Abstract
Five experiments were carried out during 2003 to 2006 at the Agricultural Research Station, Burirhat, Rangpur to study the seed production of bitter gourd with the objective to increase the yield and quality of bitter gourd seeds through different management practices. In experiment I, the maximum seed yield (273.30 kg/ha) was obtained from the plants of March sowing with the closest spacing (1.8 m x 0.5 m) whereas, the highest seed germination (96.67%) and seed vigour index (23.30) were obtained from February sowing with widest spacing (1.8 m x 1.0 m). But the effective seed yield (248.07 kg/ha) was higher in March sowing with a spacing of 1.8 m x 1.0 m. In a study with vine pruning and fruit retention treatments (experiment II), the seed yield (302.81 kg/ha) and effective seed yield (282.61 kg/ha) were the highest in vine pruning treatment with the plants that retained all the fruits, whereas the maximum seed germination (98%) and seed vigour index (23.84) were found from vine pruning with the plants retaining 2 fruits. Fertilizer trials (experiment III) conducted in two years (2004-2005) showed significant influence of different doses of NPKB on the yield and quality of bitter gourd seeds. The seed yield, effective seed yield, seed germination, seed vigour index and benefit cost ratio were the highest from the treatment combination of N₇₀P₃₀K₅₀B₀.₄ kg/ha in two consecutive years. In experiment IV, treatments of seedling with different concentrations of plant growth regulators (GA₃, NAA and MH) showed significant influence on the number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, number of filled seeds per fruit, weight of 100 seed, seed yield per plant and per hectare. The maximum number of fruits per plant (15.55), average fruit weight (637.07 g), number of filled seeds per fruit (53.26), weight of 100 seed (21.20 g), seed yield per plant (86.70 g) and per hectare (775.35 kg) were found from the treatment of 50 ppm NAA. In respect of seed quality, the highest seed germination (98.67%) with a seed vigour index of 23.64 was also obtained from NAA at 50 ppm. In the seed quality study with storage period and container (experiment V), the maximum germination (97.67%) with a seed vigour index of 22.95 was recorded from seeds stored in aluminium foil for 60 days. However, the seeds could be stored in polythene bag, polythene with gunny bag or in metallic containers for a period up to 240 days maintaining 80% seed germination.