Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is an important vegetable and medicinal plant in tropical and subtropical regions globally. In this study, the draft genome sequence of a monoecious bitter gourd inbred line, OHB3-1, was analyzed. Through Illumina sequencing and de novo assembly, scaffolds of 285.5 Mb in length were generated, corresponding to ∼84% of the estimated genome size of bitter gourd (339 Mb). In this draft genome sequence, 45,859 protein-coding gene loci were identified, and transposable elements accounted for 15.3% of the whole genome. According to synteny mapping and phylogenetic analysis of conserved genes, bitter gourd was more related to watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) than to cucumber (Cucumis sativus) or melon (C. melo). Using RAD-seq analysis, 1507 marker loci were genotyped in an F2 progeny of two bitter gourd lines, resulting in an improved linkage map, comprising 11 linkage groups. By anchoring RAD tag markers, 255 scaffolds were assigned to the linkage map. Comparative analysis of genome sequences and predicted genes determined that putative trypsin-inhibitor and ribosome-inactivating genes were distinctive in the bitter gourd genome. These genes could characterize the bitter gourd as a medicinal plant.

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Draft genome sequence of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), a vegetable and medicinal plant in tropical and subtropical regions

Food prospects and nutraceutical attributes of Momordica species: A potential tropical bioresources – A review

Momordica charantia is a monoecious plant of the Cucurbitaceae family that has both male and female unisexual flowers. Its unique gynoecious line, OHB61-5, is essential as a maternal parent in the production of F1 cultivars. To identify the DNA markers for this gynoecy, a RAD-seq (restriction-associated DNA tag sequencing) analysis was employed to reveal genome-wide DNA polymorphisms and to genotype the F2 progeny from a cross between OHB61-5 and a monoecious line. Based on a RAD-seq analysis of F2 individuals, a linkage map was constructed using 552 co-dominant markers. In addition, after analyzing the pooled genomic DNA from monoecious or gynoecious F2 plants, several SNP loci that are genetically linked to gynoecy were identified. GTFL-1, the closest SNP locus to the putative gynoecious locus, was converted to a conventional DNA marker using invader assay technology, which is applicable to the marker-assisted selection of gynoecy in M. charantia breeding.

/pdf/mapping-of-the-gynoecy-in-bitter-gourd-momordica-charantia-3gful9abi7.pdf

Mapping of the Gynoecy in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) Using RAD-Seq Analysis

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.

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

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.

Momordica genus in Asia - An Overview

Teasle gourd [Momordica subangulata Blume subsp. renigera (G. Don) de Wilde, 2n = 56] exhibits morphological characters found in both M. dioica (2n = 28) and M. cochinchinensis (2n = 28). Morphological analysis of M. subangulata subsp. renigera suggests an allopolyploid origin. We present evidence elucidating the genomic relationships between M. dioica, M. cochinchinensis and M. subangulata subsp. renigera. A triploid M. dioica × M. subangulata subsp. renigera hybrid had an average of 12.76 bivalents, 13.84 univalents and 0.88 trivalents at metaphase I, while the M. cochinchinensis × M. subangulata subsp. renigera hybrid had an average of 13.08 bivalents, 12.96 univalents and 0.96 trivalents. F1 hybrids of the two diploid species (M. dioica × M. cochinchinensis) showed an average of 9.12 bivalents and 9.76 univalents, suggesting that the genomes of these species are only partially homologous. A higher number of bivalents in the triploid hybrids suggests that M. subangulata subsp. renigera is a segmental allopolyploid of M. dioica and M. cochinchinensis and that its genomes have diverged from the parental genomes.

Vishalnath

Papers

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

Cyto-morphological evidence for segmental allopolyploid origin of teasle gourd (Momordica subangulata subsp. renigera).