2005 Volume 4 Issue 4 Pages 391-395
We examined a few gynoecious plants obtained from balsam pear (Momordica charantia L.) ‘Aochu-naga’ in order to maintain the inbred gynoecious strain for future breeding. Foliar application of silver nitrate solution to the lateral shoot induced some bisexual flowers. The ovary and petal of these flowers were bigger than those in female flowers. However, the pollen function of the bisexual flowers was normal. About 10 bisexual flowers were obtained by foliar application of 250 mg · L-1 silver nitrate solution to 5 leaves or 400 mg · L-1 solution to 3 leaves at the top of the lateral shoot. There was no difference in the bloom number of bisexual flowers between the gynoecious balsam pear raised at 35°C (25°C at night) during the daytime and those raised at 25°C (15°C at night) during the daytime after foliar application.
