An Assignment on

Production Technology of Cucurbits

VSC 502 – Production Technology of warm season

vegetable crops

Submitted to – Dr. N.B. Patel

Associate Professor

Department of Vegetable Science

ACHF, NAU, Navsari

Submitted by – Avisha Ram Budhani

2nd Semester

M.Sc. (Horticulture) Vegetable Science

ACHF, NAU, Navsari

• Botanical name: Cucumis sativus L.

• Family: Cucurbitaceae

• Chromosome number: 2n=14

• Origin: India

• Ancestor : Cucumis harwickii

• Importance of crop

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an edible cucurbit popular

throughout the world for crisp texture and taste. Cucumber is a

truly versatile vegetable because of wide range of uses from salads to

pickles and digestive aids to beauty products. It is a very good source

of potassium, an important intracellular electrolyte. 100 g of

cucumber provides 147 mg of potassium. Cucumbers contains

unique anti-oxidants in moderate ratios such as β-carotene and α-

carotene, vitamin-C, vitamin-A, zea-xanthin and lutein.

Basic information

• DNP

• Thermophilic crop

• 2nd most widely cultivated cucurbit after watermelon

• 1st sequenced vegetable crop

• Prefers low temp. than WM & MM

• Most common sex form : Monoecious

• Bitterness : Cucurbitacins

• New synthetic species: Cucumis × hytivus 2n=2x=38.

• 1st gynoecious F1 hybrid, Pusa Sanyog, developed in India in 1971.

• Economic sex ratio of cucumber: 15:1.

• Induction of parthenocarpy in cucumber: Choloroflurenol

• Metaxenia: Effect of pollen on fruit shape and other fruit characteristics

Soil and Climate

Cucumbers prefer light textured soils that are well drained,

high in organic matter and have a pH of 6-6.8. Adapted to a

wide-range of soils, but will produce early in sandy soils.

Cucumbers are fairly tolerant to acid soils (down to pH 5.5).

Greenhouse cucumbers generally grow quite well in a wide

range of soil pH (5.5-7.5), but a pH of 6.0-6.5 for mineral soils

and a pH of 5.0-5.5 for organic soils are generally accepted as

optimum.

Most of the greenhouses for crop production use soil-based

media. The soil-based medium is composed of 70% red soil,

20% well decomposed organic matter and 10% rice husk. The

raised beds of 40 cm height and 90 cm top width are made for

successful cultivation of crop. Now-a-days it is an essential

practice for all greenhouses. Root medium of a greenhouse is

generally pasteurized annually. However, sometimes it is done

between every crop.

This increase in frequency is occasionally necessitated due to

the proliferation of disease-causal organisms in the greenhouse.

Formaldehyde is a commonly used chemical to sterilize the root

medium. Drenching of root medium with formaldehyde (37-40

%) mixed with water @ 25 ml per liter is the usual practice.

The Formalin used for sterilization should be mixed with water

in 1:10 proportion. For drenching Formalin is used at the rate

of 7.5 lit for 100 sq. mt. i.e. 37.5 lit of Formalin will be required

for 500-sq.mt of polyhouse.

After drenching, the soil or root medium will be covered

with plastic film or black polyethylene sheet. Close all

ventilation spaces. Three to four days after formaldehyde

treatment remove polyethylene cover. Two days after removing

the polyethylene cover rake the bed repeatedly to remove trap

formaldehyde fumes completely before transplanting.

Climate

Maximum growth occurs at a day and night temperature

of about 28°C, maximum fruit production is achieved with

a night temperature of 19-20°C and a day temperature of

20-22°C. The minimum temperature should not be lower

than 18ºC for sustained production. Prolonged

temperature above 35ºC should also be avoided as fruit

production and quality are affected at extremely higher

temperatures.

Sowing time and method

Cucumber can be grown successfully round the year under

greenhouses. Although, seed is generally sown directly into the soil,

but looking into high cost of the seed and problem of competition

among the plants during gap filling, generally, 3000 seeds are

sufficient for a greenhouse of 1000 sq. m. It is advisable to raise 20

per cent of total population through plug trays so that these can be

used for timely gap filling in order to keep pace with the growth of

other plants. There are three ingredients viz., cocopeat, vermiculite

and perlite which are used as media for nursery raising. These

ingredients are mixed in 3:1:1 ratio before filling the trays. Owing to

the cost of these ingredients, cocopeat alone can be used as rooting

media. The cocopeat usually comes in bricks of 5 kg, but before

using it as growing media it must undergo through various

hydration processes with water to remove excess of salt present in it.

