• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 2015

Anthracnose occurred in bitter gourd grown in Jeongup areas of Korea in 2011. Anthracnose of bitter gourd appeared as dark brown circular spots on naturally infected leaves and fruits. The symptoms of infected leaves and fruits were small brown to dark brown spots and gradually enlarged to larger cylindrical dark brown lesions. The causal fungus of anthracnose isolated from the diseased plants was identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides based on the morphological and cultural characteristics and ITS rDNA sequence analysis. All isolates of C. gloeosporioides produced symptoms on the host leaves by artificial inoculation. This is the first report of anthracnose on bitter gourd caused by C. gloeosporioides in Korea.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.72-75
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate changes in the functional compounds in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). Four treatments were used to analyze vitamin C, momordicin, K, Mg, and Ca compounds in Dragon bitter gourd on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days after pollination. According to the number of days after pollination, level of chemicals containing vitamin C in bitter gourd appeared to decrease continually after pollination, and was the highest, being 74.7 mg/100 g on the 7th day. The level of momordicin, an anti-diabetic was significantly higher in the 7th-day product than that of the 14th day;, meanwhile, there was no significant difference in Ca compounds. These phenomena are considered to fasten the stages of harvest for effective use of functional ingredients in bitter gourd fruits.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.71-75
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• 2016

The experiment was carried out to examine the effects of planting date on the growth and marketable yield of bitter gourd grown in rain-shield plastic houses. Bitter gourd cv 'Dragon' seedlings were separately transplanted during the months of June, July and August, 2015. The training method of all plants was made with four lateral vines and pinching the main vine. Lateral length of plants exhibited no significant difference between each planting date. However, bitter gourd planted in June had significantly higher main stem diameter than those treatments planted on August. The application of planting date was found effective in increasing marketable yield and number of fruits. June, as a planting date, had the highest marketable yield (6,439kg/10a), whereas bitter gourd planted in August had the lowest yield (870kg/10a) which were also consistent in terms of the number of fruits. Fruit length and diameter had no significant differences as affected by treatments. Therefore, planting date of bitter gourd in June was effective in increasing yield of fruit in rain-shield plastic house conditions.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.701-707
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• 2016

The charantin contents of leaves, stems, female and male flowers, and fruits in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) were analyzed at different harvest seasons to investigate the availability of potential edible parts other than fruits. The charantin contents of fruits ranged from 14.7 to $16.0mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$ dry weight (DW) and those of leaves ranged from 131.4 to $138.0mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$, which was eight times higher than in fruits. The charantin contents of female and male flowers and stems were also significantly higher than those of the fruits. The ratio of total charantin content was highest in leaves (48%) of DW, followed by female flowers (20-21%), male flowers (14%), stems (12-13%), and fruits (5%). The charantin contents of fruits harvested 14 days after fruit setting was higher in June to mid-July (20.2 to $23.3mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$) than in late July to late August (13.3 to $19.4mg{\cdot}g^{-1}DW$). The higher the fruit weight, the lower the charantin contents, which showed that a negative correlation exists between fruit weight and charantin contents in bitter gourd. These results suggest that to obtain bitter gourd fruits with high charantin contents, fruits should be harvested until mid-July when fruit growth is fast and temperature is high. In addition, leaves, stems, and female and male flowers of bitter gourd can be used as for food, which are known to reduce blood sugar level.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 2012

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) has long been used for food and medicinal plant in Korea, China and Japan. This study aimed at evaluating productivity, and vitamin-C and charantin contents in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) accessions. The contents of charantin of these two accessions were analyzed using HPLC with the UV-diode array detection. The highest fruit yield was observed in accessions, 'BG1' and 'BG7.' The vitamin-C contents of fruits in these two high-yield bitter gourd accessions, 'BG1' and 'BG7,' depended on days after fruit set and were highest in 24 days and 17 days after fruit set, respectively. The charantin contents of the two accessions were different according to the number of days after fruit set. The charantin content of 'BG1' was highest in fruits harvested at 24 days and followed by 15 days after fruit set. The charantin content of 'BG7' was highest in fruits harvested at 13 days and followed by 16 and 19 days after fruit set. The charantin contents of 13 M. charantia accessions with relatively high yield potential were analyzed and three accessions, 104615, K169995 and NS454, were selected based on their relatively high yield and charantin content. These accessions will be used for breeding program and processed foods.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.452-458
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• 2023

