OPTIMIZATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEALING CHAMBERS FOR GRAFTED BITTERGOURD (Momordica charantia L.) SEEDLINGS

Ampalaya or bittergourd is an important vegetable crop in the Philippines. The study was conducted to determine the survival rate of grafting ampalaya with patola using cleft method of grafting and optimize type of acclimatization in rearing grafted ampalaya seedlings. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four (4) treatments replicated three (3) times with ten (10) sample plants per replication. The following treatments were as follows: T0- Control, T1- Individual acclimatization (without humidifier), T2-Individual acclimatization (with humidifier) and T3–Group acclimatization. Results revealed humidifier can supply an improvised healing chamber with a dimension of (L- 2.3 m, W-1.28 m and H- 1.08 m) and was deemed necessary in rearing grafted seedlings to attain better survival. Group acclimatization has the highest percentage graftake and survival. Ten (10) days with humidifier plus six (6) days hardening with a total acclimatization period of 16 days from grafting until prior transplanting was sufficient in establishing vascular connection between scion and stock with respect to substantial mean rainfall amount of 61.6 mm experienced during the acclimatization period favoring the acquisition of optimum range of relative humidity in a healing chamber necessary for the survival of grafted ampalaya seedlings. The relative humidity experienced during the acclimatization period specifically on the first 10 days of grafted ampalaya seedlings inside the healing chamber was 99% and a temperature ranged of 25-30°C.