. 2’, ‘Ruyu’, and ‘Bilv No. 1’ on a small scale. However, after many years of cultivation and seed saving, Putian local bitter gourd suffers from shortcomings such as varietal degeneration, poor disease resistance, and low yield potential, making it urgent to carry out research on variety purification and improvement.
To this end, the Putian City Institute of Agricultural Sciences selected seeds from the excellent local Putian bitter gourd single plant ‘Pu 0609’, and in September 2006 sent them aboard the “Shijian-8” recoverable space breeding satellite for space mutation treatment. After four years and eight seasons of directional field selection and cultivation of its progeny, ‘Puhang Bitter Gourd No. 1’ was bred and passed certification by the Fujian Province Non-Major Crop Variety Certification Committee. The breeding process and trial planting demonstration results are summarized below.
Bitter gourd is a vegetable we commonly eat. Putian City has a tradition of cultivating bitter gourd and rich experience, with meticulous management and high yield levels. Among these, the spring double-film cultivation model for bitter gourd is uniquely distinctive, with output value per hectare reaching 12 to 15 wan yuan. Most specialized growers choose local varieties they have selected and saved themselves, and plant varieties such as ‘Minyan No. 2’, ‘Ruyu’, and ‘Bilv No. 1’ on a small scale. However, after many years of cultivation and seed saving, Putian local bitter gourd suffers from shortcomings such as varietal degeneration, poor disease resistance, and low yield potential, making it urgent to carry out research on variety purification and improvement.
To this end, the Putian City Institute of Agricultural Sciences selected seeds from the excellent local Putian bitter gourd single plant ‘Pu 0609’, and in September 2006 sent them aboard the “Shijian-8” recoverable space breeding satellite for space mutation treatment. After four years and eight seasons of directional field selection and cultivation of its progeny, ‘Puhang Bitter Gourd No. 1’ was bred and passed certification by the Fujian Province Non-Major Crop Variety Certification Committee. The breeding process and trial planting demonstration results are summarized below.
Breeding Process
‘Pu 0609’ bitter gourd is a local Putian bitter gourd variety saved and grown by farmers themselves. It is mid-maturing, with pale green fruit, a narrow and downward-sloping shoulder, and excellent flavor and quality. The fruit is 30 to 35 cm long, with a single fruit weight of about 350 g, and a yield of 2500 to 3000 kg per 667 sq m. It is not resistant to downy mildew or Fusarium wilt. The “Shijian-8” breeding satellite was launched at 15:00 on September 9, and after 15 d of orbital operation in space, the satellite return capsule landed and was recovered at 10:43 on September 24 in Daying County, Suining City, Sichuan. The Putian City Institute of Agricultural Sciences received the carried seeds on November 12, 2006, and properly stored them in a 6°C refrigerator.
Have you ever grown this kind of bitter gourd? If you want to grow it, you can plant it yourself!
Have you ever grown this kind of bitter gourd? If you want to grow it, you can plant it yourself!
