Pollen Cryopreservation in Bitter Gourd

Abstract

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), known variously as vegetable insulin, is an important vegetable in the family Cucurbitaceae, with a wider distribution in Asia and Africa. It has immense medicinal and nutraceutical values, making it a folklore medicine to be used in diabetes, preventing worms, and treating malaria and viral diseases. Considering the utility of this crop, breeding for improved varieties along with biotic-abiotic stresses is gaining momentum in recent years. In this context, pollen cryopreservation of cultivated and wild bitter gourd will be beneficial. In this chapter, we have discussed the procedure of collection, viability assessment, necessary preparations to be taken and method of conservation of quality bitter gourd pollen grains for their utilization in the crop improvement programs.