Next step is to hydrate cocopeat brick with calcium nitrate @ 100 g

per brick at least for 24 hrs.

Size of bed – 30 cm height , 45 cm width and 50 cm between 2 beds

Sowing (open conditions)

Time – July-Sept

Jan-Feb

Seed rate – 3-5 kg/ha

Spacing – 1.5 x 0.5 m or 1.5 x 1 m

Irrigation

Drip irrigation

Inline lateral lines may be installed in the middle of beds. Distance between two drippers - 30 cm and its discharge rate is 2 L/hour. Diameter of riser is 16mm.

Fertilizer management

Cucumber has a high nutrient requirement and grows rapidly

when supplied with sufficient nutrients. Fertigation is done

using water soluble fertilizers @ 90, 75, 75 kg/ha (N, P, K)

twice a week, which usually commences after 10 days of

planting. The soil application of micro-nutrients (Grade-V) is

done at the time of planting. The details of fertigation are as

follows Duration Grade Quantity (g/1000 m2)

Twice a week

Initial 30 days 19:19:19 1250

00:52:34 275

00:00:50 180

Next 30 days CaNO3 1000

12:61:00 470

Urea 150

00:00:50 800

Next 30 days and

onwards

Urea 300

CaNO3 900

00:52:34 525

00:00:50 450

Cultural practices

1. Training & Pruning

Basic principle in developing training system is to uniformly

maximize the leaf interception of sunlight throughout the

house.

Staking in cucumber has been found to be very effective in

getting maximum yield and better quality of fruits.

•Types of training

1. Single stem training (60 x 45 cm)

2. Umbrella system (60 x 60 cm)

3. V-system (60 x 60 cm)

V-System

Umbrella system

Single stem system

Umbrella system: The main stem is allowed to grow vertically along the

supporting string up to the overhead wire (2 m above the ground level).

The apical bud is removed after producing two leaves above the

overhead wire. Two healthy and vigorous lateral branches at the top of

the vine are allowed to grow along the wire for about 15 cm and trained

to grow downwards. All other laterals are removed and Plants were

arranged in 60 cm x 60 cm spacing.

V system: The main stem is allowed to grow along the supporting string

and the growing point is removed at the 6th leaf stage (45-60cm plant

height). The two emerging lateral branches are then trained into a "V-

shape" onto the overhead wire. Other practices were similar to the

Umbrella system.

Single stem system: The main stem is allowed to grow vertically along

the supporting string towards the overhead wire as in the case of the

Umbrella system. When the plant reaches the overhead wire, whole vine

is lowered and trained to move downward. This system can

accommodate more plants at the spacing of 60 x 45 cm.

Pruning

• Pruning improve fruit yield and quality

• As the plant grows up the string, remove all the lateral buds

up to the sixth node (a node being where a leaf joins the

stem).

• Pruning the lateral buds allows the plant to become large

enough to support continued healthy fruit development.

• In addition to the lateral buds, all the fruits should also be

removed up to this point.

Cucumber : Pusa Seedless Cucumber-6

Year of release : 2015-16Characteristics :•First extra early (40-45 days for first fruit harvest) improved variety of parthenocarpic gynoecious cucumber suitable for cultivation in protected condition.•Fruits are attractive, uniform, dark green, glossy, cylindrical, straight, slightly ribbed, non-hairy, non-warty, slightly striped at blossom end and has tender skin & crispy flesh.•Average fruit length, width & weight are 14.24 cm, 3.45cm & 105 g, respectively.•Average fruit yield is 126 t/ha (1260 kg/ 100 m2) during winter season (off-season, November-March).

Variety Pusa Sanyog

Breeding Method Heterosis

Pedigree/Parenta

ge

Japanese Gyn. Line x Green Long Naples

Important Traits Early maturing and high yielding, fruits

long, cylindrical and dark green with

yellow stripes, flesh crisp

IIHR 177-1 Multiple-disease resistance to powdery

mildew

+ downy mildew+ alternaria

Variety Pusa Uday

Breeding

Method

Selection

Pedigree/Paren

tage

Selection from Indigenous material

Important

Traits

The plants (vines) are 1 to 1.5 m long. The

flowering behaviour is monoecious. The

fruits are medium in size (13-15 cm long),

light green in colour with whitish green

stripes.Variety Straight eight

Breeding

Method

Introduction

Pedigree/Parent

age

Introduction from USA

Important Traits Fruits medium in length, straight and

cylindrical with round ends, skin medium

green

Variety Japanese Long Green

Breeding

Method

Introduction

Important

Traits

Plants are early, prolific bearing, first

picking starts in 45 days after sowing.

