Its a explanation of pointed gourd nutrition.

1. DEBI ARCHANA NAYAK
ADM.NO-01 VSC/PHD/11

2. Introduction
Among the indigenous cucurbits pointed gourd
occupies an important place.
It is a dioecious annual or perennial herbaceous
vegetable, also known as “green potato". one of
the choicest cucurbit vegetable liked by many.
Grown widely throughout Asia, Australia &
Bangladesh.
Fruits of pointed gourd plant are used as
vegetable in Indian traditional food system for
time immemorial.

3. Botanical Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Cucurbitales
Family Cucurbitaceous
Genus Trichosanthes
Species dioica
Botanical name Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.
Common name Pointed Gourd,Parwal

4. Origin & distribution
It is a tropical vegetable crop native to
India(Indo-Malayan region).
Widely cultivated in Eastern part of India &
plains of N-India from Punjab to Assam.
Extensively cultivated all over Bihar, West
Bengal,Odisha & Assam.
Bengal-Assam area is the primary centre of
origin of pointed gourd.
It is cultivated in an estimated area of 10,000 ha
in India mainly in Diara lands of major rivers of
UP, Bihar & WB.

5. Morphology
It is a perennial, dioecious cucurbit grown as
vine. Vine are pencil thick in size.(2n=22)
Leaves:darkgreen,cordate,ovate,oblong,rigid,si
mple & not lobed.
Roots-tuberous with long tap root system
Flowers-dioecious,tubular white with 16-19 days
initiation to anthesis time for pistillate flowers &
10-14 days for staminate flowers, stigma
remains viable for approximately 14 hrs.
Fruits- globose,oblong,smooth,striped.
Seeds-globose

6. Based on shape, size & striations fruits
can be grouped in to 4 categories (Singh, 1989)
1)Long, dark green with white stripes

7. 2)Thick ,dark green with very pale green
stripes,10-16 cm long

8. 3)Roundish, dark green with white
stripes,5-8 cm long

9. 4)Tapering, green & striped,5-8 cm long

10. In Madhya Pradesh 5th type of cultivar is popular
having pale-white oval fruits without any markings
(More & Shinde,2003)

11. Nutritional composition
It has higher nutrient content than other
cucurbits (Pandit & Hazra 2008).
It is a rich source of vitamin A(153µg/100g) , C
& nutrients like Mg,K,P,Cl.
Also rich in protein; protein levels are 10 times
higher than of bottle gourd & 4 times that of
snake gourd, ridge gourd & ash gourd.
Good source of minerals & carbohydrates.
Low in cholesterol & fat.
A trace of 5-hydroxytrytamine has also been
detected in pointed gourd (Gopalan et al.,1999).

12. Nutritional value of pointed gourd(per 100g fresh weight of
edible fruits).(Singh et al.,1989 & 2001;Choudhury 1996)
Constituents Amount
Moisture 92 g
Protein 0.7 g
Fat 0.2 g
Minerals 0.5 g
Fibre 3.0 g
Carbohydrates 2.2 g
Energy 20 kcal
Calcium 30 mg
Phosphorous 40 mg
Iron 1.7 mg
Carotene 153 mg
Thiamine 0.05 mg
Riboflavin 0.06 mg
Niacin 0.5 mg

13. Constituents Amount
Magnesium 9.0 mg
Sodium 2.6 mg
potassium 83.0 mg
Copper 1.1 mg
Sulpher 17.0 mg
chlorine 4.0 mg
Iodine 0.66 ppm(in dry edible matter)
fluorine 2.1 ppm(in dry edible matter)
Total amino acid 3.99-4.09%
Energy 20 k cal (Seshadri ,1990)

14. Every 100 g fresh leaves contains (Gopalan et al 1989 ;
Seshadri 1990)
Seed extracts possesses hemagglutination activity that
may have some diagnostic application (sathe et al .1967)
constituents amount
Protein 5.4 mg
Fiber 4.2 mg
Calcium 531 mg
Phosphorous 73 mg
Energy 55 k cal

