Standardisation of grafting in bitter gourd ( Momordica charantia L.)

A study on grafting bitter gourd on various cucurbitaceous rootstocks was carried out to identify the best rootstocks for grafting bitter gourd and to compare two grafting methods namely, wedge grafting (WG) and tongue approach grafting (TAG). In the study bitter gourd scion (var. Preethi) was grafted on six rootstocks, viz., ash gourd, bottle gourd, smooth gourd, pumpkin, oriental pickling melon and self rootstocks by wedge grafting and tongue approach grafting. There was significant difference in graft success among the rootstocks in WG. In WG, best rootstock in terms of graft success was smooth gourd (80%) followed by pumpkin, bottle gourd, ash gourd, OP melon and self rootstock. There was no significant difference among the rootstocks on graft success in TAG. WG (67%) was superior to TAG (15.17%) in terms of final graft success. Graft success had significant positive correlation with relative humidity and significant negative correlation with maximum and minimum temperature. Anatomical studies of the graft union revealed cell proliferation which is the stage prior to callus formation.