Fruits are yellowish green, 30-40 cm long,

whitish green with light green and crisp

flesh. This variety essentially requires

staking for straight fruits.

Variety Kalyanpur Green

Breeding Method Selection

Important Traits Fruits thick, green, tasty while brown

at maturity. This variety is suitable for

cultivation in rainy season. This

variety has yield potential of 100-125

q/ha.

Variety Phule Shubhangi (Sel 75-1-10)

Breeding

Method

Pedgree Selection

Important

Traits

Fruits green, colour of fruit remains after storage, surface smooth

with trichoms. Plants are tolerant to pod borer, anthracnose, leaf

spot and leaf under field condition. Fruits are smooth and

attractive green fruits with white strips at apical end.

Variety Phule Priyanka

Breeding Method Hybridization

Pedigree/Parentag

e

RHRB-5 x RHRBG4

Important Traits Fruits dark green, highly prickled, 20 cm long,

suitable for rainy and summer seasons, tolerant to

downey mildew, average yield 282.7 q/ha

Pant Sankar Khira-1 The fruits are long about 20 cm,

cylindrical and green with

light stripes. Vine length is about 120

cm. It takes 50 days to

first picking the yield potential is 200

qt/ha.

Pant Khira-1 The fruits are long (20 cm), cylindrical

with light white stripes. The fruits attain

first picking stage in 50-60 days.

Recommended seed rate is 4 kg/ha. The

yield potential is150 q/ha.

Pant Parthenocarpic khira-2 A parthenocarpic cucumber variety. It is

suitable for polyhouse cultivation. No.

of female flower per vine is 551.

Average fruit wt. is 630 g and yield

potential is 2107 qt/ha.

Parthenocarpic khira-3 A parthenocarpic cucumber

variety. It is suitable for

polyhouse cultivation. No. of

female flower per vine is 465.

Average fruit weight is 415 g

and yield potential is 1992 qt/ha.

Himangni. Fruits are white in colour and

resistant to bronzing, suitable for

kharif season, average yield 180

q/ha

CO 1 Ripe fruits are bright yellow

with greenish yellow intermitant

stripes. Average yield 25-28 t/ha.

Balam khira, Delicious, Devgiri, Indam 302, Mohini, Sheetal,

Snow white Swarna Ageti, Swarna , PCUC-28

HybridsLaxmi, Ns 45, Ns 46

Greenhouse parthenocarpic varieties from Private Sector

Dinamik, Kuk-9, Kuk-24, Kuk-29, Hilton, Amal, Mirna, Valleystar, Multistar, Kian, Isatis, Alpha best, Magic, Nariman

Greenhouse parthenocarpic varieties from Public SectorPant Parthenocarpic Cucumber-2, Pant Parthenocarpic Cucumber-3

Vegetative propagation

The side shoot/ laterals or suckers are used as planting

material. Time of using these laterals as propagation material

depends largely on the purpose of taking advantage of

staggered planting or relay cropping. The lateral shoots of 9-

10 cm are taken from plants, but utmost care is required to

avoid the cutting from virus affected plants and it is always

recommended to sterilize the tools/ knife being used for

making such operations either with bleaching powder or milk

powder.

Cocopeat may be used as the rooting media. The seedlings

may be transplanted 15 days later.

Harvesting

Generally, cucumber is ready for first harvesting in 30 to 40

days of planting depending upon climatic conditions and crop

management practices.

Harvesting is done when fruits are more or less cylindrical

and well filled and should be carried out in early morning or

late evening. The produce should immediately be moved to

cool, shaded and ventilated area.

As fruits are harvested manually, so these should be clipped

or snapped with a slight twist motion and should not be

pulled off the vines to minimize ‘pulled ends’. Fruits keep on

developing as the plants grow and reach harvestable stage in

10-14 days after flower opening.

Disease and pest management

Greenhouses or protected structures are designed in such a

way to minimize or eliminate most of the insects and some of

the diseases. This is possible with the use of anti-virus nylon

nets of 40 to 50 mesh size (usually Ultra-violet stabilized) on

all sides of the greenhouse or other low cost protected

structures. Preventing the insects from entering in the

greenhouse is the best way of controlling insect problem in

the greenhouse for cucumber cultivation. The use of disease

resistant varieties also helped to reduce disease problems.

• Downy Mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis)

• Symptoms

• Disease appears as irregular, numerous, small, yellow areas surrounded by green

tissues scattered all over the leaf lamina. It appears just like in definite mosaic

pattern particularly in cucumber. The yellow areas are angular and bounded by

veins. Symptoms on bitter gourd are light brown while grayish brown on pointed

gourd without prominent yellowing on these hosts. In high humid weather, faint

white downy growth of fungus is observed.

