First report on hermaphrodite flower in spine gourd through induced mutagenesis by gamma rays

Spine gourd botanically known as Momordica dioica Roxb., is a promising yet underutilized vegetable with significant potential for future consumption due to its well-documented health benefits and pharmaceutical applications. This research explores the application of mutation breeding techniques to enhance spine gourd cultivars. Mutation breeding offers a unique opportunity to introduce novel traits not currently present within the species gene pool. These novel traits may represent entirely new characteristics or the reintroduction of traits lost during evolutionary divergence. A particularly impactful discovery could be the generation of hermaphroditic flowers in spine gourd, a naturally dioecious plant requiring separate male and female plants for successful reproduction. The development of hermaphroditic lines would represent a major breakthrough for future research efforts. Furthermore, mutation breeding has the potential to significantly reduce cultivation costs and minimize genetic degradation in elite varieties, leading to commercial advantages.