Science and Humanities Journal

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is a very important high vegetable crop
grown in Asia especially in the Philippines. Nowadays, application of grafting with
scion sources of different maturity is gaining interest as for the solution for high
cost of hybrid seeds. This study was conducted to determine the graft
compatibility of bitter gourd scions taken from sources of different maturity
grafted onto sponge gourd rootstock; compare the growth and yield performance
of the grafts produced; assess the effects of plant sources of different maturity on
the post-harvest quality of grafted bitter gourd. The treatments were: non-grafted,
Scion from 10, 21, 30, 45, and 60 days old plant source. Different maturity of scions
was obtained from healthy and disease free sources and grafted onto a 14 day old
sponge gourd rootstock. Results showed that grafted bitter gourd with scion from
younger sources had higher percentage graftake compared with scion from older
sources. In addition, younger sources had higher fruit yield per plant compared to
grafted bitter gourd with scion from older sources.

Keywords: bitter gourd, grafting, scion, rootstock, non-grafted

The study was conducted to develop doable technologies that will increase
quality and productivity of honeydew melon. It aimed to investigate the
horticultural and yield performance and evaluate the cost and return analysis of
honeydew melon variety “Brilliant”. This was laid out in split-plot arranged in
randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated 3 times where four vine
pruning techniques and four fruit setting position were main and subplot
respectively. Results revealed that vine pruning significantly affects vine length at
30 days after transplanting (DAT). Single vine pruning had longer vine at 30 DAT.
Meanwhile, fruit setting position regulated flowering and number of days to
harvest. Fruit set at 1st -8th nodes enhanced the early appearance of first female
flower and shortened the number of days from transplanting to harvesting while 9th
– 16th and 17th and up lengthened the harvesting period by 4 days and 13 days
respectively. Meanwhile, vine pruning and fruit setting position significantly
affects yield characteristics of honeydew melon. Triple, double, and no pruning
with fruit set at 9th – 16th and 17th node got the highest weight of fruit per plant and
total weight of fruit per plot. Further, fruit set at 9th – 16th node with triple, double,
and no pruning ranked the highest in terms of weight of marketable fruit and
gained the highest net return of investment.

Keywords: honeydew melon, fruit setting position, node, vine pruning

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important cultivated
greenhouse crops, which requires new technology to cope with climate changes.
This study aimed to determine, investigate and compare the growth, yield, and
postharvest quality of cucumber; and evaluate the cost and return of cucumber
grown in hydroponic system as influenced by different aggregate compositions
and pruning techniques. This was undertaken in Split-plot in a Randomized
Complete Block Design with three different pruning techniques Without pruning
(P₀), V-cordon pruning (P₁) and Five stem pruning (P₂) as the main plot and four
aggregate compositions 4:3:1 Rh:Cc:LECA (T₁); 4:3:1 Rh:Cc:Rs (T₂); 3:2:1
Rh:Cc:LECA (T₃); and 3:2:1 Rh:Cc:Rs (T₄) as subplots. Cucumber plants applied
with V-cordon pruning (P₁) shown a lesser number of days from transplanting to
female flowering, a more significant number of marketable fruits, lesser visual
quality loss, lesser weight loss, and high titratable acidity. However, Without
pruning (P₀) gains the highest number of female flowers and highest Vit. C content.
While, Five stem pruning (P₂) revealed a longer fruit length, wider diameter, heavier
weight of marketable fruits and highest yield than all treatments. Among the four
aggregate compositions, 4:3:1 Rh:Cc:LECA (T₁) resulted to the tallest plant height,
longer fruits, greater number of marketable fruits, heavier weight of marketable
fruits, and highest yield. On the other hand, 3:2:1 Rh:Cc:LECA (T₃) obtained the
widest diameter of Japanese cucumber fruits while 4:3:1 Rh:Cc:Rs (T₂) obtained
the highest content of Vit. C. In addition, cucumber plants with V-cordon pruning
(P₁) and 4:3:1 Rh:Cc:LECA (T₁) gave a positive net return.

Keywords: Aggregate hydroponics, Cucumber, Growth, Pruning Techniques,
Yield, Quality