• Management

• Crop should be grown with wide spacing in well-drained soil.

• Air movement and sunlight exposure helps in checking the disease initiation and

development. Bower system of cropping reduces the disease incidence.

• Field sanitation by burning crop debris to reduce the inoculums.

• Seed production should be preferably carried out in summer season because summer

crop is often free from disease.

• Use tolerant cucumber lines like Summer Prolific.

• Protective spray of Mancozeb @ 0.25% at seven days interval gives good control.

• In severe case one spray of Metalaxyl + Mancozeb @ 0.2% may be given but it

should not be repeated.

• Powdery Mildew (Sphaerotheca fuligena and Erysiphecichoracearum) Symptoms

• Disease appears on all foliar part as white to dull white, powdery growth. This white growth quickly covers most of the leaf surface and leads to heavy reduction in photosynthesis area. Plants may wither and die. Growth of plant and fruits seized. Transpiration rate is very fast from infected leaves.

• Management

• Foliar sprays of Penconazole @ 0.05% or Tridemorph @ 0.1% or Carbendazim @ 0.1%, give very good control of the disease.

• Use tolerant line.

Anthracnose

Causal organism: Colletotrichum lagenarium,

It is a destructive disease of cucurbits occurring during warm

and moist seasons

All aboveground plant parts can be infected

Symptoms vary among the three principal cucurbits infected.

Leaf lesions begin as water soaked and then become yellowish

circular spots

Choose anthracnose-resistant varieties if at all possible. Resistant

cucumber slicers include Dasher II, Slicemaster, and Poinsett 76.

Many pickling cucumbers are tolerant or resistant, Score and

Premier..

Fungicides

Among fungicides available are chlorothalonil (Bravo), benomyl

(Benlate), and maneb and mancozeb formulations

• Fruit Rots (Phytophthora cinnamomi, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phomopsis cucurbitae)

• Symptoms

• Disease is mostly observed on matured fruits as comparatively dry rotting with characteristic pycnidia over it. Generally lower portion of fruits touching soil surface are affected. P. cinnamomiis causing rotting of vines, leaves and fruits of pointed gourd, Rhizoctonia fruit rot is most severe in muskmelon, while Phomopsis fruit rot on ash gourd.

• Management

• Avoid soil contact of fruit by using bower system of cultivation and staking of plant.Provide proper drainage in the field.

• Green manuring followed by soil application of Trichoderma @ 5 kg/ha in soil is very effective in checking most of the fruit rotting.

• Collect affected fruits and burn them to reduce primary inoculum.

• Mosaic and Leaf Distortion • Symptoms• Most of the cucurbits grown in rainy season are affected by virus

disease like cucumber mosaic, green mottle, leaf distortion, water mosaic etc. Generally alternate green and yellow patches with mottling symptoms are observed. Sometimes leaves deform and curl downwards. Smalling and narrowing of the leaves is also observed in leaf distortion virus. Plants become small and excessive branching, proliferation of the leaves, twigs, petioles, bushy appearance of the plants are observed.

• Management • Management of the disease involves destruction of diseased hosts

and weeds. Virus free seeds must be used to check the seed transmission.

• Initial rouging of the infected plants.• Periodical spray of systemic insecticides up to flowering stage to

control vectors. Seed production should be preferably carried out in summer season because summer crop is often free from virus infection.

• Restricted use of exotic hybrids and varieties in bottle gourd, bitter gourd and cucumber.

Pest of cucumber

• Dacus ciliatus L.

• Dacus cucurbitae

symptoms

• The maggots after hatching feed

on pulp of the fruits and rendered

them unfit for human

consumption.

• Rotting of fruits

• The fly is active in hot and

hibernates as pupae or adults

during the cold months.

Fruit fly

Control measures

• Clean cultivation- Removal and destruction of

fallen fruits and infested fruits daily to

minimize the pest intensity.

• Spraying with 0.2% carbaryl is also found

effective.

• Deep ploughing to expose hibernating stages,

• Five spraying with 0.05% Malathion at 10

days interval starting from flowering are

reported to reduce the intensity of infestation.

• Use of pheromone traps for monitoring pest

population

Insect Name : Red Pumpkin Beetle

Scientific Name : Alucophora foveicollis

• The grubs feed on the roots and

underground portion of host

plants and fruits touching the soil.

• Infested parts start rotting due to

secondary infection by

saprophytic fungi.

• Infested fruits become unfit for

human consumption.

• Adult feed on leaf lamina making

irregular holes.

