MD. RAMAJN CHF, CAU, Pasighat Arunachal Pradesh

2. BY
MD.RAMJAN
M.Sc. Horticulture (Vegetable Science)
01H-M-2016
College of Horticulture and Forestry
Central Agricultural University
Pasighat-791102
Arunachal Pradesh

3. Domestication
 AVAILABILITY OF GENERAAND SPECIES
 WORLD=GENERA -118, SPECIES - 825
 INDIA =GENERA 38 SPECIES 125
 ECONOMICALLY IMPAVAILABILITY OF GENERAAND SPECIES
 WORLD=GENERA -118, SPECIES - 825
 INDIA =GENERA 38 SPECIES 125
• ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT =38
• COMMERCIALLY ADOPTED =30
• IGNORED BUT UNDER THE TRIBALS=10

4. Importance
 Cucurbits form an important and a big group of vegetable
crops cultivated extensively during summer season.
 This group consist as of wide range of vegetables which are
used either as salad, pickling (cucumber) or for cooking (all
gourds) or candied or preserved (ash gourd) or as desert
fruits (musk melon and water melon).
 All cucurbits belong to the same family cucurbitaceae but
genera may be different.
The cultural requirements of all crops in this group are more
or less similar.

5. Botanical description
Cucurbits are highly cross pollinated and pollination is done by
honey bees and bumble bees.
Flowers are born in axils of leaves and are solitary or in racemose
clusters.
Individual flowers are unisexual, large and showy.
Fruit is essentially an inferior berry and is called as “pep” due to
hard rind when mature.
 Fruits can be stored for long period in ash gourd, pumpkin,
oriental pickling melon, etc. while keeping quality is less in
cucumber, snake gourd, bitter gourd, etc.
The fruits of all cucurbits except chow chow are many seeded.
Seeds are borne in parietal placentation-Placenta is the edible
portion in water melon while in ash gourd, ridge gourd and smooth
gourd it is endocarp.
In muskmelon, edible portion is mostly pericarp with a little
mesocarp

6. Cucurbits are mostly seed propagated.
A few are vegetative propagated like parwal and coccinia.
Most cucurbits are annuals except chow chow and coccinia, both
having perennial habit.
Cucurbitacins – Majority of cucurbits are characterized by presence of
bitter principles, cucurbitacins at some portions of plant and at some
stages of development.
 Cucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpins having extensive oxidation
levels.
Its highest concentration is in fruits and roots and is less in leaves.
Pollen grain also carries fairly good amount of bitter principles.
This is a common problem in oriental pickling melon, cucumber and
bottle gourd and is rarely noticed in ridge gourd and snake gourd.
 The consumers usually remove fruit tips during conception to avoid
possible chance of bitterness in fruits.

7. Sex forms
There are three types of flowers, staminate (Androecous), pistilate (gynoecious)
and hermaphordite while majority of vegetable bear hermaphordite. The
cucurbits bear the above or in combination. Kalloo (1985) described following
sex form :
Trimonoecious -Rare in breeding lines of cucumber, muskmelon and ridge gourd.
2. Monoecious -Predominante one - ash gourd, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, cucumber,
muskmelon, pumpkin, ridge gourd, round melon, squash, watermelon.
3. Androecious -Rare
4. Andromonoecious (0.0) -Muskmelon mainly.
5. Gynoecious -Cucumber, muskmelon breeding lines.
6. Gynomonoecious -cucumber
7. Hermaphordite -Ridge gourd

8. Flowering
 Majority of cucurbits start
flowering 30-45 days after
sowing and it follows a
definite sequence. An
alternate sequence of male
and female flowers follows
up to fruit set.
 The first 4-6 flowering
nodes bear male flowers
and alter female flowers.
 Developing fruits in a vine
determine production of
further female flowers
further down in the vine.

9. Pollination

Pollination takes place early in
morning between 6-8 am in
cucumber, pumpkin, muskmelon
and watermelon.
 Pollination is altered in the day
when temperature is high in bottle
gourd and ridge gourd. In snake
gourd and pointed gourd, anthesis
takes place during night and
pollination early in the morning.
In pumpkin, pollen production is
more while in muskmelon, pollen
production is scanty and pollen
grains are sticky due to oily film
surrounding them.
 Extent of cross pollination in
cucurbits is 60-80%. They are
entomophilous and bees, beetles
and moths cause pollination.

