Bitter gourd is known for its strong branching and numerous side vines, some of which bear fruit. To ensure good air circulation and healthy growth while reducing unnecessary nutrient consumption, all lateral branches below 1 meter should be removed. Then, 2-3 main branches above 1 meter should be trained to climb up bamboo poles. During the middle growth stage, pruning should stop, but it's important to remove old and yellow leaves from the base to improve ventilation and light exposure.
Bitter gourd thrives in moist conditions but is sensitive to waterlogging. It’s essential to maintain proper drainage by digging ditches around the field, especially before heavy rains. Watering should be done based on soil moisture levels. On sunny days, when evaporation is high, watering should be timely to meet the plant’s physiological needs, avoiding drought stress that can lead to wilting and affect flowering and fruiting. During the high-yield period, apply balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. You can spread organic or commercial fertilizers directly in the field, or use well-composted manure. Fertilization should follow the principle of "small amounts, frequent applications." Ensure the plants receive adequate nutrients during their active growth phase, and water them regularly during hot and dry seasons. Mulching with wheat straw helps keep the soil surface moist and prevents excessive water retention.
Weed control is crucial in bitter gourd fields. Keep the surrounding areas and irrigation channels free of weeds using herbicides like glyphosate. Regularly inspect the plants and remove any old, yellow, or diseased leaves from the lower parts of the trellis. Also, eliminate any non-fruit-bearing branches hanging low. If possible, prune shoots that don’t produce fruit or have no female flowers. Remove all infected or damaged leaves, fruits, and branches immediately and dispose of them in sealed bags to prevent disease spread.
To promote flowering, you can spray solutions such as "Flowering Essence," "Fruit Promoter," "Spray Treasure," "Amino Acids," apigenin, borax, potassium phosphate, and calcium nitrate. These products help enhance flower production and improve fruit set.
Common diseases include wilt, anthracnose, and powdery mildew, while pests like melon flies are also a concern. Powdery mildew usually appears during flowering and fruiting stages, causing white powdery spots on leaves, leading to chlorosis and early aging. To manage this, spray a solution of cyproconazole, triadimefon, or sulfur-based suspension every 7–10 days for 2–3 times. Make sure to use enough spray volume for effective coverage.
Another common disease starts on the leaf tips or edges, appearing as irregular, dark green, water-soaked lesions that later turn brown. When wet, a white mold may develop along the lesion borders. Control this with fungicides like chlorothalonil, epimedium, boer multifluid, nongliphene, anc, cipromorph, alpha-phosphorus, antivirus, or kimradler miller. Remove and destroy infected leaves to prevent further spread.
For aphid control, use insecticides like triazophos, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, or avermectin. For fruit flies, spray the young fruits 2–3 times every 4–5 days during the early fruiting stage, and promptly remove any deformed fruits. Dispose of them by burning or burying deeply outside the field.
Clostridium Butyricum
C. butyricum, a butyrate-producing, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium, is found in a wide variety of environments, including soil, cultured milk products, and vegetables. It is also present in the human gut: it is detected in 10–20% of the adult human population and is often one of the earliest colonizers in infants. In the human gut, where it is considered a ‘symbiont (living together with the host), C. butyricum has a fermentative lifestyle and can consume undigested dietary fibers and generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), specifically butyrate and acetate. Butyrate is one of the dominant fermentation end-products and is produced by C. butyricum via the butyrate kinase (buk) pathway. SCFAs produced by microbial organisms in the colon are known to have myriad and important effects on host health, including modulating intestinal immune homeostasis, improving gastrointestinal barrier function, and alleviating inflammation. As such, butyrate-producing organisms like C. butyricum have become attractive candidates to test for beneficial effects in a host. Genomic analyses are increasingly identifying novel bacterial strains with health-promoting potential that are distinct from classic probiotics (Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria).
C. butyricum is a species that encompasses various known strains, some of which have genes equipping them to produce toxins. However, genomic analyses confirm that other strains do not have these genes nor other markers of pathogenesis potential, and that these nonpathogenic strains have excellent potential to benefit host health through several mechanisms. Certain strains of C. butyricum have been used as a probiotic for decades. Strain MIYAIRI 588 (or MIYARI 588; CBM 588), first isolated from the feces of a healthy human by Dr. Chikaji Miyairi in 1933, and later from soil in 1963, is a commercially-available, over-the-counter probiotic widely used in Japan, Korea, and China for the treatment of (antimicrobial-associated) diarrhea. Strain CBM 588 is also authorized under the regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council as a novel food ingredient. Its widespread use is enabled by its safe, nonpathogenic and nontoxic profile: studies have shown that it is sensitive to antibiotics, devoid of pathogenic markers, and lacks clostridial toxin genes.
butyrate, immunity, intestinal barrier, inflammation
Biodep Biotechnology Co. ,Ltd. , https://www.biodep.com