• They prefer young seedling and

tender leaves and damage may

even kill the seedlings.

Management :

• As insects pupate in the soil, deep ploughing

soon after the crop exposes and kill grubs and

pupae.

• Apply Furadan 3G (Granule ) 3-4 cm deep in

soil near base of germinated seedlings.

• Collect and destroy of beetles in early stage of

infection.

• Spray Malathion @ 2 ml /liter of water for

effective control.

• Dusting with 5% Malathion @ 10kg/ha.

• Serpentine Leaf Miner (Liriomyza trifolii Burgess)• This is an introduced pest occurring on many cucurbit

vegetables. Heavy incidence is noticed in watermelon, pumpkin, cucumber, etc. However, bitter gourd seems to be resistant. A native larval parasitoid, Hemiptarsenus vericornis is the major parasitoid on this pest.

• Management• Soil application of neem cake @ 250 kg/ha immediately after

germination.• Destroy cotyledon leaves with leaf mining at 7 days after

germination.• Spray PNSPE @ 4% or neem soap 1% or neem formulation with

10000 ppm or more (2ml/l) after 15 days sowing and repeat after 15 days, if necessary.

• If the incidence is high first remove all severely infected leaves and destroy. Then mix neem soap 5 gm and hostothion 1 ml/l and spray. After one week, spray neem soap 1% or PNSPE or neem formulation with 10000 ppm or more (2ml/l).

• Never spray the same insecticide repeatedly.

• Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus neocaledonicus Andre)• This pest is serious on cucurbits during warmer climate.

Colonies of mites with in silk web can be observed on ventral leaf surface when incidence is high.

• Management• Spray neem or pongamia soap at 1% on lower surface

thoroughly.• Alternately, spray Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2ml/l or Ethion 50 EC @

1ml/l or Wettable Sulphur 80 WP @ 3g/l.• Thrips (Thrips palmi Karny)• Both nymphs and adults feed on the young shoot tips and floral

parts and is suspected vector of Tospo virus. They are serious during summer months.

• Management• Soil application of neem cake (once immediately after

germination and again at flowering) followed by NSPE @ 4% and neem soap 1% alternately at 10-15 days interval.

• Spray any systemic insecticides like Acephate 75 SP @ lg/l or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2ml/l.

• Leaf Eating Caterpillar (Dipahania (=Margaronia) indica Saund)

• Long shining caterpillars feed on leaves and fruits.

• Apply neem cake to soil immediately after germination.

• Spray any contact insecticides like Carbaryl 50 WP @ 3g/l. Neem or pongamia soap @ 0.75% also effectively manages this pest.

• Soil application of neem cake (once immediately after germination and again at flowering) followed by NSPE @ 4% and neem soap 1% alternately at 10-15 days interval.

• Spray Carbaryl 50 WP @ 3g/l or Indoxacarb 0.5 ml/l.

• Root-knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita)

• The root-knot nematodes cause root galls from the initial stages of the crop growth. The larvae feed on the roots, which show typical galls, and later the entire root system shows heavy galling. The foliage becomes light yellowish; the plants become stunted and results in flower and fruit drop. In spite of irrigation the plants appear sick and drooping during daytime.

• Management

• Seed treatment with bio-pesticide Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10g/kg seed.

• Apply Carbofuran 3 G @ 1kg ai/ha at sowing and repeat after 45 days.

• Apply 2 tons of FYM enriched with Pochoniachlamydosporia and Paecilomyces lilacinus per acre before sowing, along with 100-200 kg of neem or pongamia cake.

Symptoms

some time fruits of cucumber have bitter taste.

Causes

This disorder is prevalent under cool weather at high

elevations.

Open pollination and excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizer

are cause this disorder.

Management

Judicious application of nitrogenous fertilizer and controlled

self pollination would help to reduce bitterness.

Bitterness

Symptoms This disorder is more serious

in cucumbers qualitative losses due to

production of variously curved fruit.

Causes

Curved fruit are the result of imperfect

pollination and fertilization.

High soil moisture ,poor nutrition and

adverse temperature favour the

development of crooked-fruits.

Management

Optimum irrigation and nutrition

scheduling may prove helpful.

Keep the crop free from insect pest.

Crooked fruit or crooking or curvature

Symptoms

Cucurbits are highly susceptible to low temperatureor frost injury.

Causes

Freezing of cell sap results in rupture of the cellmembrane.

Control

Applying irrigation, smoking in the field and spray offrost-preventive chemical.

Frost or low temperature injury

Pillow disorder - Calcium deficiency

SymptomsThe cracking is mostly vertical initiated from the basal part of

the fruit.