15. Comparative differences in fruit composition of pointed gourd,
snake gourd, ivy gourd, bitter gourd & bottle gourd
source: Purseglove 1968;Gopalan et al,1989
Composition/100 g
fresh wt.edible
portion
Pointed
gourd
T.dioica
Snake gourd
T.anguina
Ivy gourd
C.grandis
Bitter gourd
M.charantia
Bottle
gourd
L.ciceraria
Moisture(%) 92.0 94.6 93.5 92.4 96.1
Protein (g) 2.0 0.5 1.2 1.6 0.2
Fat (g) 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.0
Minerals (g) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.5
Carbohydrate (g) 4.2 3.3 3.4 4.2 0.6
Fibers (g) 3.0 0.8 1.6 0.8 0.6
Energy (kcal) 20.0 18.0 17.0 25.0 12.0
Calcium(mg) 30.0 50.0 18.0 20.0 120.0
Mg (mg) 9.0 53.0 - 17.0 5.0
P (mg) 40.0 20.0 26.0 70.0 10.0

16. Composition/100 g
fresh wt.edible
portion
Pointed
gourd
T.dioica
Snake
gourd
T.anguina
Ivy gourd
C.grandis
Bitter gourd
M.charantia
Bottle
gourd
L.ciceraria
Iron (mg) 1.7 1.1 0.5 1.3 0.7
Sodium (mg) 2.6 25.4 - 17.8 1.0
Potassium (mg) 83.0 34.0 - 152.0 87.0
Copper (mg) 1.1 0.11 - 0.18 0.3
Sulpher (mg) 17.0 35.0 - 15.0 10.0
Chlorine (mg) 4.0 21.0 - 8.0 -
Vitamin A (IU) 255.0 160.0 33.0 210.0 60.0
Thymine (mg) 0.05 0.04 - 0.07 0.03
Riboflavin(mg) 0.06 0.06 0.01 0.09 0.01
Nicotinic acid(mg) 0.5 0.3 - 0.5 0.2
Vitamin C (mg) 29.0 5.0 5.0 88.0 6.0
Oxalic acid(mg) 7.0 34.0 - - -

17. Trichosanthes dioica seeds contains large amount of
peptides(Kabir et al.,2000),also contains lectin,a
carbohydrate binding protein(specifically galactose)
(sultan & kenoth et al. 2004).
Uses
Immature fruits used as vegetables.
Its young leaves are very nutritive & are used as leafy
vegetable. Shoot tips are also consumed.(Anon 1998)
Also pickled, used in confectionaries.(Paris & Maynard
2008).
Fruits are used in making curry & fried.
A famous sweet by putting fruits in sugar syrup is
made in India.

18. Medicinal value
It is a very ancient ayurvadic medicinal herb used in many
medicines
It is a food for convalescents
Have diuretic & laxative properties
It is cardiotonic
Recommended for bronchitis,biliousness,high fever,
nervousness
Lowers cholesterol & blood sugar( sharma &
pant,1988;chandrasekar et al,1989)
Good for curing blood & skin diseases, also purifies blood
Relieve the feeling of food satiation & excessive thirst
Light & easy to digest, improves digestion strength
Balances cough & bile

19. Useful in itching & burning sensation
Natural aphrodisiac
Improves taste, useful in anorexia
Good for skin ,improves complexion
Used as medicine in jaundice, viral infections, flu,
anemia ,gastritis ,bloating ,ENT disorders etc.
Used for treating Diabetes mellitus. It has been
reported that the presence of flavinoids & trace
element like Cu,k & Mg are responsible for anti-
diabetic activity of pointed gourd plants.( Kar et al,
1999)
Juice of leaves used as tonic, febrifuge & in subacute
case of enlargement of liver & spleen.

20. In charaka samhita it is described that leaves & fruits
are used for treating alcoholism.
Leaves are used curing in odema,alopecia & root
causes mild purgation.
Antihelmintic-the extract of the leaves of pointed gourd
is an effective nematocide (Bhattacharya et al.2009)
Anti-hyperglycemic-study shows that seeds of T.dioica
are anti-hyperglycemic.(Shivhare et al.2010)

21. Antioxidant-Protects the body against oxidative
stress by neutralizing free radicals. Aqueous
extracts of leaves of T.dioica contains rich
amount of polyphenols which are very potent
natural antioxidants. Similarly in another study
antioxidant activity of fruits of T.dioica was
evaluated & compared with ascorbic acid
(standard).The result showed that aqueous
extract of T.dioica fruits posses in vitro free
radical scavenging activity.(Sharmila et al.2007)

