"Effects of Naphthaleneacetic Acid (NAA) and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) on fruit morphology, alkaloid and chlorophyll content of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L. var. 'Maharlika')"

Date

5-2002

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Major Course

Major in Cell Biology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Nina M. Cadiz

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the effects of varying concentrations (0, 20 and 100 ppm) of NAA and GA3 on fruit morphology, alkaloid and chlorophyll contents of bittergourd (Momordica charantia L. var. 'Maharlika'). Results showed that exogenous application of NAA and GA3 at 5-leaf stage induced parthenocarpy in bittergourd. In addition, the fruit lengths treated with NAA decreased significantly compared with the control. This decrease in fruit size could be due to absence of seeds as a result of the NAA-induced parthenocarpy. Application of NAA at 20 ppm decreased fresh weight significantly while the diameter increased significantly at 100 ppm NAA is known to affect cell size and therefore the observed increase in diameter of fruit at 100 ppm could probably be due to larger cell size. Fruit lengths with GA3 treatments did not differ significantly from the control, while its fresh weight and diameter decreased significantly at 20 ppm NAA treatment increased the alkaloid content of bittergourd fruits but this increase was not significantly different from the control. On the other hand. foliar alkaloid content of NAA-treated plants decreased but again was not significantly different from the control. GA3 treatments increased alkaloid content of fruits but not that of loaves. The differences, however, were not significantly different from the control. At 20 ppm NAA, the chlorophyll content of leaves increased, but decreased at the same parameter at 100 ppm. Both were not significantly different from the control. Though not significantly different from the control, GA3 treatment increased the chlorophyll content of leaves. It could be concluded that plant growth regulators like NAA and GA3 could play important roles in alkaloid yield and chlorophyll content of Momordica, not to mention other morpho-physiological effects such as parthenocarpy. NAA and GA3 could he used as potential plant growth regulators that could influence production of important bioactivc phytochemicaLs such as alkaloids. however, the use of higher concentrations is recommended for future studies along this field of interest.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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