The slit is wide enough to expose seed and other internaltissues.

Cracking makes the fruits prone to microbial infection andunfit for consumption..

Fruit splitting or cracking

CauseHeavy rainfall or Rain after a long period of water stress causes

fruits to splits.

Calcium deficiency aggravates the disorder.

ManagementImproving moisture conservation in soil will help reduce

cracking.

If the crop is irrigated after a long stress , apply 2-3 light

irrigation instead of one heavy irrigation.

Symptoms

The disorder is common in dark and uniformly

coloured cultivars of cucumber.

The side of the fruit touching moist, cool soil turns to

yellow or whitish yellow.

The uniform green colour of the fruit with is distorted

making the fruit less attractive.

Light belly colour

Causes

Direct contract of the fruits with moisture , soil suppresses

development of normal fruit colour.

Delay in turning the fruits in field encourages this disorder.

Management

Use of plastic mulch can check contact of fruit with moiture

soil helping to avoid this disorder

Use varieties less susceptical to this disorder.

Turn the fruit in field from time to time

Do not delay harvesting of fruits

SymptomsThis refers to formation of abnormal- shaped fruits with

reduced market value.

Fruit may be bottle shaped, pitcher shaped, knobby, pointedat the blossom end or excessively elongated.

Misshapen fruits

CausesEnvironmental factor adversely affecting pollination and

fertilization results in misshapen fruits

High plant population or dense plant canopy not providingsufficient space to developing fruits forces abnormal growth ofthe fruits

Negligence in using growth hormones and herbicides alsocauses distortion of the fruit.

ManagementKeep the optimum plant population

Maintain uniform soil moisture throughout the crop period.

Carefully check the concentration , time of application andcrop sensitivity before using growth regulator or herbicide.

BOTTLE GOURD

• B.N. – Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.

• Family – Cucurbitaceae

• Monoecious ; DNP

• Isolation distance – F – 800 m

C – 400 m

• 2n = 22 ; Origin – S. Africa

Bottle gourd or calabash is a delicately flavored, cucurbita family vegetable. It is one of the chief culinary vegetables in many tropical and temperate regions around the world.

Bottle gourd is a fast growing, annual climber (vine) that requires adequate sunlight for flowering and fruiting. It can be grown under wide range of soils and require trellis to support spread.

Its intensely branched stems bear musky, deep green, broad leaves just similar as that in pumpkins, and white, monoecious flowers in the summer. After about 75 days from the plantation, young, tender, edible fruits evolve that will be ready for harvesting.

Bottle gourds come in wide range of shapes and sizes. The fruit features oval, pear shaped or elongated and smooth skin that is light green in color. In case of round or pear sahped calabash, their surface is marked by incospicuousridges that run lengthwise. Internally, its flesh is white, spongy and embedded with soft, tiny seeds.

The fruits are used as a vegetable or making sweets (e.g. halwa, kheer, pedha and barfi) and pickles. As a vegetable, it is easily digestible even by patients.

The dry hard shells are used to make musical instruments, pipes, bowls, bottles, containers, floats for fishing nets etc.

Kofta is a most popular preparation.

Good source of fibre free carbohydrates and fruit pericarp for crude fibre.

Oil extracted from kernels of seed is used as hair oil.

CLIMATE AND SOIL

Loam or sandy loam soil is most suitable.

Too much acidic soil pH is not suitable (less than 5.5).

Seed germination is fast at 25-30ºC.

Night temperature of 18-22ºC and day temperature of 30-

35ºC is optimum. Day temp above 40ºC may cause

scorching of leaves.

Optimum temperature has higher proportion of female

flowers and fruits/plant.

Higher temperature induces maleness.

It is grown in summer and rainy season.

In summer, the crop is sown in Dec-Jan and in rainy

season in June-July.

VARIETIES

• Arka Bahar

• Kalyanpur Hari Lambi – fruits slightly dark green in

color

• NDBG 1 – gives early yield in upland conditions ;

highly preferred for diara cultivation

• NDBG 4

• PBOG 1

• Phule BTG 1 - produces comparatively more female

flowers at basal nodes

• Punjab Komal – variety with shortest duration from

fruit set to maturity , 70DAS

• Punjab Long

• Punjab Round

• Pusa Manjari – high yielding hybrid , round fruited

• Pusa Meghdoot – F1 hybrid between Pusa Summer Prolific Long and Sel. 2.

• Pusa Naveen – perfectly cylindrical fruit, free from crook neck

• Pusa Summer Prolific Long – can be grown in rainy season also.

• Pusa Summer Prolific Round – prolific bearer and heavy yielder.