22. Cholesterol lowering activity –Sharma et al. 1988
reported that aqueous fruit extract of T.dioica exhibits
cholesterol & body weight lowering activities in both
normal & hyperglycemic rats.
Antidiabetic-Sharma et al. 1989 & Chandrasekhar et al.
2008 reported that aqueous extract of T.dioica fruits
reduces the levels of fasting blood glucose,
postprandial glucose,asparate amino
transferase,alanine amino transferase,alkaline
phosphatase,cretinine,urine sugar, urine protein where
as increases total protein & body weight.

23. Antipyretic-Sudarshan churna is very potent Ayurvedic
preparation which is used traditionally as antimalarial &
antipyretic formulation.Swertia Chirata & T.dioica is key
ingredient in sudarshan churna.(Bhargava et al.2008)
Glycemic property-Aqueous extracts of T.dioica leaves
has good hypoglycemic potential along with a high
anti-diabetic profile.(Rai et al.2008)
Chandrasekhar et al(1988)have reported that pointed
gourd possesses the medicinal property of lowering
blood sugar level in rats.

24. Ghaisas et al.(2008)showed hepatoprotective activity
of aqueous & ethanolic extract of T.dioica (whole
plant)in ferrous sulphate-induced liver injury.
Fulzul et al. (2001)found anti-inflammatory activity of
T.dioica.
Bhujbal(1999) showed that polyherb formulation
including T.dioica is useful in skin disorder.
Hariti & Rathee et al.(1996) stated that the oil of seeds
of T.dioica have antifungal property. They also studied
the antibacterial activity of oil T.dioica seeds against
Bacilus anthracis & Xanthomonas malacearum.

25. The leaves, fruits & seeds of T.dioica plant may be
used as antibacterial agent. The leaves extract could
be used for tuberculosis treatment.(Rai et al.2010)
Shivhare et al.(2010)reported a scientific evaluation for
the wound healing potential of methanolic (Me OH)
extract of T.dioica fruits.
Sharma & Pant et al.(1992)showed influence of
alcoholic extract of whole fruit of T.dioica on blood
sugar, serum lipids, lipoproteins & faecal sterols in
normal albino rabbits. It was observed that this extract
lowered the blood sugar ,total cholesterol, low density,
lipoprotein cholesterol & triglycerides levels &
increased the high density lipoprotein cholesterol
phospholipids & faecal sterol levels.

26. Cultivation
Trichosanthes is the largest genus of the family
cucurbitaceae.
In plains pointed gourd cultivation is intensive & very
remunerative.
Pointed gourd is one of the important cucurbitaceous
vegetable of northern India especially in the Gangetic
plain.
Mostly the cultivation of this vegetable is done on
sandy soils in river beds which is unsuitable for cereal
or pulse production.
Fresh fruits give a good cash return.
Because of low cost of cultivation and high return, its
cultivation is suitable for small & marginal farmers.

27. Riverbed cultivation of pointed gourd

28. Climate
Prefers warm, humid climate.
Severe cold / frost are unfavorable for plant growth &
development, crop remains dormant during winter.
Vigorous growth starts only with the onset of spring.
Soil
• Well drained sandy to sandy loam soil with good
fertility
• Does not with stand water logging
• In W.B, it is commonly grown in river beds
• Suitable for high rainfall areas without water logging
condition.

29. Propagation
By vine cuttings & root suckers
Seed propagation is avoided due to poor germination
& in ability to determine sex of the plants before
flowering(50% plants may be male).
Fresh vines with 8-10 nodes per cuttings are suitable
for field planting.
Cuttings should be partially or fully defoliated to check
transpiration.
Plant to plant distance:1.5-2 m x 1.5-2 m
(Singh,1989;Yadav,1989)
A female: male ratio of 9:1 is optimum for ensuring
maximum fruit set( Maurya et al,1985)

30. Prepared cuttings

31. Watering to the prepared cuttings

32. Time & system of planting
Mid August in plains(uplands)
Mid November in Diara lands/medium
lands.
Bower system requires 8000 cuttings/ha
with a spacing of 1.5x 1 m plant to plant.
Flat system requires 4500-5000
cuttings/ha with a spacing of 1 x 1 m plant
to plant.
River bed cultivation requires 3500-4000
cuttings/ha.

