Growth, yield and postharvest quality of ampalaya (Momordica charantia L.) under protected cultivation in response to different pruning techniques

Bitter gourd or ampalaya (Momordica charantia L.) is one of the most consumed vegetables in the Philippines due to its nutritional and medicinal values. Therefore, its production must be increased through appropriate cultural management practices, such as pruning. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth, yield and postharvest qualities of ampalaya as influenced by different pruning techniques. The experiment was laid out in simple randomized complete block design with three replications and four treatments; T0) no pruning; T1) pruning the main stem at the 3^rd node; T2) pruning the main stem at the 7^th node; and T3) laterals within the first 0.5 m of the main vine pruned. Results revealed that removal of lateral vines within the first 0.5 m of the main vine significantly enhanced the reproductive stage as expressed in the number of days to first staminate and pistillate flowers appearance and node number bearing at the first flower. Furthermore, the vegetative characteristics: such as main vine length, fresh weight of vines and herbage yield, fruit number, heaviest weigh of marketable fruit and total fruit yield of 61.29 t ha^‑1 was obtained by pruning all lateral vines at 0.5 m from the base. Therefore, this is best pruning technique for ampalaya.