K. Joseph John

Bio: K. Joseph John is an academic researcher from Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The author has contributed to research in topics: Momordica & Bitter gourd. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 43 publications receiving 321 citations.

Bitter gourd: botany, horticulture, breeding

Abstract: This review focuses on the origin and domestication, nutritional uses and medicinal properties of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). The botanical (taxonomy and morphology and reproductive biology), horticultural (climate and soil, culture, sex expression and modification, harvest, seed production and pests and diseases) and breeding aspects (genetic variation and germplasm development, inheritance, character association, goals and cultivar development, breeding methods and biotechnology) of bitter gourd are also discussed.

Cytotaxonomical analysis of Momordica L. (Cucurbitaceae) species of Indian occurrence.

Abstract: Somatic chromosome number and detailed karyotype analysis were carried out in six Indian Momordica species viz. M. balsamina, M. charantia, M. cochinchinensis, M. dioica, M. sahyadrica and M. cymbalaria (syn. Luffa cymbalaria; a taxon of controversial taxonomic identity). The somatic chromosome number 2n = 22 was reconfirmed in monoecious species (M. balsamina and M. charantia). Out of four dioecious species, the chromosome number was reconfirmed in M. cochinchinensis (2n = 28), M. dioica (2n = 28) and M. subangulata subsp. renigera (2n = 56), while in M. sahyadrica (2n = 28) somatic chromosome number was reported for the first time. A new chromosome number of 2n = 18 was reported in M. cymbalaria against its previous reports of 2n = 16, 22. The karyotype analysis of all the species revealed significant numerical and structural variations of chromosomes. It was possible to distinguish chromosomes of M. cymbalaria from other Momordica species and also between monoecious and dioecious taxa of the genus. Morphology and crossability among the dioecious species was also studied. Evidence from morphology, crossability, pollen viability and chromosome synapsis suggests a segmental allopolyploid origin for M. subangulata subsp. renigera. The taxonomic status of the controversial taxon M. cymbalaria was also discussed using morphological, karyological and crossability data.

Momordica genus in Asia - An Overview

Abstract: The genus Momordica, native to the paleotropics, comprises about 59 species, of which 10 occur in Asia and 7 in India. Bitter gourd is cultivated extensively in the warmer regions of the world, while teasel gourd is cultivated to a small extent in Bangladesh and eastern and north eastern parts of India. The Asiatic Momordica are unique in the sense that most of them are edible with multiple medicinal properties as expounded by the rich ethno botanical literature, though not validated through clinical trials in most cases. Taxonomy and identification of Asiatic Momordica are often confusing and the problem is compounded by the prevalence of identical vernacular names and wrong or interchangeable usage of common names for these entities. All available information are reviewed, collated and synthesised in this book, which hopefully give an overall picture of the current understanding on the taxonomic status, distribution, genetics, cytology, reproductive biology, crossability relationships, genetic resources, crop improvement, husbandry and ethnobotany of this important group of under-utilised vegetables.

Collection of plant genetic resources from Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Abstract: The Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) group of islands is immensely rich in plant biodiversity. Andaman’s native tribes are hunter-gatherers, sustaining on wild or marine food and practically do not have any cultivation. Diversity in cultivated crops is presently maintained in home gardens by settlers from the mainland and other adjoining countries. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) through explorations either alone or in association with CARI or with other ICAR institutes has collected 1234 accessions in 48 exploration and collection missions. Variability was collected in rice, cowpea, black gram, green gram, okra, Chinese spinach, ash gourd, taro, cucumber, pumpkin, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, chilli, greater yam and coconut. Indigenous landraces are absent. The in situ conservation of the wild relatives of crops is well taken care of by a large number of protected forest reserves.

Genome scanning of Asiatic Vigna species for discerning population genetic structure based on microsatellite variation

Abstract: Wild relatives are important genetic resources for crop improvement. However, basic information about their population structure, genetic diversity, species relationships and distribution of variation in a gene pool remains scanty in Vigna species. The level of genetic diversity and population genetic structure of representative accessions of cultivated and wild Asiatic Vigna species collected from diversity-rich endemic areas of India have been investigated using both microsatellite markers and morphological descriptors. Forty-one wild and 12 cultivated accessions of 13 Vigna species were genotyped using 53 polymorphic microsatellite markers. A total of 539 alleles were detected among 53 accessions at all loci with an average 10.16 alleles per locus. The major allele frequency varied from 0.16 to 0.65 (mean = 0.30), while polymorphism information content of polymorphic markers ranged from 0.47 to 0.89 (mean = 0.79). The UPGMA revealed five major clusters accommodating ~96 % of the accessions. The largest cluster accommodated 19 (36 %), while the smallest cluster had only two accessions. Two accessions, JAP/10-5 and JAP/10-9 of V. trilobata, did not group with any other accession. The model-based population structure analysis also showed almost similar pattern and grouped 53 accessions of Vigna into five genetically distinct sub-populations (K = 5) based on maximum ∆K values. Duncan’s multiple range test revealed significant difference between five genetic and one admixture group developed through population structure analysis with 22 morphological descriptors. Analysis of variance for morphological data revealed significant difference in 12 qualitative and quantitative traits including growth habit, terminal leaflet length, colour of petiole base, petiole length, leaf senescence, length of peduncle, raceme position, calyx colour, colour of VSI pod, pod pubescence, pod curvature and 100-seed weight, indicating their significance in distinguishing population groups. The information on genetic diversity and population structure of wild and cultivated accessions of Asiatic Vigna will be tremendously useful to accelerate their use in trait improvement.

Nanobiotechnology can boost crop production and quality: first evidence from increased plant biomass, fruit yield and phytomedicine content in bitter melon (Momordica charantia)

Abstract: Recent research on nanoparticles in a number of crops has evidenced for enhanced germination and seedling growth, physiological activities including photosynthetic activity and nitrogen metabolism, mRNA expression and protein level, and also positive changes in gene expression indicating their potential use in crop improvement. We used a medicinally rich vegetable crop, bitter melon, as a model to evaluate the effects of seed treatment with a carbon-based nanoparticle, fullerol [C60(OH)20], on yield of plant biomass and fruit characters, and phytomedicine contents in fruits. We confirmed the uptake, translocation and accumulation of fullerol through bright field imaging and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. We observed varied effects of seed treatment at five concentrations, including non-consequential and positive, on plant biomass yield, fruit yield and its component characters, and content of five phytomedicines in fruits. Fullerol-treatment resulted in increases up to 54% in biomass yield and 24% in water content. Increases of up to 20% in fruit length, 59% in fruit number, and 70% in fruit weight led to an improvement up to 128% in fruit yield. Contents of two anticancer phytomedicines, cucurbitacin-B and lycopene, were enhanced up to 74% and 82%, respectively, and contents of two antidiabetic phytomedicines, charantin and insulin, were augmented up to 20% and 91%, respectively. Non-significant correlation inter se plant biomass, fruit yield, phytomedicine content and water content evidenced for separate genetic control and biosynthetic pathways for production of plant biomass, fruits, and phytomedicines in fruits, and also no impact of increased water uptake. While our results indicated possibility of improving crop yield and quality by using proper concentrations of fullerol, extreme caution needs to be exercised given emerging knowledge about accumulation and toxicity of nanoparticles in bodily tissues.