33. Field preparation

34. Field leveling

35. Pit preparation

36. Planting of cuttings

37. Manure & fertilizer
FYM @20-25 t/ha should be applied to the field at the
time of field preparation before planting of cuttings.
Singh et al.(1989) recommended 90:60:40 kg
N,P2O5,K2O/ha for maximum return.
Das et al.(1987) reported maximum early & total yield
at N:P rates of 90:60 kg/ha while Kumar et al. obtained
maximum no. of fruits/plant when both N & P were
applied @ 60 kg/ha.
To obtain a good yield half of N & full P & K are
applied at the time of planting & remaining half dose of
N is applied at the time of flowering.

38. Crop rotation & intercropping
Pointed gourd can be raised in various cropping
sequences like
It can also grown as an intercrop with betel vine in
some areas of U.P & W.B( Maity et al.,1995;Anwar et
al.,2002;Singh,1989)
Potato
(Nov-Jan)
Pointed gourd
(Feb-Oct)
Radish
(Nov-Jan)
Pointed gourd
(Feb-Oct)
Early pea
(Nov-Jan)
Pointed gourd
(Feb-Oct)
Palak
(Nov-Jan)
Pointed gourd
(Feb-Oct)

39. Irrigation, ratooning & pruning
Pointed gourd requires irrigation at 20 days interval
during winter & 10 days interval during summer for
better crop.
For ratoon crop, the NPK mixture with well rotton FYM
is applied by loosening the soil around the mound
towards the end of winter or before start of fruiting
every year.
Pruning-During winter the growth of meristematic
tissue is retarded to a great extent. Therefore vines
should be pruned 15 cm from the ground before the
winter (Oct-Nov) sets in.

40. Interculture & training
Mulching with straw, sugarcane trash or black
polythene helps in suppression of weeds & protect the
fruits from rotting in contact with soli.(Diwedi et
al.1999)
Diwedi et al.1999 recommended application of
paraquat @0.5 kg/ha with 2 hand weeding is ideal to
keep the crop weed free.
Training-Vines require aerial support system to
achieve maximum fruit production.(Prasad & Singh,
1987;Yadav et al,1987)
Singh(1987) reported 14% higher yield on vines
trained on bower system compared to those growing
on ground.
Picking also becomes very easy if the vines are
trained.

41. Vines trained on trellis system facilitate effective pollination &
luxuriant growth leading to earlier Flowering & higher yield than
flat bed system (Singh 1989;Yadav et al 1989)

42. Bower system

43. POINTED GOURD CULTIVATION IS MORE
REMUNERATIVE IN TRIANGULAR STAKING SYSTEM
Practical utility of innovation
1-It is low cost as compared to other trailing system.
2-Increased yield up to 38.1 % over farmers’
practice.
3-Easy plucking of fruits.
4-Easyness in intercultural operation.
5-Improved quality of fruits as there is no rotting.
6-Suitable for high rainfall area.
7-Suitable for small and marginal farmers.
8-It can be adopted for other crops like spine gourd,
bitter gourd, ridge gourd etc.

44. Triangular staking system

45. Sri Banamali Pradhan of Dumukipur village,pipili,puri
innovated one low cost trailing technique to combat the
rotting problem of pointed gourd cultivation during
rainy season. He started pointed gourd cultivation in
an area of 0.5 ha. in triangular staking system made
up of bamboos and other locally available staking
materials. He placed a series of two bamboos in a
triangular manner in a row with spacing of 5 ft X 5 ft on
both the sides. Bamboos stripes were tied horizontally
between two triangular bamboos and in between
locally available staking materials were given. Planting
was done on both the sides of staking system at
spacing of 5 ft X 5 ft. In the system he harvested 256.2
q pointed gourd per ha with a net income of Rs
2,19,510/- with an investment of 87,800per ha.