• Rajendra Chamatkar

• Kalyanpur Long Green – developed at CSAUAT Vegetable Research Station, Kalyanpur, Kanpur

• Samrat – released from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri ; Box packing

• Pusa Hybrid 3 – for distant market, very early maturing

• Anand BG – 1

• Junagadh Long Tender

• Seed rate – 3- 3.5 kg/ha

• 450-500 seeds/100 g

• Spacing – 2 x 1 m.

• After germination, the vine may be trained on bower.

• 20 t/ha FYM alongwith 100:50:50 kg/ha NPK is to be

applied. The first half dose of N must be applied as

basal while the other half 30DAS.

• The crop requires frequent irrigation as high humidity

is needed for prolific bearing. During hot and humid

weather, irrigation after every third or fourth day is

needed.

• Fruit set can be improved by spraying the plants with

MH (400 ppm) alongwith 100kg N/ha.

• The crop is ready for harvest approx. 60-70 DAS. The

fruits take 12-15 days after fruit setting to reach

marketable stage. Fruits should be picked after every 3-

4 days. Smaller and tender fruits fetch a better price in

the market.

• Yield – 20t/ha ; hybrids – 40-50 t/ha

BITTER GOURD

• Also called Balsam Pear, Bitter cucumber, bitter melon

• B.N. – Momordica charantia L.

• Family – Cucubitaceae

• 2n = 22

• Origin – Indo – Burma

• Grown for its tender fruits.

• Turn to orange yellow color when ripe

• Cheratin – effective against diabetes.

• Monoecious nature

• Fresh : dehyrated fruit ratio – 16:1

• Bitter principle – Momordicin

• Fruits rich in Fe.

CLIMATE AND SOIL

• warm season crop

• Optimum temperature – 25-30ºC

• Temperature <18ºC – slow growth, poor yield and

>36ºC, reduction in female flowers.

• Long days – male flowers

• Low temperature (20ºC) and short days – female flowers

• Sandy loam soils are most suitable

• pH – 6.5-7

SOWING

• July – Sept or Jan – Feb

• Seed rate – 4-5 kg/ha

• Seed treatment – thiram @ 2g/kg

• 4 seeds/pit are sown and later 2-3 may be retained.

Instead of sowing in the main field, the seeds can be

sown in polythene bags and can be shifted to pits in the

main field after 15-20 days.

• Spacing – 2 x 1.5 m

• The crop should be irrigated immediately after planting

in summer and subsequently at 2-3 days interval.

VARIETIES

• Pusa Do Mausami – grows well in summer as well as rainy season

• Pride of Surat

• Pride of Gujarat

• Arka Harit

• Pusa Vishesh – suitable for summer season

• Phule Green – MPKV, Rahuri

• Phule Green Gold

• Priya – 40 cm long fruits

• Preethi – white

• Kalyanpur sona – stuffing

• Priyanka – white

• Coimbatore Long white – extra long fruits

• Pusa hybrid – 1,2

• Konkan Tara – export ; from Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli , MH

• MDU 1 – induced mutant ; greenish white spiny fruits

• Coimbatore Green – extra long fruits upto 60 cm

• Harkani – from MPKV, Rahuri

• RHR BGH 1 – from MPKV, Rahuri ; F1 hybrid ; tolerant to downy mildew

• 20 t/ha FYM alongwith 60:60:60 kg/ha NPK.

• Application of growth regulators at 2-4 leaf stage play

an important role in sex expression and sex ratio. MH @

50-150 ppm and CCC @ 50-100 ppm increase

female:male ratio. Ethrel @ 25 ppm increases female

flowers. MH @ 150-250 ppm when applied at 2 leaf

stage in ‘Pusa Do Mausami’ induces the formation of

female flowers.

• Flowering – 45-55 DAS

• First picking could be taken 60-70 days after planting.

• Yield – 10-15 t/ha ; hybrids – 20-30 t/ha

RIDGE GOURD

• B.N. - Luffa acutangula Roxb.

• Family – Cucurbitaceae

• 2n = 26

• Monoecious

• Origin – Asia

• Contains luffein.

• Commercially trained on kniffin system.

• Fruits are ribbed and called kali tori.

• Contains 18mg/100g Vitamin C.

• The genus derives its name from the product ‘loofah’, which is used in bathing sponges, scrubber pads, doormats, pillows, mattresses and also for cleaning utensils.

CLIMATE & SOIL

• Grows very well in warm hot climate.

• Optimum temperature – 25 – 30ºC

• Higher temperature >38ºC produces male flowers.

• Sandy loam soil, rich in OM is most suited.