10. Sex modification

Majority of cucurbits are monoecious and sex ratio (male: female) ranges
from 25-30:1 to 15:1.
 Sex ratio is influenced by environmental factors. High N content in the soil,
long days and high temperature favour maleness. Besides environmental
factors, endogenous levels of auxins, gibberellins, ethylene and abscisic
acid also determine sex ratio and sequence of flowering.
 Endogenous application of plant growth regulators can alter sex form, if
applied at 2-4 leaf stage.
 High ethylene level induces female sex and is suggested to increase female
flowers in cucumber, musk melon, summer squash and pumpkin. In
cucumber, maleic hydrazide (50-100 ppm) GA 3 (5-10 ppm), Ethrel (150-
200 ppm), TIBA (25-50 ppm), boron (3 ppm) also induce female flowers.
 Gibberellins promote maleness and are antagonistic to the action of ethylene
and abscisic acid.
 In fact, gynoecious line of cucumber is maintained by inducing male
flowers through spray of GA 3 (1500-2000 ppm). Silver nitrate (300-400
ppm) also induces maleness.

11. Cucumber
Botanical name – Cucumis sativus L.
Faimly - Cucurbitaceae
Origin place - India
Chromosom -2x = 2n = 14
Wild spp. Of Cucumber- Cucumis sativus var. hardiwickii
(Ancestor of cucumber)
In India , There are 34 genera and 108 spp. are found

12. Improved cultivar of Cucumber
(Hari Har Ram, 1998)
Cultivar Parentage Source
Himangi Poinsette × Kalyanpur Ageti MPKV, Rahuri
Phule Shubhangi Selection MPKV, Rahuri
Balam Khira, Punjab-1 Selection PAU, Ludhiana
DCH-1 and DCH-2 Tropical gynoecious hybrids IARI, New Delhi
Pusa Sanyog Japanease gynoecious line × Green
Long Nepals, F1 hybrid
IARI, Katrain
Pusa Uday Selection from local cultivar IARI, New Delhi
Swarna Ageti
Swarna Sheetal
Pant khira 1
Hybridization, slicing type
Selection
IIHR, Banglore
GBPUAT

13. Pumpkin
Botanical name - Cucurbita moschata
Faimly - Cucurbitaceae
Origin place - South America
Choromosome No. - 2x = 2n = 40
There are 26 Cucurbita species including five cultivated
species –
1. Cucurbita – pepo (summer squash, ornamental gourd)
2. C. – mixta ( both summer and winter )
3. C. - moschata ( field pumpkin, Kaddu)
4. C. - maxima ( winter squash)
5. C. - ficifolia ( fig leaf gourd plants)

14. Improved cultivar of Pumpkin
(Hari Har Ram, 1998)
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
Arka Chandan Selection from local varaiety IIHR, Banglore
Pusa Vishwas Selection IARI, New Delhi
Pusa Vikas Selection IARI, New Delhi
CM-14 Selection KAU
Co1 Selection TNAU
Co2 Selection TNAU
Pusa hybrid -1
Kashi Harit
Ambili
Narendra Amrit
f 1 hybrid
Selection
Selection
Selection
IARI, New Delhi
IIVR
NDUAT
NDUAT

15. Bottle gourd/Lauki/ white flowered gourd
Botanical name – Lagenaria siceraria
Faimly - same
Origin place - Africa
Chromosome No. - 2x = 2n = 22
Pinching of male flowers on female plant is commercial
practiced for hybrid seed production

16. Improved cultivar
(Hari Har Ram, 1998)
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
PSPL
PSPR
Selection from local type
Selection from local type
IARI
IARI
Pusa Meghdoot ( F1 hybrid)
Pusa Manjari (F1 hybrid)
Pusa hybris- 3 (F1 hybrid)
PSPL × Sel.2
PSPR× Sel.11
IARI
IARI
Pusa Naveen
Pusa Sandesh
Pusa Santushti
Pusa Samridhi
Selection IARI
IARI
Rajendra chamatka
Arka Bahar
Selection RAU
IIHR
Punjab Long
Punjab Round
Punjab Komal
Selection PAU
NDBG-1
NDBD-4
KBG-1
Slection
Hybrid
selection
NDUAT
CSAUAT

17. Bitter gourd/ Balsam pear
 Botanical name -- Momordica charantia L.
 Faimly -- same as the above
 Origin place -- Indo- Burma
 Chromosome No. -- 2n= 2x = 22
 Proginator of bitter gourd -- Momordica charantia var.
abbreviata
 There are 2 major tuberous species under this genus, Perennial
in nature—
1. Momordica dioica (2n=28) -- Spine gourd/Kartoli
2. Momordica cochochinensis (2n=28)– Sweet
gourd/Kakrol/Kheksa

18. Improved cultivar
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
Pusa Do Mausami
Pusa Vishesh
Pusa Rasdar
Pusa ausadhi
Puas Hybrid-1 (F1)
Pusa Hybrid-2 (F1)
Selection
Pusa Do Mausami × Pusa
Vishesh
S -63 ×Pusa Do Mausami
IARI
Arka Harit
Arka Anupma
Selection IIHR
Pant Karela
Konkon Tara
Selection
Selection
GBPUAT
Konkan, (MH)
Kalyanpur Sona
Kalyanpur Baramasi
Selection CSAUAT
Phule Green Gold Green Long × Delhi Local MPKV
Preethi, Priyanka White colore