47. Harvesting & yield
Crops starts fruiting from feb & continues up to
monsoon. The 2nd flush begins with the rains &
continues till Oct.
Harvesting of fruits is done at mature green
marketable stage i.e. at 15-18 days after fruit set.
Yield-Harvesting of fruits at weekly interval gives more
yield.
In 1st year: 75-90q/ha but subsequent years yield
increases up to 150-200 q/ha.
In tropics pointed gourd produces maximum yield for
3-4 years, after which yielding potential gradually
declines( Samalo & parida,1983)

51. Storage
Singh (1989) recommended treatment of Pointed
gourd fruits with Waxol (12%) for increasing the shelf-
life up to 8 days.
In ordinary condition pointed gourd fruits can be easily
kept at room temperature for 3-4 days.

52. Immature fruits
Mature fruits

53. Varieties
Swarna Alaukik
It is a HYV. Developed by ICAR research complex for
eastern region Ranchi, Jharkhand.
light green fruits with blunt ends
Fruits are 5-8 cm long,solid,thin skin & good for
vegetable as well as preparation of sweets.
Average yield is 230-280 q/ha on vertical staking.
Recommended for upland & plataeu regions of
Bihar,Gangetic plains of U.P,plains of Odisha & W.B.
It has also been introduced to Telengana region of A.P.

54. Swarna Rekha: A vigorously growing HYV.
Developed at ICAR research complex for eastern
region Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Fruits are greenish white,8-10 cm long & tapering to
both sides.
Avg. yield 200-300 q/ha on vertical bower system.
Recommended for plains & plateau region of Bihar.
Rajendra parwal-1: Developed at Rajendra
Agriculture University,Samastipur,Bihar.
It is highly suitable for cultivation in Diara land.

55. Fruits are big sized.
Average yield is 140-150 q/ha.
Rajendra parwal-2: Developed at Rajendra
Agriculture University,Samastipur,Bihar.
This variety is also suitable for Diara land cultivation.
Fruits are dark green with white stripes.
Suitable for cultivation in Bihar & U.P.
Avg. yield 150-170 q/ha

56. Faizabad parwal-1: Developed at Narendradev
university of agriculture & technology,Faizabad,U.P.
It produces very attractive green round fruits.
Avg. yield is 150-170 q/ha
It is recommended for commercial cultivation in U.P &
adjoining parts of Bihar.
Faizabad parwal-3:fruits are spindle shaped,
green & less striped.
They are excellent for culinary purpose.
Avg. yield 125-150 q/ha
It is suitable for eastern & western U.P.

57. Faizabad Parwal-4: HYV & recommended for
reclaimed sodic soil.
Fruits light green colour,spindle shaped with tapering
end.
Recommended for bower system of cultivation.
Chess hybrid-1:It is the 1st parwal variety
developed in the country.
Fruits are very attractive ,large sized, dark green
stripped weighing about 30-35g.Early maturing ,can be
stored for 6-8 days under normal room tempt.
Avg. yield 280-300q/ha. It is adopted to upland of
Bihar,U.P,Odisha,W.B & parts of Assam.
Resistant to Fruit fly infestation.

58. Chess Hybrid-2: It is a high yielding variety
produced dark green stripped fruits
Avg wt of each fruit is 25-30g
Avg yield is 300-400 q/ha
Chhota Hilli: Fruits are medium sized, oval to
spindle shaped, swollen in middle.
Greenish with prominent white stripped ,blunt at the
stalk .
Dandali: Fruits are medium sized, egg shaped,
light green.
Stalk end dispersed, slightly stripped & group towards
distal end.

59. Hilli: Fruits are oblong,lenth of fruit is avg.9.6 cm &
width is avg. 3 cm
Greenish fruit with white stripe, tapering towards distal
end with disperse neck.
Shankolia: Fruits are medium long
Resembling to both shank & shell
Tapering towards both side & greenish
Slightly beaked towards distal end.

