53 PEER REVIEWED | OPEN ACCESS BANWA | ojs.upmin.edu.ph ABSTRACTS FROM ICAEM2016 BANWA | Supplement 1 | 2016 | Abstract 053 SESSION D3 Growth, Yield, and Postharvest Characteristics of Grafted Bitter Gourd using Diferent Sponge Gourd Rootstocks Michael Adonis M. Sudaria* and Rosario A. Salas Visayas State University, Philippines Abstract Grafing is an emerging technology that addresses adverse agricultural problems in both soil and climatic conditions. Te study was conducted to evaluate the growth, yield, and fruit quality of bitter gourd or ampalaya (Momordica charantia L.) grafed with diferent sponge gourd or patola (Lufa cylindrica L.) rootstocks. Te experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four treatments replicated thrice. Te treatments were as follows: T0–Control (ungrafed), T1–Hybrid patola (var. Mutya), T2–Open-pollinated variety (var. Esmeralda), and T3-Bureau of Plant Industry bacterial wilt–resistant variety patola rootstock (BPI BW resistant var.). Results revealed that grafed ampalaya plants markedly produced female fowers frst rather than male. Generally, nongrafed plants produced more laterals, longer vines on the early weeks from transplanting, more marketable fruits per plant, as well as higher total soluble solids (TSS) and electrical conductivity (EC). Nevertheless, nongrafed plants also exhibited more non-marketable fruits, greatest disease incidence, and lower percent free-radical scavenging activity (%FRSA). On the other hand, grafed ampalaya plants have lesser disease incidence, minimal percent weightloss, delayed color changes, frmness, and initial pH readings afer the eighth harvest. Postharvest life or shelf life and visual quality rating of grafed ampalaya were extended but were not statistically diferent with the nongrafed fruits. However, grafed ampalaya fruits have higher chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid content and signifcantly had the highest %FRSA. Tese fndings imply that improvement of ampalaya plant through grafing, specifcally into diferent patola rootstocks, were compatible, reduced disease incidence, and have more nutritious fruits compared to nongrafed ampalaya plants. *Correspondence Postharvest Technology Division, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Food Science, Visayas State University, Visca, Baybay, Leyte 6521-A, Philippines E michaelsudaria@gmail.com Keywords • bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) • cucurbit grafting • sponge gourd (Lufa cylindrica)