• Proper drainage is highly beneficial.

• pH – 6.5-7

SOWING

• Time – July – Sept ; Jan – Feb

• Seed rate – 3-5 kg/ha

• Spacing – 1.5 x 0.5 m or 1.5 x 1 m

• Sow 4 seeds/pit ; retain only 2 healthy seedlings.

• Seeds can also be raised in polybags which further

reduces seed rate to 1.5 kg/ha

VARIETIES

• Pusa Nasdar – suitable for summer and rainy season

• CO 1

• Satputia – hermaphrodite ; smaller fruits in clusters ,

pale green fruits

• Konkan Harita – developed by Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, MH; gives first harvest at 45 days after planting

• Punjab Sadabahar – rich in protein

• IIHR – 8 – high yielding, good market value, good cooking quality especially stuffing

• PKM 1

• Pusa Sadabahar

• Hisar Kalitori

• Gujarat Anand RG-1

• GJRGH – 1

• Pant Toria 1

• Arka Sujat

• Arka Sumeet

• Swarna Manjari

• Swarna Uphar

• Pusa Nutan

• Surekha – hybrid

• FYM @ 20t/ha alongwith 50:25:25 kg/ha NPK. Half N

as basal dose and the other half 30 days after planting.

• NAA (200 ppm) helps maintain sex ratio.

• The crop is ready for harvest in about 60-90 days after

planting. The fruit attains marketable maturity about 5-

7 days after anthesis of female flower.

• Picking should be done after every 3-4 days.

• Avg. yield – 10- 15 t/ha

• Hybrids – 20-30 t/ha

SPONGE GOURD

• B.N. – Luffa cylindrica Roem.

• Family – Cucurbitaceae

• Fruits are smooth and called ghia tori.

• Contains luffein.

• 2n = 26

• Origin – Asia

• Has higher protein and carotene than ridge gourd.

• Monoecious

• Also called towel gourd, smooth loofah, vegetable

sponge, dish cloth gourd.

CLIMATE & SOIL

• Grows very well in warm hot climate.

• Optimum temperature – 25 – 30ºC

• Higher temperature >38ºC produces male flowers.

• Sandy loam soil, rich in OM is most suited.

• Proper drainage is highly beneficial.

• pH – 6.5-7

• Frost susceptible.

SOWING

• Time – July – Sept ; Jan – Feb

• Seed rate – 3-5 kg/ha

• Spacing – 1.5 x 0.5 m or 1.5 x 1 m

• Sow 4 seeds/pit ; retain only 2 healthy seedlings.

• Seeds can also be raised in polybags which further

reduces seed rate to 1.5 kg/ha

VARIETIES

• Pusa Sneha

• Phule Prajakta – MPKV, Rahuri

• Kalyanpur Hari

• Chikni

• Pusa Chikni – high yielding, early maturing, bears

flowers 45DAS, summer and rainy season

• Gujarat Galka 1

• Pusa Supriya – summer and kharif, improvement over

Pusa Chikni, ready for first picking at 47-55 DAS

• Rajendra Nenua 1

HYBRIDS

• Harita

• PGS 40

• Divyanka

• Azad Tarai 1, 2

• FYM @ 20t/ha alongwith 50:25:25 kg/ha NPK. Half N

as basal dose and the other half 30 days after planting.

• Ethrel (250 ppm) helps maintain sex ratio.

• The crop is ready for harvest in about 60-90 days after

planting. The fruit attains marketable maturity about 5-

7 days after anthesis of female flower.

• Picking should be done after every 3-4 days.

• Avg. yield – 10- 15 t/ha

• Hybrids – 20-30 t/ha

CHOW CHOW

• B.N. – Sechium edule Swartz.

• Family – Cucurbitaceae

• 2n = 24

• Origin – Mexico

• Single seeded fruit

• Most nutritious among cucurbits.

• Perennial climbing vine with tuberous roots ; Monoecious

• High calcium content

• Also called Chayote, Choco, askas

• Propagation by fruits (vivipary)

• Pear shaped fruits

• Fruits, tubers, seeds and leaves have been long used by the

native Americans.

• Seeds are even considered a delicacy.

• Varieties – Round white

Long white

Pointed green

Broad Green

Oval green

• In Bangalore, 2 types green and creamy green are grown.

• Requires well drained soil rich in OM

• pH – 5.5 – 6.5

• Spacing – 3.5 x 2 m

• Plants require support by poles or trellis

• Vines start flowering in 3-4 months and production is

continuous.

• In Bangalore, planting is done all around the year, but

preferably July.

• A single fruit weighs 200-450 g

• Yield – 20-25 t/ha