University of Udaipur, Udaipur
A trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of fruit maturity, harvesting age of the plants, insect injury to fruits and "Physical hardiness" of the bittergourd seed on their germination. It was observed that the best viable seeds were produced from the fruits of full ripe stage ripe fruits from first flush and uninjured (no fruit fly injury) ripe fruits. The viability of bittergourd seed may also be checked by "Physical hardiness". Therefore it leads to the conclusion that for best bittergourd seed production ripe, uninjured fruits from first flush should be selected.
