Chayote, also known as squash, mirliton vegetable pear, or chocho, is a type of squash that is native to Mexico but is now widely cultivated in many parts of the world. It is pale green in color, pear-shaped, and has a mild, slightly sweet flavor.

1. Chayote (iskush)
Presented by: Anil khadka
4th semester
Jibika College of Agricultural Science

2. Chayote
• Scientific name: Sechium edule
• Common name: Squash, cho-cho, Pear squash,
vegetable pear.
• Nepali name: iskush.
• Family: cucurbitaceae
• Chromosome: 2n=28
• Origin: Humid tropical regions of Central America.
(Thompson and kelly,1957).
• Major producing districts: Khotang, Ilam,
Okhaldhunga, Solukhumbu, Terhathum, Dhankuta,
Kavre etc.

3. Introduction;
• Name chayote is derived from the vine’s Indian name,
chacha.
• Single seeded, diploid, perennial, herbaceous, climbing
(tendrils) and leaves (heart-shape)resembling those of
cucumber and tendrils on the stem.
• Flower are cream or some what green in colour that
emerge out beneath a leaf or banch.
• Monoecious plant but male and female flowers are
borne in separate place. Male vine posses flowers in
cluster and female vine in solitary
• Fruits is light green or whitish –yellow, pear-shaped,
may weight as much as 1kg but most often is from 170-
340g .

4. Uses of chayote crops;
• The fruits, stems and young leaves as well as
tuberized portions of root are eaten as vegetables.
• Tuber are eaten like potatoes and other root
vegetables while shoots and leaves are often
consumed in salads and stir fries.

5. Different eaten part of chayote
stems
tubers fruits

6. Variety;
• Mainly spiny and non-spiny green type. Also white-
yellowish variety are found.
• Commercial varieties are Florida green and
Monticello white. Green non spiny
•
• . green spiny
Green spiny Whitish-yellow Green non spiny

7. • It is believed that bdifferent 30 native cultivars of
chayote exist in Nepal which makes the country
having high diversity in the northen territory.
• Varieties recommended for Nepalese condition
are, N-23,N-56,N-67,CR-87,M-74,M-95, etc.
Climate and soil;
• It grows well in region with a comparatively low
temperature and high humidity.
• Optimum temperature: 18-22°c. And low night
temperature.
• Vines needs full sunlight,can be grown from 600-
2000 m elevation under high rainfall areas.
• Susceptible to frost and in freezing temperature.

8. • Well-drained loose loam soil(cannot withstand water
logging condition),ph:5.5-6.5 .
• Soil should be fertile enough with well decomposed
organic manures.
Field preparation and planting;
• Grown in the traditional way in Backyards and kitchen
garden.
• Land is prepared by one deep ploghing followed by 2-3
light ploughing and planking.
• Whole fruit is planted as a seed.
• Each fruit has a single large seed that sprouts as soon
as the fruit reaches maturity.
• Cultivated either in flat beds or pits.
• Fruits stored below 8°celcius remain in good condition
for planting.

9. crop production;
• Pits size: 45cm³
• Spacing: 3-5m×1-3m.
• Each pit is filled with manures and fertilizers
mixed well with top soil.
• Fully matured sprouted fruits are collected from
high yielding vines and 2-3 such fruits are
planted in each pit and are irrigated and sown
coriander seed in chayote’s field to avoid pest
attack like mouse.
• The sprouted fruits produce new shoots in 8-10
days

10. Manure and fertilizers;
• Heavy feeder.
• Requires; 20-25kg,well rotten FYM or compost
per pit i.e 20-30 ton/ha.
• Additional 30:20:30g NPK is mixed with top
soil and 50g urea can be given per plant
during flowering.

11. Planting time;
Region Planting
time
Shoot
harvesting
time
Fruit
harvesting
time
Tubers
harvesting
time
Hilly Oct. –Nov Feb. -June till Nov. During
Dec. – Jan.
Inner
terai/te
rai
July-Aug. Not
harvested
June- Oct.
__

12. Management practices;
• Weeding and hoeing: done whenever necessary.
• Staking: when the plant start putting forth viny
growth.
• Flowering: starts 3-4 months after planting,at this
stage each pit is supplied with 200g urea and
irrigated.
• Training/Prunning: practiced in hilly areas during
nov.-dec. about 1-1.5 above the ground level.
Trellis constructed , can be allowed to climb on
small tree.
(in spring when tha plant produce new shoot each
plant is given 50g each of NPK and irrigated)

13. Irrigation;
• Mainly grown in rainy season. So that water
requirement is met with rainfall. if there is no or scanty
rain for long period then irrigation once a week(depend
on soil type, soil moisture) at early growth stage.
• Water stress should be avoided during flowering and
fruiting stages.
• Mulching can be done to prevent moisture loss and to
check weeds.
Harvesting and Yield;
• Fruits are harvested manually.
• The tender shoots and fruits should be harvested
alternatively in 5-6 days.
• Fruits are ready for harvesting after 35-40 days of
flowering.
• Generally tubers are harvested in 2-3 years interval.

14. • Yield: depends on climatic condition and
varieties cultivated,
green shoots:1.5 -2.5 kg/plant
fruits yield: 15 -60 kg/plant
tubers: 7 -14 kg/plants

15. Health benefits:-
• The tuberous part of the root is starchy and
eaten like a yam (can be fried). Also use as pig
and cattle fodders.
• Tea made from the leaves has been used in
treatment of hypertension and to dissolve the
kidney stones.
• Fruits contains fibres that prevents
constipation.
• Chayote is rich in folate, Mg, K which are
necessary for heart health.

16. • Antioxidant, excellent source of vit.c, promote
heart health, blood sugar, support a healthy
pregnancy (folate or vit.B9 – helps in proper
development of fetal brain and spinal cord) and
planning to become pregnant, anticancer effect,
support liver function.
Diseases:-
• Powdery mildew. (Erysiphe cichoracearum)
• Downy mildew. (Pseudoperenospora cubensis)
• Anthracnose. (Colletotrichom lagenarium )
• Collar rot .(Rhizoctonia solani )
• Fusarium wilt . (Fusarium oxyporium)

17. Insect and pest :-
• Fruit fly. (Dacus cucurbitae)
• Red pumpkin beetle. (Aulocophora foveicollis)
• Aphids .(Aphis gossypii)