In the Goesan region, located in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea, a significant outbreak of soft rot infections was documented in August 2021, affecting fruits of Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon or bitter gourd. The symptoms included a noticeable transition to yellowing in the affected fruits, eventually leading to their collapse. The bacterial strain KNUB-09-21 was isolated from the diseased fruits. Molecular analysis, using the sequences of the 16S rRNA region and three housekeeping genes (dnaX, recA, and leuS), along with the results of compound utilization in the API ID 32 GN system, provide strong evidence for the identification of the isolate KNUB-09-21 as Pectobacterium brasiliense. The pathogenicity of strain KNUB-09-21 on M. charantia was confirmed through a controlled inoculation test. Within two days, inoculated fruits displayed soft rot symptoms closely resembling those observed in naturally affected fruits. This is the first report of soft rot on M. charantia in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.121-135
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to establish and provide reliable information for general public, based on expert consensus, on the risks of misuse of medicinal herbs for food and pure food ingredients for the fetus during pregnancy. Methods: A panelist of seven traditional Korean medicine (TKM) gynecologists responded to a questionnaire summarizing the fetal safety literature for twenty-five medicinal herbs for food and pure food ingredients derived from medicated diet (藥膳, Yaksun) recipes during three online Delphi rounds anonymously. Results: Ginkgonis Semen (Ginkgo nut), Illici Veri Fructus (Star anise), lavender, bitter gourd, and parsley were agreed at the level 1 of "Do not consume". These five ingredients were recognized as having significant risks both in the literature evidence and in expert opinion. Rosemary, Citri Unshius Pericarpium, Discoreae Rhizoma, lemongrass, Schisandrae Fructus, Cassiae Semen, Foeniculi Fructus, Mori Fructus, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Astragali Radix were agreed at the level 2 of "consultation with TKM practitioner is required". Conclusion: Based on the consensus of a seven-member expert panel of TKM gynecologists, consumption of Ginkgonis Semen (Ginkgo nut), Illici Veri Fructus (Star anise), lavender, bitter gourd, and parsley should be avoided by pregnant women. For Rosemary, Citri Unshius Pericarpium, Discoreae Rhizoma, lemongrass, Schisandrae Fructus, Cassiae Semen, Foeniculi Fructus, Mori Fructus, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Astragali Radix, the level 2 advisory may be recommended to use with caution and to consult a TKM practitioner for advice on consumption, dose, and duration.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2015

This experiment was conducted to determined the optimum planting density for the production of high quality bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) adapted in spring cultivation with the unheated greenhouse condition. 'Erave' variety was planted at three different planting densities (235, 305, $380plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) on March 26. The training method was six lateral vines with pinching the main one. The light intensity was lower in the higher planting density than the lower one. Net photosynthetic rates of the bitter gourd leaves in the higher density were significantly lower (41 to 71%) than the lower one. There was no difference in the fruit characteristics among treatments. But the root weight was heavier in the lower planting density ($235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) as 113.1g than 96.0g of the higher planting density ($380plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). The number of the harvested fruit also higher in the lower planting density ($235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) with 60.7 than 39.9 of the higher planting density ($380plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). The average fruit weight was the highest in the plot of $305plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ as 338.7g and lowest in the lower planting density ($235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) as 285.2g. The total yield of $305plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ density was $5,359kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$, which was higher than $4,068kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ of the lower planting density ($235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). Marketable yield was increased by 24% in the planting density of $305plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$($4,767kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) as compared to the lower density in $235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$($3,629kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) and increased by 13% in the planting density as $380plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$($4,137kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). Therefore, the planting density of bitter gourd was desirable in $305plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ density for the higher yield and quality in the protected cultivation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.162-167
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate proper stem cutting position and air temperature to regenerate roots from cuttings of bitter gourd. 'NS454' (NS) and 'Dragon' (DR) cultivars were tested and the cutting position was cut at the 3rd node in the stem (treatment I) and cut at the central part (stem segment) between 3rd leaf and 4th leaf in the stem (treatment II). The air temperature was maintained at 18, 23, 28 and $35^{\circ}C$ in the growth chambers, respectively. The photosynthetic photon flux at the ground of a chamber was maintained in approximately $150-200{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ during the 16-hour photoperiod. The relative humidity in the chambers was maintained over 85%. After 10 days of cuttings, regardless of cutting position, DR and NS cultivars showed 100% the survival rate in the $18^{\circ}C$ or $23^{\circ}C$ treatments, however, most of plants $18^{\circ}C$ treatment had not rooting. In the $28^{\circ}C$ treatment, regardless of cutting position, DR and NS cultivars showed 100% of the rooting rate. In the $23^{\circ}C$ treatment, for DR cultivar, the node cutting showed 90% of rooting rate and the stem segment cutting showed 40% rooting rate. For NS cultivar, the node cutting showed 50% of rooting rate and the stem segment cutting showed 40% rooting rate. DR and NS cultivars have high rooting rate, while the rooting rate remarkably decreased in the $35^{\circ}C$ treatment. For DR cultivar, the stem segment cutting showed 5.3 of the highest rooting number and the node cutting showed 2.7 rooting number in the $28^{\circ}C$ treatment. NS cultivar was not significantly different the rooting regardless of cutting position. The results suggested that cutting at the stem segment cutting of bitter gourd is an effective cutting method for increasing survival rate and the air temperature should be maintained at $28^{\circ}C$.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2017

AP2/EREBP gene family consists of transcription factor genes with a conserved AP2 DNA-binding domain and is involved in various biological processes. AP2/EREBP gene families were identified through genome-wide searches in five Cucurbitaceae species including cucumber, wild cucumber, melon, watermelon, and bitter gourd, which consisted of more than 100 genes in each of the five species. The gene families were further divided into five groups including four subfamilies (ERF, DREB, AP2 and RAV) and a soloist group. Among the subfamilies, DREB subfamily which is known to be related to abiotic stress response was more analyzed and a total of 25 genes were identified as Cucurbitaceae homologues of Arabidopsis CBF/DREB1 genes which are important for abiotic stress-response and tolerance. In silico expression profiling using RNA-Seq data revealed diverse expression patterns of cucumber AP2/EREBP genes. AP2/EREBP gene families identified in this study will be valuable for understanding the stress response mechanism as well as facilitating molecular breeding in Cucurbitaceae crops.