STRUCTURAL EFFECTS INDUCED BY CULTIVATION CONDITIONS IN Momordica charantia L. PLANTS

Abstract

Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae), a nutraceutical plant, was acclimatized in Romania in 1990. It is cultivated
in the greenhouses of S.C. HOFIGAL Import Export S.A., Romania, both in classical conditions, for commercial
purposes, and in various experimental conditions, for increasing the medicinal value and the productivity of the taxon.
The present study refers to the Momordica charantia plants, grown in experimental conditions, in soil enriched with
porous ceramic granules and aims to identify beneficial structural changes that favor their better development. The
histo-anatomical observations concerned the organization of the stem, petiole, leaf lamina and tendrils. The structural
characteristics were compared to those of plants grown in the absence of ceramic granules. Our results highlight
dimensional increases in the vegetative organs of plants cultivated in the presence of ceramic granules, significantly
higher development of conductive tissues, assimilating tissue, stomatal index and foliar cystoliths, beneficial changes
for plant growth and development.