Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Cultivation Unit, Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
2
Phytochemistry Unit, Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
The influence of compost and sulfur on the growth, yield and chemical components of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) was investigated during 2021 and 2022 in Ras Sudr Region, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt. Compost (0, 10 and 20 m3 fed-1) and sulfur (0, 350 and 700 kg fed-1) were used. The compost and sulfur were applied as soil additions either alone or in combination, and the following data were recorded: vine height, number of branches, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, yield per plant, yield per square meter, plant content of N, P, K, and S, as well as phytochemical investigations, and qualitative and quantitative chromatographic investigations of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The results indicated that, all the growth and yield characteristics were superior for the combined compost at 20 m3 fed-1 and sulfur at 700 kg fed-1. The combination of compost and sulfur addition significantly enhanced the nutrient element contents (N, P, K, and S). Phytochemical investigations of the plant powder treatments and the crude extract that had the best treatment response to compost and sulfur (20 m3 fed-1 × 700 kg fed-1) showed high concentrations of all the chemical constituents. The concentrations of gallic acid, syrengenic acid, genestic acid, myrictine, catechein and quercetin-3-O-glucoside were better investigated using HPLC. The treatment with a combination of compost at 20 m3 fed-1 and sulfur at 700 kg fed-1 gave the best results for maximizing the growth and yield of bitter gourd.
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