Fifty genotypes of small-fruited bitter gourd were evaluated for yield under sodic soil. The seeds were sown in sodic soil with pH of 9.1 and EC of 0.12 dS/m. The lowest electrolyte leakage was recorded in MCM 10 (29.85%) followed by MCM 5 (31.43%) and MCM 2 (32.18%). The higher accumulation of proline was recorded in MCM 41 (0.610 mg/g) followed by MCM 14 (0.547 mg/g), MCM 1 (0.545 mg/g) and MCM 16 (0.543 mg/g). The germination percentage ranged from 51.33 to 100. The number of days for germination was significantly lower (5.79) in MCM 3, followed by MCM 50 (5.95). The number of days taken for first female flower opening ranged from 41.52 to 59.27. The number of days for first female flower opening was significantly lower (41.52) in MCM 25, followed by MCM 7(22.78) and MCM 24 (44.94). The significantly longer fruits (5.97 cm) were recorded in MCM 45, followed by MCM 41 (5.23). The individual fruit weight was significantly higher (9.94 g) in MCM 45, followed by MCM 39 (8.88) and MCM 41 (8.82). The number of fruits per plant ranged from 29.43 to 48.38. The number of fruits/plant was significantly higher in MCM 12 (48.38) followed by MCM 1 (48.33). The higher yield per plant was recorded significantly higher in MCM 45 (399.4 g) followed by MCM 41 (324.3g) and MCM 1(309.3 g). The high yielding small-fruited bitter gourd genotypes with sodicity tolerance can be successfully used in breeding programmes for developing new varieties and hybrids.

Small-fruited bitter gourd, yield, sodic soil, proline, electrolyte leakage

Among 50 small-fruited bitter gourd genotypes evaluated, MCM 12 (44.38 fruits/plant) and MCM 1 (48.33 fruits/plant) recorded better yield performance. The lowest electrolyte leakage was recorded in MCM 10 (29.85 %) followed by MCM 5 (31.43 %) and MCM 2 (32.18 %). The higher accumulation of proline was recorded in MCM 41 (0.610 mg/g) followed by MCM 14 (0.547 mg/g), MCM 1 (0.545 mg/g) and MCM 16 (0.543 mg/g). The presence of wide variation in yield, electrolyte leakage and proline content in small-fruited bitter gourd offered a great scope for selecting the suitable genotypes in the breeding programmes for development of varieties/hybrids for sodic soil.

R. Neelavathi, C. Indu Rani and Shibi Sebastian (2025). Effect of electrolyte leakage and proline content on growth and yield of small-fruited bitter gourd, Momordica charantia L. var. muricata under sodic soil condition. Biological Forum, 17(9): 112-117.