60. Varieties developed from IIVR,Varanasi,U.P. are IIVR
PG-1,IIVR PG-2,IIVR PG-105(seedless).
CHPG-15 has been identified as most promising line
of pointed gourd & it is tolerant to powdery mildew &
Fusarium wilt.
Local Varieties:
W.B-Kazil,Bombay,Damodar.
U.P- Dandli, Kalyani, Guli,Bihar Sharif
M.P-Green Oval, Green long Striped, White Oval
Bihar- Sopari Safeda,Miria,Santokhwa
Among the local types Dandli has the heaviest fruits &
Santokhwa has the longest vines & fruits (Kumar et
al.,1995)

61. Future prospects:
Pointed gourd is emerging as a very potential crop for
its nutritional & medicinal importance.
It provides most opportunity to small farmers living
close to metropolitan cities where it can be grown for
supply to international markets & ethenic grocery
shops.
The demand for this vegetable from minorities from
Indian subcontinent present in foreign country is also
high & occasional imports are sold for US $ 9-10/kg in
international market.(Singh & Whitehead,1999)
The crop also has potential for production in home
gardens where it can be provide a nutritious vegetable
for an extended period.

62. Crop improvements
Wide scope of varietal improvements can be possible
in pointed gourd through hybridization & selection.
(Ram,2001)
Clonal selection are promising approach for genetic
improvement of this species.
There is also need to develop varieties which are high
yielding & early maturity with fruits still tender having
immature seeds at harvest.
Need for Identification of Parthenocarpic
pointed gourd germplasm
Which sets fruit without pollination & fertilization.
For cultivation of this planting male plant is not
required, only female plants are grown by root cuttings.

63. Fruits thus developed are seedless with only
unfertilized ovules & without solid seeds.
Advantage
Of the selection are; it reduces production cost
incurred for manual pollination.
No land occupied by unproductive male plants.
Seedless fruits get better market price.
Disadvantage
Shorter shelf life of fruits.
Trial to other cultivated variety are required for
releasing the germplasm as parthenocarpic
variety.(Mondal & Mitra,ICAR NEWS, july-sept 2011)

64. Use of Plant Growth Regulators:
Dubey & Nair (1972) recorded maximum fruit set (80%) with
application of NAA @200-300 ppm.
NAA @ 100-500 ppm also induces parthenocarpy in cv. White
Oval.
Application of GA3 @ 40 ppm increases the no. of female
flowers by 20% resulting in increased fruit set by 18.7%.(Basu
et al.,1999)
Application of silver nitrate @ 1000 ppm induces hermaphrodite
flower.(Hoque et al.,2002)
Silver nitrate also induces parthenocarpy.
Application of 100 mg/l IBA increases rooting of vine cuttings
with 1-3 nodes (Pandey & Ram 2000)

65. In –vitro propagation of pointed gourd
Availability of quality planting material is a major
limitation in pointed gourd cultivation round the
year, so optimization of in-vitro plantlets
development can be a tool for large scale
propagation & conservation of germplasm.
Plant regeneration in pointed gourd has been
achieved from shoot tips, nodal explants &
immature/mature cotyledons (Hoque et al.1998)
MS(Murashige & Skoog)medium is widely used
for micropropagation in pointed gourd.

66. Shoot regeneration media includes BA either alone or
in combination with a low concentration of an auxin,
such as NAA or IBA .(Yadava & Dhir 1995;Hoque et al
1998; Debnath et al 2000;Kumar 2008)
Mythili & Thomas (1999) reported that a combination
of IAA (1.0µm) & IBA (0.2 µm) is the most suitable for
multiple shoot development.
Study shows that best initial microshoot response was
observed with basal nodal segment on the media
containing kinetin @ 8.0 mg/lt.(Kundan Kisore et
al,2012)
Up to 92% regeneration was obtained from cotyledons
from physiologically immature & mature seeds cultured
on MS medium containing 4.4 µm BA.(Hoque et
al,1998)

67. Rooted plantlets of pointed-gourd

68. Effect of BAP and IAA on
callus formation and plant
regeneration in Pointed
gourd(a) Swelling in the leaf
explants inoculated on MS +1.5 mg/l
BAP after 6days of inoculation (b)
Callus induction in leaf explants
after 10 days of inoculation on MS +
2.5 mg/l BAP, (c) Callus induction in
nodal explants inoculated on MS +
2.5 mg/l BAP after 8 days of
inoculation, (d) Nodal explants
turning into white crystalline mass of
tissues on MS + 3.0 mg/l BAP after
40 days of inoculation, (e) Shoot tip
explants showing induction of callus
on MS + 3.0 mg/l BAP after 14days
of inoculation, (f) Shoot tip callus
with a green shoot bud on MS + 2.5
mg/l BAP after 6days of inoculation.