19. Snake gourd
 Botanical name --- Trichosanthes cucumeriana
 Family --- same as the above
 Origin place --- India
 Choromosome No.– 2n= 2x= 24
 Trichosanthin ‘ compound used for anti – HIV activity
 Trichosanthes is the largest genus in the cucurbitaceae family
 Proginator of Snake gourd : Tricosanthes lobata
 Japanease Sanake gourd : Tricosanthes origera
 Chinease Snake gourd : Tricosanthes kirilowii
 Commonly followed training system : Bower or Arbour system

20. Improved cultivar
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
Co 1
MDU 1
Selection
Hybrid with selection
TNAU
Co 2
PKM 1
Selection
Mutant
TNAU
Co 4 Selection TNAU
TA 19 Selection KAU
Konkan Sweta Selection Konkan
Baby Selection KAU
Kaumudi Selection KAU

21. Pointed / King / Parwal
Botanical name --- Trichosanthes dioica
Family --- same as the above
Origin place --- India
Chromosome No. --- 2n= 2x= 24
Primary center of origin : Bengal- Assam area
Good for river bed cultivation
Salicylic acid enhanced post harvest life of fruits

22. Improved cultivar
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
Swarna Rekha Selection HARP, Ranchi
Swarna Alaukik Selection HARP, Ranchi
FP 1 Selection NDUAT
FP 3 Selection NDUAT
FP 4 Selection NDUAT
Rajendra Parwal 2 Clonal Selection RAU

23. Ash /Wax/ white gourd/ preserving
melon
Botanical name ---- Benincasa hispida
Family --- same as the above
Origin place --- Japan and Java
Chromosome No. --- 2n = 2x = 24
Longest storage life among the cucurbits
Ash gourd is good for people suffering from weak nervous
system( nervousness) and debility
The ayurvedic “ Kooshmanda Asayan” is prepared from
ash gourd
Agra petha is a famous sweet prepared from ash gourd

24. Improved cultivar
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
Pusa Ujjawal
Pusa Sakthi
Selection IARI
pusa Shreyali
Pusa Urmi
Selection IARI
Mudlier Selection TNAU
Kashi Dhawal Selection IIVR
Kashi Ujjawal Selection IIVR
Kashi Surbhi Selection IIVR

25. Little/ Ivy/Kundru/Scarlet gourd
Botanical name --- Coccinia indica
Family --- same as the above
Origin place --- India
Choromosome No. --- 2n = 2x= 24
Dioecious crop
More sensitive to water logging

26. Improved cultivar
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
Sulabha Selection from local KAU
Indira Kundru - 05 Selection IGKV
Indira Kundru – 35 Selection IGKV
VRK 20 Selection IIVR
VRK 31 Selection IIVR
VRK 35 Selection IIVR
VRK 37
VRK 49
Selection IIVR

27. Sponge gourd/smooth gourd
Botanical name --- Luffa cylindrica
Family --- same as the above
Origin place --- India
Chromosome No. 2n = 2x = 26
Gelatinous compound present in luffa is called “ Luffein”
Flower color of sponge gourd : Deep yellow
Progenitor of smooth gourd : Luffa graveolens

28. Cultivars
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
Pusa Chikni Selection IARI
Pusa Supriya Selection IARI
Pusa Sneha Selection IARI
Phule Prajakta Selection MPKV
Kasi Divya Selection IIVR

29. Ridge gourd/Satputia
Botanical name --- Luffa acutangula
Family --- same as the above
Origin place --- India
Chromosime No. --- 2n = 2x = 26
Flower color --- Pale yellow
Anthesis time --- Evening
Progenitor --- same as sponge gourd

30. Cultivars
CULTIVAR PARANTAGE SOURCE
Pusa Nutan Selection IARI
Pusa Nasdar Selection IARI
Arka Sumeet Selection IIHR
Arka Sujath Selection IIHR
PKM-1 Mutaion TNAU
Punjab Sadabahar Selection PAU
Satputia
Konkan Harita
Selection
Selection
Hermaphordite
Konkan

31. Soil
 A well drained soil of loamy type is preferred for cucurbits.
Lighter soils which warm quickly in spring are usually utilized
for early yields while heavier soils are suitable for more vine
growth and late maturity of the fruits.
 In sandy river beds, alluvial substrata and subterranean
moisture of river streams support the cultivation of cucurbits.
 The soil should not crack in summer and should not be
waterlogged in the rainy season.
 It is important that soil should be fertile and rich in organic
matter.
 The most suitable pH range is between 6.0 and 7.0

32. Climate
 Cucurbits are warm season crops. They do not withstand even
light frost and strong winds though cucumber tolerates a
slightly cooler weather than melons.
 Seed does not germinate below 11˚C, optimum germination
occurs at 18˚C and germination increases with rise in
temperature till 30˚C.
 Cucurbits grow best at a temperature range of 18-24˚C. Proper
sunshine and low humidity are ideal for the production of
cucumber.
 Melons prefer tropical climate with high temperature during
fruit development with day temperature of 35-40˚C.
 Cool nights and warm days give better quality fruits in melons.

