The experiments on propagation will be established at the Plant Genetic Resources Nursery of the Mariano Marcos State University. Different propagation techniques will be employed on seed and matured healthy vine cuttings of a female parent plant.

Substudy 1. Evaluation on the Effect of Scarification in Seed Germination of M. cochinchinensis

Seeds will be collected and extracted from fully ripened M. cochinchinensis (sugod-sugod) fruits. They will be dried and stored at room temperature for two months. They will be sown in potted garden soil using black polyethylene bags (4x6 inches), organic fertilizer and decomposed rice hull with 1:1:1 ratio. It will be laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCDB) with three replications.

Before the seeds will be sown into the potted soil the seeds will be scarified or prepared according to their treatments. 

Watering will be done every other day or as needed. Data on germination rate and % germination will be taken and recorded.

Substudy 2. Evaluation of Asexual Propagation Techniques for Momordica cochinchinensis

Momordica conchinchinensis is a perennial vine and this plant is dioecious which means that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants of the same species. Hence, in order to have fruits, one has to grow several vines nearby to ensure successful pollination. To eliminate male plant, asexual propagation will be employed which is a possible source of planting materials.

Activity 1. Evaluation of different length of vine cuttings/number of nodes in vegetative propagation of M. cochinchinensis (sugod-sugod)

The cuttings will be prepared into different cutting length or treatments of 1 node, two node, three node and 4 nodes using matured vines. They will be planted in previously filled black polyethylene bags (4x6 inches) filled with a mixture of ordinary garden soil, organic fertilizer and decomposed rice hull with 1:1:1 ratio. This will be laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. 

Activity 2. Evaluation of different root hormone/solutions in vegetative propagation of M. cochinchinensis (sugod-sugod)

Different kinds of rooting hormone will be prepared following their recommended concentration. Dip each end of the cut stems into the root-inducing hormone. After the specified time of soaking, the cuttings will be planted immediately in the prepared potted media. It will be laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated 3 times. These will be planted in previously filled black polyethylene bags (4x6 inches) with 1:1:1 ratio of ordinary garden soil, organic fertilizer and decomposed rice hull. 

Activity 3. Evaluation of different levels of root hormone in vegetative propagation of M. cochinchinensis (sugod-sugod)

The vine cuttings will be soaked in the prepared solution of different concentrations of the rooting hormone Hormex (best selection in Activity 2) for 15 minutes before planting on previously black polyethylene bags (4x6 inches) with 1:1:1 ratio of ordinary garden, soil, organic fertilizer and decomposed rice hull. The potted cuttings will be placed under the shade replicated three times in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD).

To ensure good survival of the propagated cuttings they will be kept warm and moist by covering them with plastic for two weeks or until sprouts begin to appear. Watering will be done every other day or as needed to keep the surrounding humid. After 60 DAT data gathering will be on the number of days to sprout, % survival, number of shoots/plant, vine/shoot length/plant, root length and number of roots.