69. Effect of BAP and IAA on callus formation and plant regeneration in Pointed
gourd.
A
B C
D

70. Effect of BAP and IAA on callus formation
and plant regeneration in Pointed gourd.
(a) Nodal explants showing direct shoot initiation on MS + 2.5
mg/l BAP after 10 days of inoculation,
(b) Shoot initiation from callus from MS + 2.5 mg/l BAP after
20 days of sub culturing,
(c) Rhizogenesis from callus MS + 2.5 mg/l BAP after 6days of
inoculation,
(d) In vitro regenerated plantlet of Pointed gourd with well
developed root.

71. Highest % of shoot regeneration is obtained when
nodal explants were cultured on MS+1.0mg/l BAP.
Among shoot tip & nodal segment explants, nodal
segment was found better for shoot regeneration &
multiplication.(Hoque et al.2012)
Swarna Alaukik (6.6 cuttings per explant) shows
highest rate of multiplication than Swarna Rekha (4.9)
when shoot tip & nodal explants are cultured on MS
medium containing IAA(1.0 µm) & IBA (0.2µm).(Mythili
et al,1999)

72. In the case of micropropagation using shoot tip & nodal
segments about 8 shoots can be obtained from a single explant
in 4 weeks as compared to only 8-10 cuttings produced from
each plant in 1 yr by the conventional method of vegetative
production.
Therefore micropropagation has the potential for producing
large number of quality propagules of elite clones in short
period.
In India,the Agro Division of Cadila Pharmaceuticals limited is
producing 0.3 million plants per annum of Anawal pointed gourd
through tissue culture at a price of Rs.12/- each in Gujarat
state(Anon,2010)
The sex-associated random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)
markers are utilized as a quality control to check the sex &
uniformity of the propagules.(Kumar et al,2008)

73. cost of cultivation of pointed gourd (with hired labour)
Area -1 ha
Labour @Rs 126/MD
Spacing -2 m×2 m
A.LABOUR UNIT/MD COST(Rs.)
1.Tractor ploughing@Rs.4oo/hr 10 hr 4000/-
2.Cleaning field & bunds 20MD 2520/-
3.Lay out, pit making 50MD 6300/-
4.Pit filling with compost & basal
fertilizers
30MD 3780/-
5.Root treatment & planting 30MD 3780/-
6.Irrigation (need based) 45MD 5670/-

74. A.LABOUR UNIT/MD COST(Rs.)
8.Application of fertilizer,
micronutrient
30MD 3780/-
9.Application of plant protection
chemicals & plant growth
regulators
30MD 3780/-
10.Application & lifting of mulching
material
20MD 2520/-
11.Harvesting & postharvest
handling
SUBTOTAL A
200MD
540MD
25200/-
72,040/-

75. B.INPUTS UNITS COST(Rs.)
1.Cost of cuttings @ Rs.8/per
cutting
2500
number
of
cuttings
20,000/-
2.Root treating chemical@Rs.3/g 100 g 300/-
3.Manure or compost @1000/MT 10MT 10000/-
4.Biofertilizers (Azotobactor +
PSB)@50/kg
10kg 500/-
5.Fertilizers
N @Rs.10.50/kg
P2O5 @Rs.16.22/kg
K2O @Rs.7.50/kg
120 kg
80 kg
80 kg
1260/-
1298/-
600/-
6.Micronutrients @Rs.500/kg/l 5kg/l 2500/-

76. B.INPUTS UNITS COST(Rs.)
7.Mulching material(organic)
8.Plant protection chemicals &
plant growth regulators
Rs.5oo/no.
5 nos.
2000/-
2500/-
9.Irrigation charges @Rs.300/no. 12 nos. 3600/-
SUBTOTAL B
Miscellaneous
44,558/-
6000/-

77. GRAND TOTAL= SUBTOTAL A + SUBTOTAL B +
MISCELLANEOUS
= 72,040/- +44,558/- + 6000/-
=122,598/-
Yield of fruit : 150 qt/ha (average)
Gross income @ Rs.30/kg :Rs. 450,000/-
Net income : Rs.327,402/-
Benefit cost ratio : 2.67