33. Sowing Times
 In northern plains, most of the cucurbits are sown during winter season i.e.
in the month of November (in the riverbeds).
 Melons are grown only when the weather is warm and dry during fruit
development i.e. November to February.
 For rainy season, grow only those cucurbits which can tolerate rains. e.g.
bitter gourd in June-July.
 In north-eastern states most of the cucurbits are sown from November to
March when the weather is comparatively dry.
 In southern and central India, winters are not severe and long, therefore,
these can be grown throughout the year. November sown crop is over by
March-April
 In Northern Indian hills, sowings start from April-May and the crop is over
by August-September.
 In western India, sowings are done from September up to February.
Agronomic practices

34. Methods of planting
 Mostly in cucurbits, in situ method of sowing is followed. But in certain areas
of Northern India and hills where the main objective is to get early fruit
harvest, the seedlings are raised in polythene tubes and plantation is done in
the field when the conditions are favourable without disturbing the soil ball.
Transplanting is done at 2 true leaves stage.
 1. Furrow method: Furrows are made at 1 to 1.5 m in case of cucumber and
bitter gourd. The sowing is usually done on the top of the sides of furrows and
the vines are allowed to trail on the ground especially in summer season.
 2. Bed method: In some regions, bed system is in fashion where the seeds are
sown on the periphery of beds. The width of the bed is almost double to the
row to row spacing.

35. 3. Hill method or raised beds or raised point: The hills are
spaced at a distance of 0.5-0.75m and 2-3 seeds are sown per
hill, after germination retain only one or two plants per hill.
This method facilitates proper drainage especially in heavy
rainfall regions.
 4. Pit Method: Generally, it is followed in southern India. The
pit is lower than the normal bed surface. Training is done by
Pargolla or Pandal system.

36. Crop Season Seed rate (kg/ha) Spacing (m) Fruit yield(q/ha)
Cucumber Summer/rainy 2.5-3.5 1.5 × 0.60-0.90 250-300
Bottle gourd Summer 4-5 2-3 × 1-1.5 300-400
Bitter gourd Summer/Rainy 4-6 1.5-2.5 × 0.60-1.20 150-200
Sponge gourd Summer/rainy 2.5-3.0 2.50-3.00 × 0.60-1.20 150-200
Ridge gourd Summer/rainy 3-3.5 2.50-3.00 × 0.60-1.20 150-200
Snake gourd Summer/rainy 4-6 1.5-2.5 × 0.60-1.20 200-250
Ash gourd Summer/Rainy 5-7 1.5- 3 × 0.6-1.2 100-150
Ivy gourd Summer /Rainy stem cutting 1.5 × 2.0 100-150
Pumpkin Summer/Rainy 6-8 3 × 1 200-250
Pointed gourd Summer/Rainy 82000, stem cutting 2 × 2 130-170

37. Manures and Fertilizers
 FYM 15-20 tonnes/ha.
N = 60-100 kg/ha
P = 50-60 kg/ha
K = 60-80 kg/ha

38. Inter-culture and weed
management
 Thinning of plants should be done 10-15 days after sowing retaining
not more than 2 healthy seedlings per hill.
 The beds or ridges are required to be kept weed free in the early
stages before vine growth start.
 Weeding and earthing up are done at the time of top dressing of split
application of nitrogenous fertilizers.
 Apply Fluchloralin or Trifluralin @ 0.75-1.0 kg/ha or Bensulide @
5-8 kg/ha as preplant soil incorporation at 2 weeks before sowing.
 Butachlor @ 1 kg/ha or chloramban @ 2-3 kg/ha as pre emergence
& Naptalam @ 2-4 kg/ha as post emergence after first weeding
efficiently helps in controlling the weeds in cucurbitaceous crops.
 In general, vertical training is more helpful in increasing the yield of
cucumber.

39. Harvesting
 Harvest cucumber, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, snake gourd,
ridge gourd and sponge gourd when they are still young, tender
and have soft seeds.

40. References
Vishnu Sawarup, 2006. Vegetable Science and Technology
in India. Kalyani Publishers , New Delhi.
Selwakumar , R. 2014. A Textbook of Glaustas Olericulture.
New Vishal Publishers, New Delhi.
Rana , M. K. 2008. Scientific Cultivation of Vegetables.
Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
Hari Har Ram . 1997. Vegetable Breeding Principles and
Practices. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
Instant Horticulture
Glaustas Horticulture

41. THANK YOU